Visit to Rotary Club of Enniskillen and Loughan Open prison

Newtownabbey President Gavin Millar. Enniskillen President Angela McKillen and Bike 1500

President Sam compares racing bike to his new Mercedes

The Rotary Club of Enniskillen welcomed RIBI  President Peter King. D.G Philip Beggs and Jole Rider Directors David Swettenham and Helen King and representatives of other Clubs to a special meeting to mark Bike 1500 for the Gambia.

PP Trevor Stewart (Mr Jole Rider District 1160) lead a party of 10 Rotarians from Lisburn for an excellent lunch with the Enniskillen Club at the Killyhevlin Hotel.

President Angela McKinney chaired the meeting and introduced DG Philip and RIBI President Peter who each gave a short talk.

After lunch most people then travelled to Loughan Open Prison to see at first habnd the great work being done in bringing the many bikes into good condition before their shipping to the UK and then Gambia.

Bike 1500 which will soon be shipped was designated to th Newtownabbey RC.We met the three inmates servicing the bikes and were most impressed by the whole set up.

Having braved the cold and damp weather, we all adjourned for a warming cup  of tea and a short talk from David Swettenham about the final delivery of the bikes to Gambia and the hope of spreading to other African counties such as Sierra Leone.

The Prison Governor and Staff were also very positive about the benefit to the inmates of being involved in a charitable project.

The Lisburn Party returned home by 6.00pm

Bikes ready to go

Lisburn Rotary members

Speakers and Visitors February 15

Youth Services Chair Grainne Bagnall gave the Club a stimulating talk on the importance of youth services for the future of Rotary at our weekly lunch meeting on 13th February.

She told us in her usual enthusiastic style how important it was to connect with and bring Rotary to the attention of youth of all ages whether through Rotakids(under 12 years), Interact (12 to 18) or Rotaract.

Kristjan Raf Sig

Also at that meeting we were joined by Kristjan Raf Sigurdson a visitor from the Rotary club of Borgames in Iceland

Norman Campbell OBE

On Friday 20th February Norman Campbella retired Associate Dental Specailist in the Belfast City Hospital spoke to the Club on the history of the Belfast City Hospital and its origins as the workhouse in the mid 19th century.

Unforunately computer problems prevented him showing his photos but this did not prevent him giving us an insight in the terrible conditionsthose less well off had to endure at that time.It has also  given us a chance to invite him back again with his photos and a further insight into the progression from workhouse to the present day moderrn hospital.

2nd Rotary Abseil

Three Lisburn Rotarians,PP Dale Orr, Kyle Harper and Alan Moore braved the heights and the wet weather to abseil from the top of the Europa Hotel at 11am on Sunday 22nd February.

Rumour has it that Kyle nearly had a refusal. but all the more credit to him for going through with it

Members may sponsor them in this brave event to raise funds for the Cancer Fund for Children.

Dale,Kyle and Alan were supported by a number of  members who came along but kept their feet firmly on the ground.

Hopefully more pictures to follow.

President Sam In Hua Hin, Thailand

 President Sam and Janine escaped from the winter weather to holiday in Thailand. They attended a large meeting of some 250 people at the Rotary Club of Hua Hin

Lagan Search and Rescue

Philip Batt kitted out with VP Gary and volunteers Philip, Barry and Andrew

Lagan Search and Rescue is a Registred Charity run by unpaid volunteers. They are responsible for the area of water and the surrounds of the Lagan mouth and Harbour estate up as far as the Albert Bridge. They were formed only a few years ago and perform an invaluable service on a voluntary basis.

On Thursday 5th February at our evening meeting we were joined by Philip Batt, Philip McDowell, Barry Carroll and Andrew Hurst who are all volunteers with Lagan Search and Rescue. Philip Batt gave us short talk on the rescue situations  they were involved in and of all the regulations they were required to comply with.

The high degree of training the volunteers  have to go through and the unpaid time they give and the risks they take impressed all the Rotarians and guests at the dinner.