The Rotary Club of Keynsham Chew Valley What we're doing

Friendship Clinic, Nepal

This is an on-going project for our Club. The story of how it came about is summarised here:
In 1987, Beryl and Peter Shore from Bristol were backpacking through India and Nepal en-route to the International Scout Jamboree. Somehow they got hopelessly lost in the remote village of Meghauli in Nepal. There they were befriended by an English-speaking local boy - Hari - who insisted that they share his humble home for the night, before setting them on their way the next morning.
They remained friends with Hari over the years, and when he told them of his dream to provide his village with a medical facility, the Shore family and friends helped make his dream come true through their FRIENDSHIP CLINIC, NEPAL charity.
The Rotary Club of Keynsham Chew Valley has supported the charity over the last three years with both financial and other assistance. We have given £750 which ensured the provision of a water supply for the Clinic, and, with the help of WESSEX WATER, provided two computers to assist in the administration required for the clinic which now treats over 200 people a week. We have also been able to put the charity in touch with the NEPAL TRUST, a charity working on similar projects but in a different part of Nepal, and they are able to provide mutual support to each other. In addition, we have put them in touch with WATER AID a charity that assists people to provide an accessible safe water supply for themselves where none currently exist. It is hoped that this will lead to Meghauli getting a proper water supply in the not too distant future.

The photograph (left) shows the banner of the Rotary Club of Keynsham Chew Valley being hung on the "Wall of Friendship" in the clinic (right) at Meghauli.

In March 2002 Peter Shore paid us another visit, and presented the Club with a Certificate of Thanks - reproduced below - in recognition of the support which we have been able to give.

Clinic Nepal web site may be found at http://www.clinicnepal.org

Kids Out

We support the Rotary Kids Out programme, and take a party of handicapped children from our area on a day out in June each year. In recent years we have gone to Longleat Safari & Adventure Park. In June this year we again took a group of handicapped children from a Bristol school to Longleat. It was a good day out for all of us - children and adults, and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Forthcoming Fund-Raising Events

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This Year

This year the Club is, once again, involved in the Rotary Shoe-Box Scheme, with the help of local Primary Schools and in December 2001 sent off over 300 boxes for distribution (the picture shows children from Chandag Junior School, Keynsham presenting boxes to Rotarians); and we have collected unwanted spectacles for Sightsavers International, greatly helped by the local branch of Specsavers Opticians.

In November 2001, we started a collection of unwanted foreign currency (and donations in sterling as well) with the intention of purchasing a Disaster Shelter Box containing a large tent, sleeping bags, tools etc. - enough to provide warmth and shelter for ten people - in readiness for despatch to a disaster area. The photograph shows Rotarians collecting in Keynsham town centre.

We held a very successful Quiz Night in February, under the very able leadership of International Chairman Jim Robertson, the proceeds going to the same cause. These two events raised sufficient money to enable us to purchase two of the boxes.

In December 2001, we were able to present a cheque to the Fire Victim Support Team of the Keynsham Branch of The British Red Cross to enable the purchase of replacement pager units to call them to incidents. Rotarians are here shown making the presentation at Keynsham Fire Station.

In February we held a Jazz Night featuring the Blue Note Jazz Band, led by Roger Bennett, and vocalist Hannah Wedlock. The evening was a sell-out and very successful, much enjoyed by all who came. Profits to be donated to Dorothy House Hospice.

The event raised £1100, and the picture below shows Past President Graham Duckett presenting a cheque to Helen Francis from Dorothy House.

District 1100 Conference 2002

This year's Conference was again held at Bournemouth. The Club was represented by joint Presidents Peter Bishop, & his wife Jill (left),and Graham Duckett with his wife Helen (right), together with Michael Dovey & wife Barbara. The weekend was blessed with glorious weather, and Conference was, as usual, very enjoyable and informative.

Handover - June 2002

New member Steve Spiteri being inducted at Handover by retiring President Peter Bishop. His sponsor, Bob Bruton in background.

Joint President Peter Bishop hands over the Jewel of Office to incoming joint Presidents Roger Billings and Russ Pocock. Other retiring joint President, Graham Duckett is on the right of the picture.

Past Projects

In recent years, major projects have included raising money for donations to the Macmillan Nurses at Frenchay hospital, Bristol, Dorothy House Hospice at Bath, and to the Children's Hospice South West at Barnstaple; and the supply of medical equipment to a Children's Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

To contact us please e-mail Dr. Michael Dovey at msd@classicfm.net