We had a fantastic busy Spring and now as we enjoy some well-deserved sunshine, we are busy preparing for an exciting Summer in the village. Before I dive into some of the great events we have planned for you all, it would be wrong to not take a quick look back to remember some highlights of Spring:
On the Maybank holiday we held our Annual Village Funday. It’s fair to say that this year we were not blessed with the weather. As we looked up at the sky and watched the clouds gather, the rain began to fall and a sense of nervousness set in. However, the villagers and visitors of Bransgore did not let us down. We were pleased to feel our nerves disappear, as we were joined by crowds of happy people with rainwear in tow, who attended to support the event. The day included some entertaining acts including dog agility and a bright display of Zumba. For those who preferred to browse a variety of stalls were in place, including local businesses, cakes and plants. As always, we held a successful raffle and were able to raise much needed funds that will now be put towards good causes both locally and further afield.
Socially, it has also been busy time for us. We always take the opportunity
when we can to come together and enjoy each other’s company. We enjoyed
a fantastic evening meal at Masala Bay in Christchurch, where we tucked in to
a variety of delicious dishes. Further afield, we visited Mottisfont Abbey,
surrounded by ancient trees, and rolling lawns we got to see this magnificent
18th-century house and marvel at both its beauty and vast history.
Within Rotary, Summer is a time for change. During July we will see our
current president Nigel Francis step down and our new president Les Abbott
take the stand. Nigel has achieved so much during his presidential year, his
determined leadership and support has helped the club to go from strength to
strength, in both raising funds and growing the fellowship we have together.
As a new president takes his post, we look forward to the future year. As a
club we would like to take this opportunity to thank Nigel for his tireless hard
work and commitment.
Events
Moving to Summer Events, we are now busy preparing for our next outdoor
Theatre evening. We welcome back The Folksy Theatre Company who will be
delivering their unique version of “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare. The
event will be held at Harrow Wood Caravan Park in Bransgore. Join us by
bringing a chair and a picnic, relax and enjoy the show. Marquees will be in
place, so rain or shine the event will be fantastic.
Of course, it would not be a Summer Newsletter from us without the mention
of the famous Bransgore Beer Festival. This is our biggest event of the year
and will see us come together at the Three Tuns Pub. The weekend long
event will feature a variety of music and of course a great selection of beers,
wines and cider. For those of you who have never visited us here, the event is
an experience that you do not want to miss! Early bird tickets are selling fast at
just £15, the limited edition 2024 commemorative glass plus access to all the
live music throughout the weekend is included.
Closing Thoughts:
Luciano Pavarotti who was a proud Rotarian and a member of the Rotary Club of Modena, Italy is rumoured to have once said: “Some singers want the audience to love them. I love the audience”. This is very true for us as a club. We do what we do to give back to the community and deliver lasting change
to help people. Without you this would not be possible, so as we get ready to
see you at all our Summer Events, thank you for all the support that you give
us, as without you we would not be able to do what we do.