By Gordon Wellington, President Morriston Rotary A road trip with a difference that touched all 25 Rotary Districts has raised over £50,000 for Purple4Polio. And the icing on the cake was that Team Cymru from Morriston and Swansea Bay clubs was the only team to actually visit all 25 Districts.


Team Cymru success on the Grand Tour


“The challenge was issued by RIBI President Denis Spiller at last year’s Conference. He wanted clubs to spread the word around the UK about our work in ending polio. He proposed that each club enter a banger car and see how many Districts they could reach in four days,” said Gordon.


“After months of preparation we arrived at the starting point of the tour Wales’ oldest cinema, The Market Square Cinema, Brynmawr, the Wales checkpoint.


“Brynmawr Rotary President Elect, Marylyn Gwet made sure we had a hearty breakfast at the Talisman Public House and of course we had to pay a visit to Kutz and Kurlz salon where RIBI President for 2019/20, Donna Wallbank, made sure some of our team (myself and Russell ) sported a purple rinse to publicise that our road trip was a fund raiser for Purple 4 Polio.” For the next four days ‘Team Cymru’, myself, Russell Thomas and David Jones all from Morriston, and Phil Robbins from Swansea Valley RC took our sponsored car on a tour around the UK visiting checkpoints that included the Brands Hatch circuit, the Forth Road Bridge, the Monnow Bridge and many other places of interest. Some of the check points we visited were in the most amazing and interesting places, and we all agreed there were some we will revisit at some time in the future. However, we went a little better with our entry, and Russell took a plane to Ireland so they could be included in “The Tour”, presenting a District 1150 banner to DG Garth Arnold, of District 1160 - Ireland. The tour concluded in Halifax, West Yorkshire on the Wednesday afternoon. President Denis recounted various memorable events that occurred on the tour before he presented each team with a certificate. Denis then gave out trophies to the winners of each of four categories - the longest distance travelled - the best dressed vehicle - the shortest time taken - and finally the prize for the team which covered the most Districts of the 25 available. And


Cars are the Stars


SURPRISE, SURPRISE , when the assembled throng were asked how many had covered the full 25 Districts we were the only ones to raise our hands. We finished at The Senedd on Friday 25 May, being introduced to the First Minister by DG Maggie, in a lunchtime bash to celebrate 100 years of Rotary in Wales. All in all we raised just over £6300 on behalf of District 1150, which will join the national total estimated to be in excess of £50,000, and that’s before the Bill and Melinda Gates matched funding.


Youngsters celebrate their citizenship


Olajumoke Oketikun of John Frost High School, James Merchant of Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw, Amber Pittas of Cwmbran High School and Mary Ann Simpson of Croesyceiliog High School received certificates from DG Clive in the second Celebrating Citizenship Award for Area 6.


Henllys Rotary hosted the evening and four clubs supported the event, Cwmbran Vale, Pontypool, Newport


St Woolos and Henllys. Each club sponsored a young person who has proved to be a Person of Action. The event is not a competition and each person is sponsored because they have excelled in their service to others, by work in the community, caring, taking part in civic events, helping local, national or international charities, working with younger children or interaction with the disadvantaged at home or abroad.


Say it with flowers and Adopt a Station Members of the club met to plant flowers to brighten up the station for


Cardiff East Rotary Club has adopted its local railway station as part of its work in the community.


its users. They also carried out checks on the site to report any defects or problems to Arriva Trains. The club was kept busy during the hot spell with watering the plants on a rota system.


Photographs by Geraint Phillips


Abertillery and Blaina Rotary club Vintage Car Rally at the foundry bridge car park was well attended with 26 cars of various ages from a 1923 Rugby to a BMW 2014 and two Honda motor bikes. Julie Holt, Chair of Abertillery and Llanhilleth Community Coun- cil, judged the vehicles.


Pictured, 1st prize - Rugby Star 1924, Bob Salmon, 2nd - Mini 1000 1963, Helen Haines, 3rd - Triumph GT6 Mk 3 1973, Mike James.


The trophies and prize money were kindly sponsored by the Flyo-


ver Garage, Aberbeeg. The club also held a Wishing Well Prize Draw, with prizes do- nated by Rotarians. First prize was a £40 hamper, won by Victoria Watkins. 10


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