On Saturday 28^th November, the Ambassadorial Scholars assigned to District 1090 enjoyed a special day out to visit Windsor Castle and later Eton College. A visit to Windsor is considered a top priority by the scholars. On this occasion the party numbered 16 individuals representing 6 countries world wide.

The scholarship is designed to further international understanding and goodwill and by all accounts these aims were fulfilled.The students were overwhelmed by the magnificence of the Castle, the splendour of St. George’s Chapel in the morning and then after lunch a detailed visit of Eton College.

On the way back to Oxford University, the mini bus was humming with chatter about the visit.  Once again the Windsor tour had proved to be a great success. Thanks should go to Peter Jones, District  Scholar Coordinator, Rtn. Neil Aufflick for the organisation at the Windsor end, our St.George’s Chapel guides, Rtn. John Handcock and Mr Brian Williams and the tour around Eton College given by IPP. Rtn. Paul Bayley.  The Windsor & Eton Club may be visited next year by one or two members of this party when it would be good to hear what life is like in their home country and what they have achieved during their studies at Oxford University.

A limited edition of 50 prints is being produced of the cartoon by Rotarian Denis Blandford presented to HRH Prince Philip at the MG Dinner. The cost unframed is £20 and can be obtained by contacting the artist by email or directly.

dblandforddesign@aol.com or phone 01344 455158

Please note £7 of each purchase will be donated to Rotary Charities.

By kind permission of the Mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead the Windsor Guildhall hosted a dinner to celebrate the culmination of the MG Rally earlier this year. As with the Rally the guest of Honour was HRH Prince Philip who received a donation of £56,347.79 out of a total profit on the event of £67,047 on behalf of the Prince Philip Trust Fund.

Guests at the dinner were firstly welcomed by the Mayor Councillor Jesse Grey who was accompanied by his wife, the Mayoress. After dinner the President of WERC James Lang reminded everyone of the Rally, and presented Prince Philip with a framed original cartoon by Rotarian Denis Blandford to commemorate the event. Chairman of the organising committee Andrew Panter then handed over the cheque. The evening was rounded off a speech of thanks by HRH Prince Philip.

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A packed hall at Windsor Boys School saw the Windsor round of the Youth Speaks. Teams from Windsor Boys, Windsor Girls, Trevelyan, Brigidine Convent, St Peters, and St Edwards battle it out in highly entertaining set of debates in two Age Categories - Intermediate and Senior.

The two panels of distinguished judges made Windsor Boys for the Seniors and Trevelyan B for the Intermediates the winners and they now go on to the next round. WERC extends its grateful thanks to all involved especially the teams and judges.

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The Celle Rotary Club returned to Windsor for their biennial visit were treated to a packed weekend of activities including a Reception at the Constitutional Club, hosted Dinner parties, a visit to Eton College, Windsor Castle for a guided tour and Evensong, a Barn dance, a visit to Dorney Court, and lastly a lunch at Dorney Lake, before exhausted and happy returning to Heathrow for the flight home.

All agreed it had been a successful and well organised weekend.

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It is with considerable sadness that we report on the passing of Rotarian Don Harrison.

Don lived in Windsor for 40 years and joined the Rotary Club of Windsor and Eton in 1973 and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship for his work in it. He will be remembered for his quiet wit and wisdom and for his love of music and theatre which he enjoyed with his wife Trudy.

Don's funeral was held in the Methodist Church in Alma Road Windsor and was well attended by family and friends alike.

Don was a Chartered Engineer and director of a small group of engineering companies, and a Trustee of People to Places.

Don Had a successful career in Rotary too. John Handcock's official history of the Club records the following -

'In 1982 a new gymnasium for the physiotherapy department at King Edward V11 Hospital was opened. The project was lead by Don Harrison cost £35,000 and was considered a "Truly remarkable achievement" at that time involving loans, grants & major sponsorship from Bestobell, Blues & Royals, Bell Inn Dedworth plus a novel idea of a Rotary Gym held in the hospital grounds.'

The Club will miss him greatly, as will the impromptu choirs formed for various Presidents' Nights where Don's keyboard skills were essential. An event referred to by his daughter at the funeral was his unforgettable performance of Da-do-ron-ron wearing a long black wig at Savill Court in 2007.

At The Mercure Castle Hotel Air Marshall Ian Macfadyen CB, OBE became an Honorary Member of The Rotary Club of Windsor & Eton. Air Marshal Ian Macfadyen CB, OBE RAF has been appointed as the new Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle with effect from 10 August 2009. Ian Macfadyen was educated at Marlborough and graduated from RAF College Cranwell in 1963.  His flying career included service as a fighter pilot in both the United Kingdom and Germany, and a member of a formation aerobatic team before commanding a Squadron in the Falkland Islands.

He later took command of RAF Leuchars, in Fife, before assuming command of British Forces in the Middle East from General Sir Peter de la Billière after the first Gulf War.

Promoted to Air Marshal in 1994, he retired from the RAF in 1999 and was appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man until 2005, when he was appointed as National President of the Royal British Legion; a post he relinquished in January of this year.  As well as flying  for a hobby, Ian also enjoys field sports, photography, watercolour painting and golf , he is also the Honorary Inspector General of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

Ian is married to Sally and they have a son and daughter.

Richard Kidson was inducted into the Club joining a select group of new members who have come into the Club as a result of participating in one of the Charitable Fund raising projects. In this case it was the MG Rally held in April this year where Richard paraded in front of Prince Philip with all the other exhibits in his restored MG Midget.

Next time we will ask President James to open his eyes - see photo!

It was a very convivial evening and a Social event in every sense of the word.

New District Governor, Terry Kenyon, maintained District's tradition of making one of her visits of her year to our lunchtime meeting, where she outlined her aspirations for the new Rotary year.

Photographs have been received showing the inauguration and use of the multi-use training centre at Ahead (Special school for the challenged children), P30 Prince Golam Mommed Shah Road (near Bharat Petroleum Office), Kolkata -700095 (phone - 2473-2189) in India.

This was developed as a matching grant project by the Rotary Club of Calcutta Metropolitan and Rotary Club Windsor & Eton being inaugurated by Rtn. Nayantara Pal Choudhury, District Governor (District 3291) on 29-03-2009.

Rotarians David Shaw and their wives visited the project in 2007

Well-known actor Giles Watling was invited to speak at the Club by his friend Rtn. Chris Clark. Giles gave a humerous account of something of his history as an actor and as a member of one of the country's leading theatrical families which included his father Jack, and sisters Dilys and Deborah.

Giles was appearing in a production at the Theatre Royal Windsor of 'Strictly Murder' which was attended later in the week by a large group of Windsor Rotarians and their wives.

Today at the Rotary Club of Windsor & Eton the speaker was Antony Wood Chairman of Berkshire Community Foundation ( BCF ) - Windsor & Maidenhead Area.

The Berkshire Community Trust gives grants to local organisations & charities. £290, 000 was given out last year in Berkshire to 550 organisations. .  

The Trust works with High net worth Individuals & businesses to fund these grants together with Grassroots matching funding from the Government ie for each pound raised the government matches. 

The Trust are especially looking urgently for local Lawyers & Accountants to help research info dormant trusts which could be amalgamated into the BCF, which boosts the endowment funds. There are lots of dormant trust funds with Millions of pounds which were set up in the past which are no longer in use & with the charity commissioners support can be now used again for charitable use. 

Please contact Joanne Stokes Director if you could help BCF. development@berkshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk

Tel 01189303021