Year 2006

Three winning teams went forward to the Area heats at Lancing College after giving outstanding performances in the Rotary Youth Speaks competition held at Oathall College Haywards Heath on 19 January 2006. Eight teams competed, two from each of four schools: Oathall College, Warden Park, Great Walstead School and Ardingly College. Over 80 people attended the competition which was organised by the Cuckfield & Lindfield club and in particular, John Simpson.

“The standard was very high and the choice of subjects was not only interesting, but thought provoking as well,” said Chairman of Mid-Sussex District Council, Edward King, when he presented the awards. The subjects were: ‘Peer pressure,’ ‘White lies – good or bad?’ ‘Slaves to fashion,’ ‘Money is the root of all evil,’ ‘Image – the key to success?’ ‘Can war ever be justified?’ ‘Human life is not priceless’ and ‘Legs - Here today gone tomorrow.’

The Great Walstead A team won the Intermediate round.

Winners of the Senior round were the Oathall College A team

St Theresa's School (Dorking) won the
prize for Best Speaker

Sussex Downs College (Waterlooville)
won for the Best Vote of Thanks

Bishop Luffa School (Chichester)
got the Best Chairman's award

RIBI has for many years run public speaking competitions for young people. Public speaking is an important life skill and is one that Rotarians value. Rotarians are always delighted to celebrate the skills that young people demonstrate. Each year hundreds of young people take part in events that culminate in the regional and RIBI finals when participants travel from throughout RIBI to take part. It is a wonderful celebration of the achievement of those taking part.

In the Rotary year 2005 - 2006 and for the second time there were two RIBI finals: one was the Intermediate competition for those aged 11 to 14 years the other the Senior competition for those aged 15 to 18 years old. The Finals were hosted by Rotary District 1280 and organised by Rtn Brian Henshaw. Teams from schools all over the UK and Ireland took part in what was a wonderfull testament to the capability of todays youth.

The winning Great Walstead team
with RIBI President Mike Webb

These were young people that any parent or school would be proud of. The competition was opened by the Master of Ceremonies, Rtn Sam Williams, and the The Right Worshipful Mayor of the city of Salford, Cllr James Hunt, gave the welcoming speech. After the excellent presentations, local television celebrities Meg Johnson and Charles Foster gave each of the competitors a commemorative gift and certificate.

The awards were given by RIBI president Mike Webb and the winners of the Intermediate Competition were Great Walstead School, Lindfield, West Sussex. The Best Chairman award went to Joseph Nurse, Great Walstead School, Lindfield. The school's topic was White lies - good or bad? and the team comprised Joseph Nurse, Fergus Blair and Jack Donoghue. A great time was had by all and the standard was really tremendous - for their age the competitors are truly amazing.

The three members of the Great Walstead A team which won the RIBI national Intermediate final joined Cuckfield & Lindfield members for a well-earned supper at the Bent Arms Lindfield on Tuesday evening 23 May.

Also pictured with two of the boys is John Simpson, mastermind of the local and District rounds

Without whips and press to inhibit him, the Hon Nicholas Soames, MP for Mid-Sussex, was able to speak freely and frankly to the combined meeting of the Rotary Clubs of Haywards Heath and Cuckfield & Lindfield on Friday 3 March at the local golf club. His talk stressed how much politics was constantly changing, and it was followed by questions from the floor – the wide range of which permitted Mr Soames to demonstrate his knowledge, experience, connections and not least, his robust sense of humour.

Mr Soames was at his most passionate when expressing his pride at the professionalism of the armed services. He was at his most scathing when attacking the current vogue of political correctness which he suggests is causing great damage to the fabric of our society. Mr Soames's performance was so impressive and entertaining that it went on more than an hour longer than the usual Rotary meetings. Brian Hay expressed our thanks in appropriate style.

The Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs of Cuckfield & Lindfield joined forces on Saturday 1 April 2006 to present a musical extravaganza at the Burgess Hill School for Girls, featuring Richard Stilgoe and the Apprentices of the Orpheus Centre. Additional entertainment was provided by soloists and ensembles from the school.

The event raised over £6,000 for the Orpheus Centre. Pictured (left) Richard Stilgoe and the Apprentices in rehearsal and (right) the presentation of a cheque for the proceeds by the two club presidents.

The Orpheus Centre of performing arts was founded by Richard Stilgoe in 1998. It aims to use music and the performing arts to encourage self-development by offering young people creative experiences, enabling them to discover and develop new skills and new expectations. Apprenticeships involve three-year placements for up to 25 young disabled people up to the age of 25. They work towards living independently in the community through an individually-designed and complex programme of daily living skills, performing arts and in helping with the running of the Orpheus Centre.

The Cuckfield & Lindfield club was represented at this year's Rotary International Convention in Copenhagen and Malmo by Past Presidents Cameron Sharp and Malcolm Wykes, along with Carole and Barbara.

During the Convention they enjoyed home hospitality from members of the Rotary Club of Lund-Dalby in Sweden.

Pictured are the Cuckfield & Lindfield members together with (left) Mike Webb, President of RIBI, whom they met at the Bella Center in Copenhagen where the major events were held, and (right) the Lund-Dalby President Sven Karlen.

The party travelled by road through the Low Countries and Germany before continuing their holiday touring Denmark before the return journey home.