December 28, 2009, 3:24 pm
The 2009 Sleigh Appeal commenced on the 29th November and concluded on the 23rd December. It toured the streets for eleven nights and the turnout was fantastic! We were very warmly greeted everywhere we went. Over the weekends we visited our local superstores: Asda, Morrisons, The Cooperative and B&Q where again we where welcomed enthusiastically.
Initially, the weather was quite kind with only one street collection having to be re-arranged but with the advent of heavy snowfalls towards the end of the appeal we sadly were unable to attend our final two scheduled supermarkets.
Despite this setback, we raised the magnificent sum of £8704.63. Some of the money raised has already been used to good effect with the pantomime visit and presents for the needy as detailed below. Early next year the club will also be treating around a hundred and fifteen senior citizens to a musical evening at Dunscar Conservative Club. The remaining funds will be distributed over the coming weeks and months to local charities, groups and organisations with further donations made to international charities.
The club would like to thank RRG Bolton for once again providing us with a tow vehicle. This year they have excelled themselves and really went to town decorating the vehicle, it was greatly admired wherever it went!
President Mike and all the Club Members would like to thank everybody who came out and supported the Sleigh Appeal 2009. For 2010 Christmas Sleigh dates and locations please here.
December 17, 2009, 8:10 pm
At our club meeting on the 17th December we held our Christmas Party, celebrated with a full Christmas dinner and pudding! This special meeting is always held on the Thursday after we have finished the street collections of our Sleigh Appeal so that all members are able to attend.
We welcomed Fiona Kilner, accompanied by her mother, to the Club. Fiona is an ex-Boltonian now living about thirty miles North of Los Angeles and is a member of Westlake Village Sunrise Rotary Club, in California District 5240. Fiona initially made contact through the Club website.
Chris Wormald and his daughter from Smithills Brass Band joined us and provided the music for our carol singing, after which President Mike presented a cheque of £200 for the band. A good time was had by all with President Mike wishing everybody present a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Many thanks to Stephen Hughes for the photographs.
December 13, 2009, 6:17 pm
On the 13th December the Club purchased and wrapped a Christmas present and a selection pack of chocolate and toffee bars for 158 children from families in need. The Christmas presents will be distributed over the following week or so by club members to the families.
Chairman Alan would like to thank the local schools and the district nurses who identified those children in need. Additional thanks to Udrive for providing the vehicle free of charge for the collection and distribution of the presents. Chairman Alan would also like to thank Rotarians David, Sandy, Peter, Graham, Ray, Eric and member‘s wives Pat and Irene who joined him at Birtenshaw School to wrap the presents and help make Christmas that little better for the children in need.
December 3, 2009, 6:45 pm
On the 3rd December 2009, 10 members of the Club accompanied 139 children and 17 staff from five local schools to the morning matinee performances of the pantomime ‘Cinderella’ at the Albert Halls, Bolton.
The schools were Moorgate Primary, Castle Hill Primary, St. Columbas Primary, Tong Moor Primary and St. Catherines Academy (formerly Top o‘th Brow Primary).
A coach took the children and staff with two Rotarians from each school to the Albert Halls and returned them to the schools after the performance where the Rotarians handed out a present of chocolate and toffee bars to each child.
The pantomime starred local heros Stu Francis as Buttons and Bernard Wrigley as Baron Hardup and maintained the much loved traditional audience participation including “Oh no you can‘t!” and “He‘s behind you!”. The kids loved it, so did the adults, and joined in noisily! A good time was had by all!
A great way for the club to invest in future generations of Bolton citizens.
