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 RIBI President, Peter Offer, began his visit to District 1270 at lunch with RC Humberside where 11 clubs were represented.
After congratulating the club on their achievements to date, Peter explained how he and his District Governors had selected the preferred projects, highlighting the many visits he and his wife, Jan, had made to see the work of the various organisations. When speaking about the wheelchair project he explained that it was heartbreaking to see all those people who were crawling in the dust for the want of a chair. He also shared his surprise that he had always thought children  would be the main recipients - the oldest person to receive a chair was 92! He concluded his visit to Hull by visiting Wilberforce House and The Deep.
The visit to the home of William Wilberforce, during this year, the 200th year celebrations was extremely significant in view of the anti-slavery projects being undertaken by the Hull Clubs and in view of the District's bid to sponsor a vehicle in the Hull Freedom Trail.  Hosted by John Pywell, head of Education for the Hull Museums, Peter learnt about how Hull, together with Bristol, Liverpool and Greenwich have brought about a significant change in the national curriculum whereby "slavery - past and present" will be part of the National Curriculum in 2008-2009 academic year. Explanations were also given about the national and international significance of all the projects and events that formed part of the International celebrations that are being led by Hull.
On the left a photo at the statue of the abolitionist, William Wilberforce was swifly followed by Peter, Rolf and Robin "walking on water" at the latest exhibit at The Deep - an interactive mat which when walked on makes water ripple and the fish swim away from you! Peter and Rolf then left Hull for Barnsley.  R.I.B.I. President and D.G. Rolf Sperr together with representatives from the Barnsley Rockley, Stainborough, Mexborough, and Sheffield Rotary Clubs, joined the Barnsley Club for their meeting on the 21st February. Fresh from visiting the Hull Clubs at lunch time where they launched the 'Bill Huntley Memorial Fund'. With the banner of ‘Be a friend, pay £1 for Peace' . To get the fund moving a Raffle raised £50 and other monies collected doubled this to £100.
Both Rolf and Peter spoke of the chosen projects which they had chosen to support. These were; - Cancer Research, Barnardos Impact (Eye Camps) and the Wheelchair Foundation. Peter spoke of a number of visits he had made to Romania, South Africa and Bangladesh to name but 3. He came over as a sincere and hard working President, one with whom you could easily identify and feel proud to have met in person.. David Frances (Barnsley Bulletin Editor) |
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