PAUL Taylor, the outgoing President of the Rotary Club of Crediton Boniface, has reviewed his year in office and writes:

I have been a member of the Club for some years and this was my first Presidential Year, and I have found it a most rewarding and fulfilling experience.

My main chosen charity for the majority of funds raised during my year was the West of England School and College Foundation at Countess Wear, Exeter. It is a cause very close to my heart. I was a pupil at the college from 1977 to 1990. It provides specialist education and care for those with visual impairments. It also provides education and support for pupils with other disabilities and has diversified since I was a pupil to provide a wide range of specialist care and therapy.

When the Club made a visit to the college in July last year we were amazed by all the fantastic facilities that it had to offer and I particularly was pleasantly surprised by how much it has developed since I left many years ago.

Another Charity we supported was Sand Dams, a project initiated by the Rotary Club of Dawlish Water. This charity provides for building of sustainable dams to provide continuous irrigation and sanitation for communities in Africa where otherwise people would have to walk miles to obtain water.

We have continued to support another very well-respected local charity, Devon Air Ambulance Trust.

We have also contributed to the end Polio Now Campaign, a worthy international campaign of Rotary which has nearly achieved its goal of eradicating polio worldwide.

The first fundraising event was a fun golf day at Waterbridge on Saturday, July 16 last year, everyone enjoying the fine weather, held in memory of Rotarian Geoff Smith who we all miss.

The next big event was a very successful and great fun evening in Yeoford Community Hall on the evening of Saturday, October 15 last year, enjoying the music of the “Fab Beatles”, with a bar and raffle. The hall was packed full and everyone had a great time enjoying the music.

On Sunday, December 4 last year we had a very successful collection at Tesco for Devon Air Ambulance Trust.

Into the new year, on February 20, we held, once again, the Darts Challenge. This is a great event which involves several local pub teams throwing darts continuously for two hours and being sponsored. Once again we very delighted with the fundraising and we think it is a super event for the community.

Our final big fundraiser was Abba’s Angels, an Abba tribute band, on the evening of Saturday, July 8, at Yeoford Community Hall. Once again we had great music, pork and roast lamb rolls, a bar and a raffle. Another full hall with everyone having great fun.

We have had great pleasure with internal fundraising and social events, including a chili night, quiz and curry night, bluebell meadow tour and cream tea, and dinners, all with various Club members hosting.

On April 4 to 6, a few of us and some partners took a break and visited Krakow in Poland, a beautiful city. Annual short city breaks have now become a regular, and much enjoyed, feature of our Club.

We are proud to help in the community. Examples of work in the year are providing marshals for the Christmas Parade, and tending to the planters on the approaches to the town. This year we are proud to introduce a new planter with the barrel containers on the Exeter approach.

We held a Rotary Youth competition, Young Photographer. We are pleased to announce that one of our entrants’ photographs was voted the most popular on display at the Rotary District Conference last March (covering Devon and Cornwall).

We had enlightening visits to Sandford Orchards Cider, Hanlons Brewery, and Graphics Plc.

As ever we value friendship with the other Rotary Club in the town, the Rotary Club of Crediton. We often enjoy seeing each other at events and often assist each other with various projects. As ever during my year it was a pleasure to help with their annual event, the Senior Citizens Christmas Party.

A fitting end to the Year was my President’s Night held at Waterbridge Golf Course on the evening of Saturday, July 1. Lovely music was provided by the Crediton Town Band and later after dinner from Tracey Louise.

In terms of funds raised, the Club has raised in the region of £7,200 for our charities, and approximately £660 for Rotary international funds, which makes all the work well worth it.

During my year what I have noticed very much is the warm fellowship in our Club. Everybody has helped enormously and I would like to thank all members, and their partners, for all their help in making my year worthwhile. I know our new President Nick Yarnold will do a fine job and I wish him all the very best for his year.

Alan Quick