Haddenham & District Rotary Club

District 1090    R.I.B.I. Club No. 1654

My first ever blog!    Wow – the excitement – the anticipation – the panic – What’s on?
A Speaker – no……. a visit to somewhere interesting – no…….. a fellowship evening – Yes!
Oh, so not much to write about – WRONG!
The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the return to our midst of Keith Cullup, after his recent very serious health scares. Welcome back, Keith.
We also helped Jack Lazenby celebrate his 81^st birthday by consuming all of the excellent cheese he provided to finish off our meal.
Brian Holt made a most convincing pitch to be elected ‘Worst Travel Guide of the Year’ by relating how he took our other ‘very keen photographer’ and their respective wives to the other end of the country to photograph ‘For Sale’ signs on disused licensed premises and ‘Road Closed’ notices. He also booked tickets on a train that didn’t run.    Brian, you’ve got my vote!
Mike Pitcher won the raffle and Keith Smith presented the Grumpling Trophy.

The last time this recipient received the trophy was for something he hadn’t yet done – this time it was for something he had done – more than a month ago. 
Nevertheless, I thank you, Keith. The trophy was gratefully received and the contents enjoyably (hic) consumed.

Rtn. Jim Fulton.

Dr William Blythe from Chatham House, (formerly The Royal Institute of International Affairs), visited this week and addressed members on the causes and misconceptions of global warming. After an initial presentation which suffered a little bit from not having a white board, he rather cleverly inveigled club members into a lively discussion which revealed considerable depth of feeling on this subject and a rather uncomfortable conclusion that if global warming doesn’t get us, then the imminent (in geological time) ice age will ……

Rtn. Alan Dichler

http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/about/

Rotary Blog Monday 1st October 2007

The Headmaster Dr Elphick had generously given the school an extra week off at half term to celebrate the excellent report received from the Eurotary inspectors.
Indeed Dr E was so pleased that he announced that the Upper Sixth could host an impromptu midnight feast in the squits' domitory on the first night back after the holiday.  Provisions appeared as if by magic:

• the superintendent of the kitchen provided steak, chips, tomatoes, mushrooms and more chips;
• Jennings of the Remove donated some Wedding Cake that he had "borrowed" from his sister's wedding;
• Billy Bunter found 5 bottles of wine up his fag master's chimney - a bit smoky but he told us that was the new Australian style.  Jones the Captain of Rugby - after quaffing a glass or twain - remarked that he now understood the Australian tendency to choke;
• Dr E even produced a whole slice of stilton cheese and a spoon - cheese biscuits and butter appeared from somewhere;
• Inspector Gehnich was concerned by the disappearance of a pork pie from the pantry - the previous Headmaster and Director of Development claimed that it was well past its sell-by date and had been condemned to a fate worse than death.

At school Assembly the next day the Bursar reported that the books were well balanced and - in the cold light of a soberish dawn - the Development Director revealed his resignation honours list (this metaphor is getting hopelessly mixed ... Ed):

• Andrew - an umbrella because he had no plan B;
• Behan - a well deserved Oscar;
• Smith - the Founder's jockstrap;
• Clarke - a book on all you need to know about women;
• Pitcher - a book of Quiz Questions (so the donor can do better next time?) 

The School Secretary spoke at length - which is unusual - something about the new school Christmas Cards which we have to con our parents into buying even though the boys have declared a truce on the sending of cards. 

Dr E announced new dates for our diaries:

• Commem will be held at the Oxfordshire on 20th November - the new Founder's Hymn will be sung (Dr Chasuble is still looking for altos);
• the end of term Christmas Dinner will be held in Darussos - Bledlow Ridge - on 17th December
• the annual prep school conference will be held in Bournemouth from 4th - 6th April 2008

Normal service will be resumed shortly.

Rtn Mike Pitcher

(Published as received - Ed)