The Rotary Club of Corringham Thameside

Four sixth formers from Stanford and Corringham Sixth Form Centre have enjoyed a five day course at Gateway FM’s Basildon studio.  Shaun Crisp, Elliot Rosoman, Benjamin Stroud and Charlie Winch gave up their half term break to learn about the radio industry.  The course was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Corringham Thameside, and was yet another community project by the club.
The students soon found out that reading the news, weather and traffic reports was not an easy option.  Whilst reading, they had to concentrate on the time and be ready to activate the next musical track.  The tuition covered the law governing broadcasting in the U.K.  The role of OFCOM and freedom of speech relating to radio broadcasting.  The differing types of radio stations and there structures and financing were also discussed.  The students also had to master the use of the sophisticated equipment, to script and record public service advertisements and finally they scripted and produced their own programme which will be broadcast on FM during December.
Their final task was to deliver an hour long, solo programme live on the internet.Gateway FM Director, Yvonne Williams told us that she was delighted with the effort and committement of the boys who had attained a very high standard of performance.
It was clear that the boys enjoyed their course despite the hard work they had to put into it.  The Rotary Club were extremely pleased to give the students this opportunity.  All the participants should be proud of their efforts and were a credit to their school.This was just one of a number of initiatives the Rotary Club are planning with local schools.

Fourteen rotarians wives and families (not including the dogs), met on Sunday 25th October for a leisurely stroll through the woods from One Tree Hill to The Crown (and for some, back again).  The weather was fine and the group set out in good spirits with the prize at the end, a nice cool pint at The Crown.  It was an ideal opportunity to spend some time with friends, getting some light excercise and a chance to talk over that thirst quenching pint.  Everyone enjoyed the occasion and hope to repeat the excercise in the not too distant future.

Corringham Thameside were represented at the sixth King Harold Day at Waltham Abbey on Saturday 17th October 2009. Harold Godwinson, King Harold II, the last Saxon king of England, who died at the battle of Senlac Hill on 14th October 1066 was Lord of the Manor of Waltham, and had founded a minster or church here with a college of secular canons. Edith Swan-Neck, Harold’s mistress, who lived in one of his manor houses at nearby Nazeing, identified his body and brought it to his favourite church at Waltham for burial.
To celebrate, the club set up stall amongst the other sideshows which included historical costumes and weaponry, historical societies, falconry etc. Our stall was a modified form of darts whereby participants had the opportunity to hit a Norman soldier in the eye with their dart (Legend has it that Harold was struck down by an arrow in the eye). Dressed in medieval costume, Rob Waite and David Fenn enticed the visitors to have a go, for a small contribution to charity. They tried hard from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. but only one competitor managed to his the target in the eye. We had lots of fun talking to the visitors, who seemed pleased to see Rotary represented. We met several Rotarians from Epping, a Rotary exchange student and also one young lady who was keen to join a club in her area. All in all, a very successful day – and the coffers were swelled by an amount in excess of £170.

Brian Price and David Fenn both took part in the District Autumn Golf Day at Bentley’s Golf Club on Tuesday 13th October. It was a lovely day weather wise as sixty Rotarians enjoyed their days golf.
It started with a bacon roll and coffee before we tee’d off in groups of three (four in David’s group).David started well, considering he doesn’t play much these days, with a five at the first, and maintained a reasonable standard throughout the round and was scoring at about the same rate as his fellow competitors. On the tenth hole he soon woke Brian from his slumbers, as he put his tee shot extremely close to Brian and his colleagues who were playing in the group ahead. “I really thought they were well out of range but I caught my ball just right and it took off like a dream”.
We didn’t see Brian again until we completed the eighteenth hole. Brian was very coy about his score and I knew something was up as he wasn’t harping on about David’s average score. We changed and joined the others for a well earned beer before going into dinner. When the awards were announced dear old Brian’s name was the first announced. No, he didn’t wine the first prize or ecven the second for that matter. Nor was it for the longest drive or nearest the pin. He didn’t even win the prize for the most lost balls. His prize – a set of spanners, was for the biggest score of the tournament which he still won’t reveal to others. He did however, admit that it was his worst score on his home club’s course. Never mind Brian, it is the taking part that counts and at least you did go home with a prize which is more than David did.
It turned out to be a most enjoyable event, good sport, good weather a good meal and of course the most enjoyable fellowship with fellow roatarians.

When the Rotary Club’s of Basildon and Basildon Concord asked us to help them with their collection at The Eastgate Centre on Saturday/Sunday 11th-12th October, Corringham Thameside was there to assist.

The collection was in aid of shelter boxes for the relief efforts for the Samoan Tsunami and the Indonesian Earthquake disasters. A video screen was used to let shoppers know about the relief effort and the important part Shelter Boxes have in that effort. Each box contains a survival kit for ten people, including a tent, sleeping bags, a cooker, cooking utensils, and even some crayons and books for the children. Each box costs £500 and it is hoped that the collection will purchase at least one box.

District Governor John Banks and his wife Maureen helped with the collection on Saturday morning as did Assistant Governor Pam Watson-Jones making it five clubs working together for a common cause.