The Rotary Club of Corringham Thameside

Along with many other Rotary Clubs across the country, Corringham Thameside are planting purple crocuses in public places to highlight the fight against polio worldwide. All Rotarians have since 1985 raised many millions of pounds to help finance the imunisation of children across the world against this terrible disease. Polio is now only endemic in four countries – India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. Rotary is working flat out to end this scourge for ever. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $250,000,000 if Rotary can match the figure within three years. So far we’re reaching our goal, but to highlight our efforts we have planted 2,000 purple crocus bulbs in the traffic island adjacent to Springhouse and Giffords Cross roads in Corringham. It was a scramble to get hold of the bulbs as the demand from Rotary has left very few, if any left in Holland. So far, more than 2 million bulbs have been purchased by Rotary Clubs in Great Britain. The bulbs, we hope will bloom at the end of February 2011 when we will be holding a street collection in Corringham to support our fundraising efforts for this worthy cause.
We have also enlisted the help of the children of Corringham Primary School who will also be planting crocuses in the garden created for them by the Rotary Club.
Let us hope that the efforts of all Rotarians around the world will result in the eradication of polio worldwide.

The club played host to District 1240 District Governor Bob Barclay on Thursday 21st October 2010. D.G. Bob, who is a member of the Chelmer Bridge Rotary Club was welcomed by Club President David Fenn. In his address to the club, the District Governor praised the club for their work and highlighted in particular, the vocational work we do in the local schools, with our handicapped fishing day and our Give-A-Can. He also praised the club for their Public Relations work. He particularly liked our new banners, our radio programme and our newly created “Original One Arm Bandit” sideshow, all of which brough the Rotary message to the club. He also highlighted this years motto “Building Communities, Bridging Continents”. He thanked the club for their efforts in raising funds for the “Thanks for Life – End Polio Now campaign.
He later presented club President David Fenn with a banner from Rotary International President Ray Klingsmith, and also one of a limited edition from the Chelmer Bridge club which celebrated both their 25th Anniversary and Bob’s year as District Governor.
It was clear that he enjoyed his evening with the Rotarians of Corringham Thameside as did the club members.

On Saturday 16th October, the Rotary Club of Corringham Thameside took part in the annual King Harold Day Celebrations.
This was the opportunity for the club to display their newly purchased gazebo and the side show for the “Original ONe Arm Bandit”. Arriving at the site at 8.30 a.m. we soon had the gazebo erected, and it wasn’t long before we had the side showa in place. “The Original One arm Bandit”, which required contestants to ring a bell which prompted the three rotarians sitting behind the screen to hand a piece of fruit through the holes to decide the winners. Three of a kind resulted in the contestant gaining a prize. It proved to be very popular amongst the children and caused much hilarity amongst the adults.
In addition to this we had a darts game, where contestants were invited to throw three darts at a target. The target being a picture of a Norman soldier. The idea was to hit the Norman in the eye ( a sort of revenge for King Harold).
We also sold “Punch” Balloons to tthe children, and these too soon ran out.
With many attractions to choose from, there were archery displays, morris dancing, falconry and an array of interesting stalls to keep the visitors amused. Many of the stall holders were dressed for the occasion as were three of our Rotarians.
We would like to place on record, our thanks to the ladies who turned up with the Rotarians to help us make this a very successful day. We raised in excess of £220 for charity.