Two Rotary clubs to co-operate on local and international projects

Rotary clubs are social, community and fundraising organisations.

Their aim, in essence, is to develope friendship and help other people - especially those in need - at home and round the world,

You might have heard of the End Polio Now project which has been very successful and has been supported by Rotary International.

Closer to home most substantial towns have a Rotary club - and Ipswich has four.

They all, quietly, do lots of good works.

Waterfront-based Rotary Club of Ipswich Orwell last weekend hosted a visit by members and families of their German twin club, from Hanau-Maintal near Frankfurt.

This twinning between Germany and the UK has been going many years, and, every year the two clubs co-operate on domestic projects and international works.

Each year, one hosts a visit by the other club.

Ipswich Orwell regularly meets by the Waterfront, at the Bistro on the Quay, Neptune Marina and the Brewery Tap.

Visit cor-ordinator, senior vice president Trevor Harris, said: “It thought it was an extremely successful visit.

“It strengthened the friendship and fellowship between the two clubs, which have been been linked for more than a decade.

“They are very keen to work with us.

“Every year we have a joint project, which we share, which benefits the local community both here and in Hanau.

“This year too we will be working together on the Thai Water Project.”

Trevor Harris, and his working party, put together a programme of events for the German guests to share with their hosts.

The visiting party stayed in the Novotel hotel and arrived last Thursday.

After a welcome dinner Friday was chance for a day trip, with a coach party dropping off some people to Cambridge Centre and others to Duxford Air Museum.

Friday night it was down to the Waterfront for a Thai-themed evening in the boardroom at Ashton KCJ, with Thai food from the Kwan Thai restaurant, presented by Taylor-Maid Catering, and beers from the Briarbrank Brewery and Greene King.

Club secretary Martin Hough did a presentation about the Thai Water Project, which this club has already begun.

On their visit the German twin club agreed to join the project, providing clean water in rural Thailand, and with links with a local Rotary club in that country - Chang Puak Chiangmai.

For around £520 a clean water drinking fountain can be installed in a village school, so the children can have clean, filtered water all day rather than drink from streams and other possibly unclean sources, so leading to illness.

Martin Hough said: “The children get to drink clean water all day. They can bring a plastic bottle with them, and take clean water home with them, so you are helping the whole community.

“We use local tradesmen and it is a simple, low-tech solution which can make a lot of difference to people’s lives.

“We do it in conjunction with the local rotary club.”

So far four schools have been completed by the Ipswich club, plus one as a donation by a private individual who wanted to help.

The Ipswich and German two clubs have agreed to do this as a joint international project and will be fundraising to make it happen, initially in two or three more schools.

On Saturday there was a walking tour of historic Ipswich town centre, with expert guide John Field.

Then lunch at Suffolk Food Hall, Wherstead before taking a historic bus tour to Ipswich Transport Museum.

Saturday evening there was a joint gala dinner at the Elizabeth Orwell Hotel, Felixstowe before the German visitors returned home, by ferry and plane, on Sunday.