Bulletin 7 12 | Page 5

Autumn Golf Luton Rotary Autumn Fellowship Golf took place at Harpenden Golf Club on Monday 10th August….. with rain forecast and an early start. However the weather was kind and excellent fellowship prevailed with Henry Dryden, Andrew Randall, Paul Bithrey, David Ball, Bob Hogarth and David King being joined by ex-Club member Bob Firbank whose team included Stephen Cook from Luton Chiltern, and two from Luton Town FC including David Wilkinson. “Home Advantage prevailed” with 1st Paul Bithrey 45pts and 2nd Henry Dryden 33pts however everyone enjoyed their day on a very well prepared course in excellent condition being a pleasure to play. “Cottage Pie” for lunch and big thanks to Henry for arranging…. Everyone agreed we want to come back… Sorry Henry!! Rtn David King SCATTER WEEK Due to the cancellation of our regular Thursday lunchtime meeting on the 30 th July President Kevin, Jack Sapsworth, Jonathan Siegler and myself took breakfast with Someries Rotary Club on the Friday at 7.15am. It was a very relaxed occasion, the President wearing a Rotary polo shirt, whilst others were void of ties and the ladies dressed for a warm summer day. The club content was varied and “snappily” dispensed concentrating on their largest venture to date, a Classic Car Show on Sunday 9th August at Pulloxhill. With stalls available at a modest cost this could develop into something of scale inside two years and maybe something for our club to consider engaging with perhaps with a side stall? Their speaker, Lance Haggith spoke of founding Sports Traider (See opposite), a charity based in Bedford and through recycling sports equipment, often wholesale seconds as well as donations, the accumulated funds are dispersed to enrich the lives of disadvantaged young people many of whom are disabled. They did open a shop in Luton in 2011 in partnership with Active Luton, but the high costs levied by Luton Borough Council caused the venture to fail. Shops continue to exist successfully at Watford, Bedford and several major Towns in the region. He is attempting links with Rotary clubs and the TOKKO Youth Centre in Gordon Street, Luton and may open another shop in Luton soon. A very interesting concept worthy of exploring further especially if some form of partnership could be developed for Stockwood athletic track? I prefer lunchtime meals however, now home for a sleep!! Rtn. John Maddox New members continued... Debra Knight Debra created and runs a voluntary organisation called Nine Red Presents. Amongst the 15 or more community projects that she introduced which responds to community needs there is one in particular that has resonance with Debra, this is AVS, Abused Victim Support, the project she recently spoke about at the club. Having suffered from abuse herself found that through her own experiences she could offer others who have also suffered an invaluable support to help them deal with the trauma of their experience. In January 2013, Debra was presented with an award in recognition of her valuable services to the community and in acknowledgment of Nine Red Presents. At the 2014 Luton's Best Awards, Debra was the recipient of the Luton's Most Outstanding Citizen award recognising her contribution to positive voluntary investment in the local community." Rtn Martin Iles