Bookham Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Bookham & Horsley Making a Difference in the Community

Lockdown Rotary New Recruit: Eddie Crouch MBE

Since writing 3 months ago, we have learnt to adapt to coping through lockdown very well. Our Virtual Zoom Meetings continue each week and are as well attended as any in the region, with 15-18 faces and wine glasses typically appearing each Wednesday evening. During our typical 75-minute call, we have been entertained by talks, music and film quizzes, and guest speakers. Two standout guest talks have been a review of the work of the Community Coronavirus Care team (and how we can help them), and highlights of a trek to the North Pole made by intrepid Bookham resident Gordon Stein (Gordon will be back with his full version with props at a live meeting next Spring).

We are now actively considering the options for our meetings, activities and fund-raising events over the next year, led by incoming Club President Keith Slark from the start of July. Getting the balance right to ensure we fit withing Government guidelines AND mindful of what the local community both want and feel comfortable with is not easy. We fully intend and hope to run such staple annual Rotary events as the November Bookham Brunch and Christmas Round-The-Houses sleigh runs, albeit with modifications as necessary. Some fund-raising events this autumn, such as bridge evenings, may have to be curtailed as too high-risk. Other new outdoor events are being considered.

The Club is in good health in terms of membership, with recent joiners last year now moving into more prominent team leading roles for fundraising, charity spending and media relations. We were also fortunate to welcome Steve Gapper to the Club this Spring. Steve is an experienced Rotarian and has been a member of clubs in Edinburgh and (most recently) Alresford near Winchester. Welcome Steve – you will make a great contribution!

Talking of contributions, the Club was delighted to present a Lifetime Honorary Membership to Eddie Crouch MBE. Eddie joined this Club in 1967, was Club President several times and also a past District Governor. This fantastic contribution to serving the local community has also been recognised with a letter from the global Rotary HQ near Chicago. The letter from Mark Maloney, International President, includes this paragraph:

Each year since you were inducted into your club, you have chosen to devote your time, energy, and skills to our organization. You are and continue to be a member because of your passion for service, and your dedication has helped make Rotary a greater force of good in the world.

Eddie, it has been our privilege to be part of Bookham & Horsley Rotary Club alongside you. If you like what you read about Rotary and would also like to make a difference, please take a look at our website and/or call us, or simply join our mailing list for occasional updates. Once normal service is resumed, you are very welcome to come along to a trial meeting.

For all details visit www.bookhamandhorsley. rotaryweb.org or contact our secretary Mark Secker on 01372 458733 or mark.secker@outlook.com

Andrew Smith