Better than ever! was the verdict after the Youth Speaks Competition 2018 in the Town Hall on Tuesday, March 20. For the last 22 years the Youth Speaks competition has been eagerly awaited by our local junior schools. This year students from six local schools took part. The training leading up to the competition is an important educational experience for these young people and fits in with one of the primary aims of Rotary – encouraging the education of young people. This year’s subject was "Lost" and this produced an interesting variety of talks.

Next Fundraising Project: On June 23 we will be co-operating with our mother club, North Cotswold Club, in organising a Gardens Open Day at Milldene Gardens, Blockley on behalf of Campden Area Home Nursing and Kate’s Home Nursing.

District Governor Visits: Alan Hudson, our local District Governor, will visit the club on Thursday, June 7 and on July 13, Jane Goldsmith, next year’s DG will be the speaker.

New members: The Club has been given an award for recruiting the largest number of new members in the Rotary District during the past year.

Seasonal British Flowers & Environmental Responsibility.

Jayne Caithness, former Director of Arts & Design Technology at Chipping Campden School, was the speaker at the meeting on April 12 on Seasonal British Flowers.

Jayne had decided to 'change direction' a few years before due for retirement and set up a small business at home, concentrating on growing British flowers for display. 90% of the flowers we buy are imported from the Netherlands or other sources, so we have flowers all year round, whether or not they are in season here. Red roses are not in season in February!

Jayne set up a small business at home as a florist and provides 'natural flowers' for weddings and funerals etc. Therefore if you have a spring wedding you can have tulips and anemones, but not roses! She is also concerned to promote environmental responsibility; therefore oasis is out, because it is not biodegradable. Jayne uses other means of making bouquets such as chicken wire or string. She had brought a selection of flowers in season, which she bound into an attractive arrangement. This was presented to a lucky prize-winner as one of two raffle prizes to round off the evening.

New members and enquirers are always welcome at the Club’s meetings at the Cotswold House Hotel normally on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 6.45 for 7pm. Please note revised meeting time. Membership is open to women and men.

To enquire further, please email: chippingcampdenrotary@gmail.com.

JAMES R ANDERSON