Events
During the Presidential year of David Barton members have been treated to an outstanding programme of Partner and Guest events.
The programme started with drinks and canapés on the terrace followed by a picnic in the grounds on a warm summer evening at Godmersham Park, a few miles away from Canterbury. Anthea Bryant gave an account of Jane Austen’s association with the house and Camilla Pay gave a harp recital and talked through the development of the instrument from the days of Jane Austen. We were told that the grand hall would only accommodate 70 but we managed to pack in 80 Members and Guests. A collection was taken for Polio Plus – a Rotary International Charity aimed at the elimination of polio worldwide and raised in excess of £700.
Our September event took us to Broome Park Country Club. The property which was owned briefly by Lord Kitchener of Khartoum provided the perfect background for a well attended dinner followed by a programme of songs and poems on a Wartime theme. There were some outstanding and memorable performances by members of the Club.
Some 126 Members and Guests attended the Club’s Christmas Dinner at the Darwin Conference Centre at the University of Kent. Special Guests included Rotary Club of Canterbury lifetime Honorary Member Lord Carey of Clifton with Lady Carey, Ambassadorial Scholars Juliane Koch and Gbenka Sobowale, and Eleanor Keel and Carlotte Burford-Newell from Interact, a newly formed organisation by the Club at the Simon Langton Grammar School for Girls. Lord Carey gave a short address and seasonal entertainment was provided by the excellent University of Kent Chamber Choir. A collection raised £503.40 which the choir members asked for half to be donated to The National Autistic Society with the balance being paid to the University of Kent Music Department to assist in their music programme.
The 2009 programme started on 17 February with a Dinner meeting (lounge suits) at St Edmunds School. Maurice Cattoor’s talk ‘Adventures in the woods’ will provide an intriguing insight of his experiences in occupied Belgium during the last war.
St Augustine’s Refectory at Kings School, Canterbury was the setting for a Black Tie Dinner meeting on 31st March. The Guest Speaker was Sheila Boyd and she spoke on ‘Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton’. The evening incuded a tour of some of the School’s more historic buildings.
Canterbury Curry Club provided the catering for the Indian Evening event on 28 April held at the Dominican Priory in Canterbury. Paul Babra catered for all tastes and a good evening was had by all.
The Club’s Safari Supper is scheduled to take place on 4th July.
Pub Evenings
The Club has taken a novel approach to the problem facing many of the members when their daily work schedule prevents them from attending the regular lunch meetings. It has instituted extra, informal, pub nights to provide a means of fellowship and atendance. A curry night, a snooker evening and a Bat & Trap (an old Kentish game – ed.) competition have all been well attended. Further similar events are planned. See the Club Diary for details.
Full details for each of the 2009 events will be published in the Club Diary well in advance.
Roger Power – Fellowship Committee.
