Year 2004

Some of the guests enjoying dinner at the Ravenswood,
Sharpthorne on 20 March 2004

Top table guests including Inner Wheel Club President
Eileen Sawyer (left) and President's lady Clare Wilson (second left)

District Governor Barry Hopkins gives his address

President David Wilson welcomes the guests

Laval Ambroise Paré President Jean-Patrick Guibout responds

Haywards Heath President Alan Jenkins for the guests

Past President John Davey with his Paul Harris medal after being presented with Rotary's most prestigious award by District Governor Barry Hopkins at the Charter Anniversary dinner on 20 March 2004
Right: Carol Davey joins the party

Nearly 40 members and wives turned out on the last Sunday in May for the walk completing ten years of monthly President's Walks. Jon Martin led the anniversary walk, just as he had led the first one in 1994. After the walk Jon and Diane entertained everyone for drinks in their garden and then we all repaired to the Coach & Horses in Danehill for lunch.

Club members have been taking local handicapped children to the Chessington World of Adventures for many years. This year again in June we took a contingent from Court Meadow School in Cuckfield. The kids seem to enjoy the day enormously, and it is suspected the Rotarians do as well.

This year's competition raised a record £9,000 for charity. Another record was the achievement of the highest score so far, 31,610, totalled by one team throwing darts for an hour. Ansty Men's Sports & Social Club now lead the field. President David Wilson is shown here presenting the prizes at the Royal British Legion Club in Horsted Keynes in June.
Pictured (right) is Jo Hedges, Head Teacher at Court Meadow School in Cuckfield, receiving the Club's donation of a cheque for £5,000.

President David Wilson's year finished on a high note at Rowfant House in June when for Ladies' Evening the entertainment was provided by the highly acclaimed HK Glee Club. Seen here are the members of the group (left to right) Colin Griffiths, Barry Reed, Alan "Eddie Calvert" Hancock, Michael Kirk, and hairy David Wilson at the mighty organ. No one who saw this performance will ever forget it.

(left) During the June Ladies' evening, President David Wilson presented a Paul Harris Fellowship award to Jo Hedges, Head Teacher at Court Meadow School in Cuckfield. This was the first time the Club had made such an award to a non-Rotarian.
(right) Finally, outgoing President David Wilson handed over the chain of office to the incoming President for 2004/05, Ivan Grundon.

Past Presidents of the Club met with their ladies for the first
Past Presidents' lunch on 17 October in the Locker-Lampson room of Rowfant House

A party of 29 Club members and wives attended District 1250's 23rd Annual Conference in the Bournemouth International Centre on a wild and wet weekend late in October.

The Conference was of a high standard, well run by District Governor Peter Nightingale, and included some star speakers and presentations.

RI President Glenn Estess was represented at the Conference by Past District Governor Rekha Shetty of Madras.

Some clubs were invited to make presentations on their major projects, and first on the stage in this category was Cuckfield & Lindfield, well represented by Alex Mackenzie and Past President David Wilson.

RIBI President Gordon McInally addressed the Conference with distinction, as did several others including Paul Whittaker (on Music and the Deaf) and Col Mark Cook (Hope & Homes for Children). Richard Stilgoe was superb speaking and entertaining on behalf of the Orpheus Centre.

Twenty Club members and wives enjoyed a couple of days in Lille in mid-November. Highlight of the trip was the visit to Ypres for the remembrance service on Armistice Day. But fine dining in local restaurants (see pictures left and right) was also on the agenda, it seems.

Club tree
at Cuckfield
Festival

The annual Christmas Tree Festival was held in Holy Trinity Church Cuckfield early in December and the Club took part for the first time.

Pictured (left), Joan and John Simpson, together with Vice-President Alex Mackenzie, put the finishing touches to the Club's entry.

The Sunday before Christmas
President Ivan Grundon entertained members and their wives to drinks and light refreshments at the Town Hall Haywards Heath.

Pictured (right) John Davey held his traditional Christmas Tie auction, closely watched here by former member John Marsland and Jill. John Marsland, a founder member, has moved out of the Club area to live in Henfield.