Due to current government advice the Club held its Business Meeting on 24 March 2020 for the first time on line using Zoom. During the meeting our President Tony Docherty inducted his wife Mu Docherty as a new Member. Mu has been an Honorary Member for several years and has supported the Club and Rotary more widely at home and abroad in a vast number of different ways, and so we are truly delighted that she has decided to convert her membership. We believe that Mu’s induction to a ‘non e Club’ during an on line meeting must represent a first for the District and should be celebrated!

The Rotary Club became aware recently of the Tower Appeal launched by St Michael and All Angels Church in Stoke Prior, which is in need of significant restoration work. The church was built in the twelfth century and is Grade 1 listed. The church community began fundraising in 2015 after a corner of the tower parapet collapsed, and their mission is to undertake repairs to the tower and other areas that are failing. Following support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other charities and foundations, those working for the church have edged closer to their target of £530,000. There is a shortfall of around £6000. The Rotary Club is very keen to support the heritage which the church represents, and is pleased to have been able to support the fantastic fundraising efforts of all concerned with a donation of £1000.

The Rotary Club heard recently about the substantial difficulties faced by a visually impaired student at South Bromsgrove High School. To help facilitate easier access to her education, the Club is very pleased to be able to fund some much needed IT equipment which will accompany the student throughout her time at school. This donation follows one made by the Rotary Club in 2019 to purchase equipment to help a hearing impaired student. It is wonderful that technology can help people in this way to achieve their full potential!

The Rotary Club of Bromsgrove is pleased to have been able once again to support the Kids Cancer Charity with a donation of £550 to fund a respite break for a Bromsgrove based family with a child suffering from cancer.

The Michael Holt Debate took place on 11 February 2020 at Droitwich Golf Club hosted jointly by the Rotary Clubs of North Worcestershire and Bromsgrove. Teams from North and South Bromsgrove High Schools competed after a meal together, and the team from North won narrowly in a keenly fought contest, where advanced debating skills were very much in evidence. The motion debated was: ‘This House believes that social media are, in general, harmful to society.’ Rotarian Chris Smith from Bromsgrove Club was present in his role as Head Teacher of South Bromsgrove to support his students.

At our meeting on 28 January 2020 we were very pleased to welcome as our guests Amelia Hart and her mother Lisa. Amelia underwent a major spinal operation in November 2019 to correct her scoliosis, which the Rotary Club helped to fund. Amelia is now back at school and hopes to be able to play her favourite sport football again in due course. She told members of her difficulties prior to the operation and just what the operation has meant to her, and how much better she already feels mentally and physically in aspiring to achieve academically and on the football field in the future.

The Rotary Club of Bromsgrove is delighted to be supporting the Royal British Legion with a donation of £1000 to help fund the VE Day Celebration in High Street Bromsgrove on 10 May 2020. Our Club members look forward to attending with our local community to enjoy the atmosphere and the entertainment on the day.