Magnazine

A Message from the Chair!

It is hard to imagine that we are halfway through the Rotary year. I hope you are still enjoying your Rotary as much as I am. Thank you to those who joined Gill and me at Torbay for the District Conference. We enjoyed a wide range of speakers and I am now more informed in a wide range of ladies underwear, of which a number of Magna Ladies had fond memories!!! The highlight as always is the fellowship, and staying at our holiday park and in holiday caravans gave us lots of opportunity to indulge in large doses of it. We are already looking forward to joining Chris in Jersey later this year.

Our major fund raising event in the first sixth months was the wine evening which was held at Stoneham Golf Club. Thank you to David Barrett and Chris Clark for putting on a great evening which allowed us to raise funds for Tools for Self Reliance. Our comedian Paul Eastwood was excellent value and he showed that you can be funny without swearing.

As I write this Christmas message our thoughts are with those in Cumbria whose lives have been devastated by the recent floods. Their Christmas will obviously not be the happy one they were planning. Once again such a crisis shows the power of the Rotary family. This district is already in touch with Rotarians in the area seeing how we can help. Magna will be doing our bit and will be sending some funds to the District Disaster Fund.

February sees Rotary's "Thanks for Life" campaign. Both Sainsbury's and Tesco's are allowing Rotarians to collect outside selected stores. Saturday 20th February sees our own "Thanks for Life" event, which is a Charity Gala Dinner in aid of "Thanks for Life" and "Leukaemia Busters". The Novotel can hold a maximum of 350 for such events and it is my goal to fill the place.
If everyone can bring along at least one couple as guests we are half way there. Together with the support of the Novotel and friends of Leukaemia Busters I am sure we will have a great night. The entertainment for the evening is "The Red Stripe Band".
They are a favourite of Gill's and mine and are a great and entertaining band. Under the Eddie Critchley theory of finance, the event is free as it is doubling as my President's Night, which I know you would have all turned up to!!

And if you need more, on April 24th we have our Welsh friends "Cantorion Cregiau" performing for us at the Turner Sims in aid of Rose Road. You will no doubt remember them from Cardiff. See Wynn Evans for tickets - it will be another good evening.

The need for new members is now critical as evidenced by no one putting themselves forward as President Elect or heading up the golf tournament. We are all proud of Magna and all enjoy our Rotary, but we do need to attract new members. Please take every opportunity to bring people along to our meetings. Rotary gives us the opportunity to make a difference in the world and give something back to society. We have an interesting and varied speaker programme and a wide range of social events on offer so get inviting!!!
While it is good that we have a number of successful fund raising events it is important not to forget that our project work doesn't just have to be fund raising.

Christmas kicks off for me with our Christmas Party, which is always a great evening. Thank you for all of your support. Gill and I wish you and all of your family a Happy Christmas and a healthy, happy and prosperous 2010.

District Conference at Torbay

President James hosted drinks at Hoburne's Torbay Holiday Park before everyone left for the Gala Dinner. James organised coaches, ensuring equal opportunity to enjoy the evening without driving back "to camp".

Magna members, together with their ladies, took up residence at the Hoburne Torbay Holiday Park in October. A party, some 30 strong, attended District Conference supporting President James. Some showed courage, considering the weather, by bringing their own caravans whilst the lovers of comfort were housed in palatial chalets equipped with all mod cons.

Plenty of good Rotary work, and fun, came together to ensure an informative, reflective and happy weekend

A couple of our young (at heart) members strutting their stuff
(right)

The Three Rs were caught discussing the fortunes of Southampton Football Club!
(above)

Wine Tasting Report

Ninety three Magna Members and guests brought their taste buds to our "Fund Raiser" in aid of International Charities. There were two anxious people present; your organiser and your President! The first because of the unknown quality of the new caterer and the latter because of the fact that he had personally booked the entertainer! Both did not need to have any anxieties. The eats were good and the entertainer, Paul Eastwood, turned out to be the best comedian the event has enjoyed in years.

Thanks go to Peter Chapman for the production of an excellent menu/programme and to Chris Clark who, as usual, was his enthusiastic self, extracting money from the guests for the tasting competitions and the old favourite "Heads & Tails". The wines, selected entirely to your organiser's tastes were all from Waitrose. Some Ł1600 was raised, Ł1150 of which has already been passed to "Tools for Self Reliance" of Netley Marsh.

David Barrett (For International Committee)

Well done David Barrett and team and many thanks to club members for their terrific support!

Paul Eastwood with Khashayar Ghaffari enjoying a joke

Christmas Party

Magna's much appreciated approach to its Christmas Party prevailed again this year. The programme for the evening at the Novotel began with music by the Gregg School Orchestra leading carol singing followed by a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. Dishes cleared away gave the signal for the now famous Magna Review to commence. "Strictly Dumb Prancing" was conducted before a panel of grumpy judges who managed to avoid the cameras (although your correspondent is advised that Messrs Stringer, Oldfield and Rule have been filmed). We were entertained to the "highest?" quality of ballroom dancing one could imagine, ranging from Latin American to Dumbell waltzing! The audience defied the judges and voted Chris and Chris as the winners. I'm not quite sure why, but I think it was because of the charming dress worn by one of the Chris's.

The professionals who followed were up to the challenge set by the amateurs, with Lainey Walsh and Mitchell Craig rounding off our evening in great style and fashion. It was good to see them again.

