President Liz Robinson at the Charter Dinner,
with President John Craik and Angie. Alan Robinson seems to be getting in the
way as usual |
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VERY SOON after the foundation of the Rotary Club of
Cuckfield & Lindfield, a group of members' wives got together for a few
informal meetings at the home of Angie Craik, wife of Founder President John
Craik.
They soon decided they would like a more regular way of
getting to know one another and enjoying each other's company, and an inaugural
meeting of the Inner Wheel Club of Cuckfield & Lindfield was held on 10
April 1985. At the Charter Dinner on 26 June at the Birch Hotel, Haywards
Heath, 22 founder members were listed on the programme for the evening, with
Liz Robinson the first President. |
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Since then the Club has gone from strength to strength,
meeting regularly every month — at members' homes in the first few years,
then at the Bent Arms in Lindfield, but for some time now at Paxhill Park Golf
Club, Lindfield.
Memorable events in the life of the Club include the
Rainbow Party in 1988, the Mad Hatters' Tea Party in 1989, and the Turkish
Bazaar in 1991, to name but a few. Theatre outings, lunches and suppers, and
fashion shows have all been regular features of the Club's social
programme. |
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1986: Liz Robinson cuts the first birthday cake (left) and
hands over to Mary Gratwick (right) |
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Yes, it can only be the Mad Hatters' Party,
folks (1989) |
Members of the Club have frequently supported District
events, attending quarterly District Delegates' meetings and the annual
District Rally, and the Club has also been represented at the National
Conference.
The Club has a consistently good record of fund-raising for
a wide range of charities, starting with the Pestalozzi Village in 1986.
Practical help has also been given regularly, from supporting patients at the
old St Francis Hospital in Haywards Heath to the orphan children of
Romania. |
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The Club has several fund-raising events each year, and
supports charities locally, nationally and overseas — and members make
sure they enjoy themselves at the same time.
Over the years, the charities supported include the Sussex
Autistic Society, Motor Neurone Disease, Kangaroo/100 Club at Court Meadow
Special School, Friends of Princess Royal Hospital, St Peter & St James
Home & Hospice, Headway Hurstwood Park .... |
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1992: Sally Dew, Barrie Robb and President Margaret Wilson
at the District Rally |
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Eighth Birthday Party candle-lighting ceremony
(1993) |
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.... the Parkinsonian Society, Citizens' Advice Bureau, St
Patrick's Night Shelter for the Brighton Homeless, McMillan Nurses, the Marie
Curie Foundation, the RNLI, Chase Children's Hospice, National Osteoporosis
Society, Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust, Arthritis Research, Age Concern, Red
Cross, Save the Children Fund, Family Social Work, Shoe Boxes to Romania and
Kosovo, Water Aid, Children of Rwanda, the Friends of Russian Children, the
Honduras Disaster Fund, child education at the Barbara Kelly Home in Madras,
and more. |
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In recent years, the Club’s programme has included an
Open Garden/Plant Sale to raise funds for the Golden Lions Children’s
Trust, a Valentine Evening to raise funds for the Heatherley Cheshire Home at
Copthorne, a Fashion Show & Sale for Hope & Homes for Children in
Kosovo and the Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia. Other fundraising events include
Bridge Drives, Soup & Pate Lunches, Coffee Mornings, and an Old Time Music
Hall. Members are also making colourful blankets, little dresses and shorts for
overseas hospitals and care homes, giving additionally opportunities for a cup
of tea and a good gossip in members' homes. |
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Valentine Party: all those hearts are a dead giveaway, girls
(1995) |
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Christmas drinks (1996) |
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Past Presidents
1985 Liz Robinson 1986 Mary Gratwick 1987 Jill Goodrich
1998 Vanessa Forbes 1989 Liz Law 1990 Julia Young 1991 Margaret Wilson 1992
Barrie Robb 1993 Moira Kinnear 1994 Sally Dew 1995 Val Dearden 1996 Sue French
1997 Veronica Griffiths 1998 Carole Sharp 1999 Sue Landauer 2000 Winkie Grundon
2001 Carol Davey 2002 Diane Negus 2003 Eileen Sawyer 2004 Deborah Ruse 2005
Valerie Clapp |
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