The Rotary Club of Corringham Thameside

When President David Fenn and Treasurer Peter Matthews rang the bell at the Thurrock Womens Refuge to deliver a quantity of toys for the children to play with in the garden, they did not envisage the reception they received. As the toys were unloaded from the truck and carried to the reception area, it did not take to many minutes for the very excited children to appear, anxious to be able to start their games. The staff managed to move the children out into the garden whilst we moved the toys to the play room for assembly. The children were not put off. They soon arrived at the doors of the play room, asking if we were finished. The staff were constantly telling the little ones to be patient and to play in the garden so that we could finish the work. Assembling the toys proved more difficult than thought, as instructions seemed to be confused. Constantly, we could hear the children commenting, “We hope the men work quickly”. After an hour, all the toys were assembled and we left the staff to supervise the handover to the very excited children.
In all, two bicycles, two prams, two pushchairs, four scooters, two tractors with trailers, a pedal car and a motorbike, two footballs and four safety helmets were handed over to the delight of the staff and children alike. It was all part of the Rotary Club’s work in the community but it should be acknowledged that some of the cost of the equipment was raised by the Anniversary Fishing Syndicate who help us to organise our annual fishing day for handicapped and special needs children. If anyone should ask us why we do these things, they should have seen the enormous smiles on these childrens faces, even before they had the toys to play with. We are sure that they will bring many hours of fun to these children.

For the sixteenth consecutive year, the Rotary Club of Corringham Thameside together with the Anniversary Fishing Syndicate held their annual fishing day for handicapped and special needs children on Sunday 11th July. The weather was kind as fifteen excited youngsters arrived to try their luck with rod and line. All the youngsters came from Thurrock Special Needs Activity Club and were allocated a fisherman each to show them the ropes. The fishing syndicate provided all the equipment as well as the fishing expertise whilst the Rotarians provided the ever popular barbecue of hamburgers and hot dogs washed down with a variety of soft drinks.
Newly installed President, David Fenn having shed mmany tears chopping the many onions required then contrived to forget to bring them. Thankfully, one of the mums saved the day by buying some at a nearby shop, leaving David to once again go through the agony of chopping them.
A magnificent total of 462 fish were landed by the youngsters with Bradley Styles landing a creditable 70 fish. Several fish of 5 or 6 pounds were landed but the biggest catch of the day was made by Rhys Martin who landed his whopper weighing in at 12pounds. In addition to his trophy, Rhys was presented with a new rod by the fishing syndicate. Every youngster was presented with a trophy for their efforts and went home happily telling tales of the one that got away. THe Fishing Syndicate presented the Rotary Club with a cheque for £200, being the profits they made on their five competition days for the Rotary Shield.
Rotary Club President thanked the Fishing club for their generosity and for their undying support to the event, without their help we could not run the event. He also thanked the Rotarians and their families for their efforts in making the day another successful one. He thanked the children and their carers for coming along and enjoying the opportunity to fish.
Another occasion where the club has served the community.

On Sunday 11th July we will be hosting our annual Fishing day for handicapped and special needs children at South Ockendon. Fifteen children from the Special Needs Activity Club are expected to attend where they will be assisted by members of the Anniversary fishing club, whilst the rotarians serve up hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks. All the children will go home with a trophy to remind them of their day out.

On Sunday 12th July, the Rotary Club of Corringham Thameside together with the Anniversary Fishing Syndicate hosted their annual fishing day for handicapped and special needs children at South Ockendon.
The weather was kind as eleven children, ably assisted by an experienced fisherman set to to land their catch, whilst the rotarians kept them supplied with a steady stream of hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks. During the afternoon a total in excess of 200 fish were landed. Ryan Murphy landed a prize winning 45 fish whilst Rhys Martin landed the biggest catch of the day, a nineteen and a half pound carp. But is was Shaun Murphy who caused the biggest buzz around the lake when he landed an eel. According to the members of the fishing club, this was the first time in fourteen years that an eel had been caught at the lake. All the children went home with a trophy and plenty of tales about the one that got away.
The fishing club then presented the Rotary Club with a cheque for £200 which they had raised throughout the year. In all it was yet another successful venture which brought big smiles to both the children and the adults.

On Sunday 13th July 2008, the Rotary Club of Corringham Thameside invited seventeen young handicapped and special needs children to their annual Fishing day at the Anniversary Lake in South Ockendon. The children were from local schools and the Special Needs Activity Club and enjoyed a very successful afternoon’s fishing. The children were assisted one to one by members of the Anniversary Fishing Club who also supplied all the equipment whilst the Rotarians were kept busy providing hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks.An amazing four hundred and forty six fish were landed by the children with George Brown catching a massive sixty six. Not to be outdone, his younger sister Abigail caught the biggest of the day with a gigantic seventeen pound carp which was nearly as big as she was.All the children were presented with a trophy for their efforts, with the special trophies for the most fish caught and the largest fish landed going to briother and sister George and Abigail Brown. Abigail was also presented with a rod, bait box and cap by the fishing club for her achievment.The fishing club presented the Rotary President, Terry Finnegan with a cheque for £260 raised by the fishing club and given to Rotary to support their charity work.We would like to place on record our thanks to all of those who attended, the fishing club members and of course the Rotarians who all combined to make it a successful event.

One mystery of the day that left the Rotarians and the kids baffled was what did John have on his feet ?
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