Page 37 - Phonebox Magazine August 2016

procession and visit the stalls on riverside meadow. I can say what a great family event it was as usual, even though it rained on the procession. I can say the same about the Strawberry Fayre that managed to hold back inclement weather and produce another great family event. The strawberries were really tasty. Congratulations also to the 7th annual Soapbox Derby on Silver Street. Watching drivers of all ages zooming (I use the word loosely) down Silver Street aiming to become this year’s champion. And the rain stayed away. Thank you, too, to all the committees and supporters of these great events. Finally I cannot close until I have said congratulations to Newport Pagnell’s swimming club as they celebrate their 120th Anniversary and held a tremendous swimming gala at Middleton Pool. On the 6th July Newport Pagnell held its ‘Clean for the Queen’ volunteer’s litter picking event. The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Egan, met all the volunteers and also took part in the litter picking at Green Park School. This was a great event, organised by the Town Council. 89 supporters turned out in the morning to litter pick and further large groups of families also litter picked at Green Park and Cedars Schools in the afternoon. 94 bags of litter were collected. The Scouts also contributed to the event by litter picking a few weeks ago.
Olney Brass
Beginners Band on Tour
S
recruits. They played a varied programme to about 1500 potential musicians.
Having been funded by Olney Town Council and with money from MKCF Grant, the band are able to offer free lessons and the loan of an instrument to anyone who wishes to learn a brass instrument. The beginner band will then become Olney Brass Junior Band ensuring the continued development of brass playing in the area.
Olney Brass welcomes enquiries from players of all abilities as well as anyone wishing to start from the beginning. Please contact us at info@olneybrass.co.uk
The Rotary Club of Newport Pagnell
The end of the Rotary year
he Rotary year runs from June to July. On 29th June, after a very successful year, outgoing President Wendy Egan handed over to incoming President Paul Campion. Paul in turn appointed President Elect Derek Barker and President
Nominee Michelle Carter. Our Service Committee Chairs then outlined a busy programme of events for 2016/17.
The Rotary International Theme for the coming year is “Rotary Serving Humanity”.
By the time this article is published we will have held our Summer Concert at the Chrysalis Theatre to raise funds for Willen Hospice, End Polio Now and local charities. The concert features the Northampton Male Voice Choir and renowned local soprano Emily Haigh.
Our Plant Sale in Olney in May made a good contribution to the causes we support.
Unfortunately, wet weather prevented us having our stall and Stroke Awareness presentation at Newport Pagnell Carnival, but we were present at the Strawberry Fayre the next weekend.
We will have “bucket collections” in Newport Pagnell on 13th August, and in Olney on 3rd September, to raise more funds for Willen Hospice. We will host a family friendly Barn Dance in Lavendon on 29th October. A member of our Club completed a 109km sponsored walk over five days around the boundary of Milton Keynes. He raised £320 for Milton Keynes Community Foundation on the occasion of their 30th Anniversary. A video of the walk is on YouTube.
ince being formed in 2015, Olney Brass Beginners Band have come a long way. Under the direction of David Rose, who plays in the senior band, the group have developed into an ensemble capable of playing concerts in their own right. This week the band have toured the local schools in Newport Pagnell looking for new
Continuing the theme of walking, our weekly meetings included a presentation on hiking the 800km Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Spain. Not necessarily related, another presentation was on the role and responsibilities of an Emergency First Responder. We have also been visited by Rotary Scholars from California and France who are studying locally.
Our social events included our President’s Dinner and lunches for the separate Service Committees, with an informal barbecue to follow in mid August.
More information is available from our web page, Facebook page and Twitter. If you are interested in attending one of our meetings, or joining Rotary, please contact us by e-mail at rotary.np@btinternet.com or telephone 07785 368101.
August 2016 | Phonebox Magazine 37