The Gregg School Orchestra opened the proceedings

Like the outfits! Maurice and Johnny working hard

Dumb Prancing hosts Paul & Shaun (guess who is in the dress)

Lorna Clark & Jean Edwardes produced
beautiful table decorations

The Dumb Prancing teams take a well deserved bow.

Shoe Box Collection - 2009

Once again we took part in the Shoe box scheme and this year we collected 920 Boxes. District was able to send off to Montenegro, Tanzania and Romania just over 27,000 boxes; so you can see that once again we made quite a considerable contribution. Many thanks to all those that took part and to those who organised and arranged for Churches, Schools, clubs and friends to help, plus those who helped in the collection and down at the Docks.

The success of the scheme is to encourage those outside Rotary to become involved and perhaps you could give some thought, during the coming months, as to whom you could persuade in the future. Next year why not have a "Shoe Box" supper for your friends on the basis that they provide you with a Shoe Box in return. If it is successful it could well snowball. We really ought to break the 1000 barrier next year.

The photographs were taken last year of children in Tanzania receiving their Christmas gifts. I think the joy and smiles on their faces makes it all worth while.

Bill Rule

Lunch with the Rotary Club du Medoc

The Halfpennys, Kilburns, O'Dells, Smiths and Rules set off in early September to visit the Rotary Club du Medoc and to attend their Wine Festival at the Chateau Marquis de Terme at Margaux. We all left England at different times and by different transport (thus avoiding the attention of the French Police) but fortunately all arrived by the Saturday. We had been booked into the hotel where the French club meet and they looked after us very well.

On Sunday we were welcomed at the Chateau and after watching a wine investiture ceremony we had aperitifs and canapes before the lunch. Lawrie Smith had travelled down to the event in his old Bentley and had driven it to the festival. This became the centre of attraction and was much admired by the French. The lunch was a four course meal with four different wines which all took some time to consume. There were the usual welcomes to the visiting clubs and Keith Kilburn gave our response in their native language.
This year they had an auction of wines instead of the usual draw. Bearing in mind that all the members of the Rotary Club are connected with the wine trade it was surprising how much money was raised by the auction. The most expensive lot was a bottle of Chateau Latour which fetched Ł305 ! ! ! In the late afternoon we returned to the hotel for a rest.

In the evening the President of the club was having a supper party for his members and wives and very kindly invited us all to join them at his home. Oysters were the starters and then followed a cold buffet and deserts plus the obligatory wines. A most enjoyable weekend was had by one and all. Early on Monday we all dispersed and went on our separate ways back to Southampton.

The Haut Medoc is a lovely part of France and you don't have to buy the expensive wines as there are plenty of others readily available. All you have to do is to try them. If we are fortunate to get an invitation again next year I can thoroughly recommend the visit.
Bill Rule

Partners' evening - 29 October 2009

October 29th, being the fifth Thursday in the month, a partner's evening was treated to a "Double Bill".

A most entertaining talk by the Editor in Chief of the Southern Evening Echo, Ian Murray, was followed by an "update" from Dr David Flavell on our Club's special Charity "Leukaemia Busters".

Left to right: David & Bee Flavell of Leukaemia Busters. IanMurray, Southern Evening Echo. President James Lapage

Car Screen Wash

It was not really the weather for screen washing but the show must go on! Some Ł660 was collected for our local purchase of Christmas fare for deprived families. Running alongside the Screen wash, in the entrance lobby of Sainsbury's and M&S, the Southampton & District Soroptomists were gallantly tin shaking. Our pictures show Rotarian Rebecca (from the new Breakfast Club) working alongside Maurice - and Reg Oliver renewing acquaintance with a cruising friend!

District Team Snooker - 15 December 2009

Magna triumphed in the District first round. Having snookered Alresford, Magna now face Southampton East in the next round. Well done David B, Wyn E, David H, Tony N, Reg& Mike S.

Letter from Eddie Critchley (Magna Past President)

Eddie was our Club President way back in 1991/2. Since he and Sheila took up residence in Spain he has not failed to keep in touch. (see page 17 of the Club Directory). Eddie wrote to our President to wish us all well for Christmas and the New Year. He says that he and Sheila are both well and that their sons are doing well, one in Mexico and the other in China!
Kindly, Eddie sent a donation to our Charity Fund in lieu of sending individual Christmas cards.

Woolston Bridge collection 11 December
for
Hampshire & IOW Air Ambulance

The collection on 11th December by volunteers from Southampton and District Soroptomists & Magna Rotarians raised Ł3271.85 for Hampshire & IOW Air Ambulance.

Gareth Howe

A former member of our club (1983) Gareth, died 12, in hospital in Cardiff after several weeks of illness. He is survived by his wife, Carys, and two sons and a daughter, all of whom are living in or near Barry, Glamorgan. Gareth came to this district to run Burt Boulton timber, later returning to Barry to retire.

A very prominent figure, Gareth was Lord Lieutenant of the County of Glamorgan, a busy Church man, a Rotarian, a Consultant Timber expert and Chairman of a project to restore the Barry Memorial Hall. As a wartime Naval Officer, his ship was in Japanese waters when the atomic bombs brought an end to the war.

Editors: Bill Edwardes & Vic Everett
Artwork and Design: Vic & Linda Everett
Photography: Brian Kingston et al