Busy year for Battle Rotary

David had previously been a member of the Horsham Club and commented “I wanted to continue my involvement with Rotary and was delighted to receive such a warm welcome from the members of the Battle Club and to discover how committed they are to playing a full part in the local community.”

Club President Peter Mills said new members are always welcome but was particularly pleased that someone with such a long association with Rotary has joined the Battle Club.

He said: “David has already helped with the Food Bank and our regular pre-Christmas charity collection and we look forward to his future involvement in the Club’s activities.”

Looking back over the past year Peter Mills was proud the Club had been able to help such a wide variety of groups and organisations.

In particular he highlighted the provision of a bowling machine for the Battle cricket club which will be of great benefit in the coaching of younger players, and a significant contribution towards the cost of providing new specialist treatment chairs for patients at the dialysis unit in Bexhill Hospital.

These donations were made possible by money raised from a sponsored 1066 Walk organised jointly with St Michael’s Hospice. This has now become an annual event on the last Sunday in September and plans are already in hand for the 2015 Walk. The Club was also pleased to be able to support a youth evening as part of the hugely successful Battle Arts and Music Festival.

Peter Mills added “ whilst fund raising to help other groups is at the heart of the Club’s objectives there is much more to enjoy. For example, it has become a tradition to enter teams in the annual Good Friday marbles competition and we have a stand at the Battle Summer Fete. The Club is also involved in co-ordinating the local round of a Rotary young persons speaking competition and we organise a senior citizens’ party in the splendid surroundings of Battle Abbey School. These two events underline the contrasting way in which the Rotary Club can get involved in the local community and I hope that we might attract new members in the future so that we can do even more “. He went on to thank all those who had contributed to the Club’s Christmas collection. “ In such difficult financial times for many, it is refreshing that people’s generosity continues to shine through. Without this our ability to help worthy causes would be much diminished.”