๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐โ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ณ - ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ก๐ง ๐๐ก๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง
It is with great regret that the Rotary Club of Farnborough announces that it will not be proceeding with plans to stage the Music in the Park concerts in July 2027.
We recognise this will be disappointing news to our many supporters and regular attendees. Over recent months, we have carefully reviewed the eventโs viability in consultation with Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care, alongside our sponsors and contractors. Unfortunately, rising and increasingly uncertain costs, combined with less predictable income from ticket sales, sponsorship, and advertising, mean we cannot be confident of delivering the event on a financially sound basis. Any potential loss would ultimately fall to the Clubโs members, which is not a risk we can responsibly take.
Music in the Park has been a tremendous success over more than 20 years, raising in excess of ยฃ500,000 for Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care. This achievement has only been possible thanks to the unwavering support of our local community, sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who has attended and contributed over the years. We are deeply grateful to you all.
We would like to reassure our supporters of the following:
ยท Music in the Park is not being abandoned. Its feasibility will be reviewed each year, and if economic conditions improve to a point where it can be delivered sustainably, we will look to bring it back to King George V Playing Fields.
ยท Supporting Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care remains central to our fundraising efforts.
ยท We will soon begin introducing new and varied events for the Farnborough community and beyond.
ยท These events are likely to take place more frequently than Music in the Park, offering more regular opportunities for community engagement.
We hope for your understanding as we respond to these challenges and explore new ways to bring people together while continuing to support vital local causes. We would also warmly welcome any ideas or suggestions you may wish to share.
Tony Myers
Team Lead, MIP Management Team
Rotary Club of Farnborough
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 07771 977059
Last Thursday, club members, partners, and friends enjoyed a guided visit to St Michaelโs Abbey in Farnborough. Our tour was led by Brother Aelred, a Benedictine monk, who brought to life the rich history of this remarkable โtreasure troveโ of faith and heritage.
We learned how the abbey and monastery were founded in the late 1800s by Empress Eugรฉnie, wife of Napoleon III, as a final resting place for her husband. She also invited a community of French monks to establish the monastery, giving it its distinctive origins.
The visit offered a fascinating insight into this peaceful site, tucked away just off the Farnborough Road. Highlights included the abbey church and crypt, where Napoleon III, Empress Eugรฉnie, and their son, the Prince Imperial, are laid to rest. The afternoon concluded with a visit to the Abbey Shop.
Group visits for clubs and societies can be arranged directly with the Abbey. Public tours take place every Saturday at 3pm. More information is available at https://t.co/bqiIpQ1enk
News about the Donkey Derby tomorrow:
ANNOUNCEMENT from the Rotary Clubs of Farnborough and Rushmoor.
The FARNBOROUGH DONKEY DERBY 2026 will go ahead on Monday 25th May as planned. However, we are sad to announce that due to the extreme hot weather the donkey races will not take place and the dog show will not go ahead.
This is for animal welfare reasons, as decided by our suppliers, and we hope that you will understand.
All the other planned activities will be in full swing: 60-odd trade and charity stalls, the main arena act โ the Extreme Mountain Bike Show, the childrenโs entertainer and bands performing on the stage.
The fairground will be in attendance offering scary rides and various side shows. There will be several refreshment outlets, including plenty of ice cream to cool you down! Free parking is available on the King George V Playing Field where the event takes place (off Sycamore Road). WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!
The event is still going ahead as planned - the gate price will be reduced to ยฃ2 per adult - notices will be posted to that effect at the entrances,
Every so often, a speaker at our weekly lunch truly captures both the hearts and minds of our membersโand this week was one of those moments.
We were delighted to welcome Rebekah Brown, Fostering Recruitment Officer at Hampshire County Council, who spoke passionately about fostering across the county. Rebekah shared her personal journey, recalling how, at just 12 years old, her family began fostering babies who later went on to be adopted. That early experience not only shaped her career but also led her to become a foster carer herself.
Today, there are more than 1,700 children in care in Hampshire, ranging from babies to teenagers. These include unaccompanied minors, sibling groups, and children with additional needs and disabilities. Rebekah highlighted the vital role foster carers play and the urgent national shortage of around 6,500 carers.
She also guided us through the different types of fostering, who can become a foster carer, and the journey involved. Most moving of all were the words of children who have experienced foster care:
โI feel safe and loved. I donโt see it as being in foster careโI see it as being with family.โ
โBeing in care has changed me in an amazing way, and there is no one to thank but my amazing carers.โ
It was an inspiring and thought-provoking talk, and Rebekah received a well-deserved round of applause from everyone present.
The sun is shining, the days are getting warmer, and the clocks go forward tonight โ spring has arrived! ๐ท
Weโre also counting down to the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday, 25 May, when Farnborough Rotary and Rushmoor Rotary will host the 65th Donkey Derby at King George V Playing Fields, Sycamore Road, Farnborough. ๐ด
Save the date โ more details coming soon! Until then, enjoy the sunshine and have a wonderful weekend! โ๏ธ
We have often spoken about the devastating impact cancer has on teenagers and young adults โ a cause especially close to the heart of Roy Finney, one of our members, who lost his niece, Natasha, to the disease some years ago.
In her memory, our club has once again chosen to support the Teenage and Young Adult Cancer (TYAC) charity, based at the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford. TYAC works tirelessly to help young people living with cancer enjoy as full and joyful a life as possible.
Last week, we were honoured to welcome Ian and Karen Raine, Natashaโs parents, who shared moving stories showing how donations from the generous people of Farnborough make a real difference. From a giant garden cinema screen for a young person to watch The Lion King with friends, to a luxury yacht trip around the Isle of Wight complete with a Cordon Bleu meal โ every experience brings moments of happiness and dignity to those facing such difficult times.
We were also delighted to add to this yearโs proceeds some extra โhoney moneyโ โ donations from members in exchange for a jar of honey from our club beekeeper. Ian and Karen gratefully accepted our cheque on behalf of TYAC, continuing Natashaโs legacy of hope and compassion.
Pictured: President Martin Sampson with Ian & Karen and Roy.
Music filled the air at Farnborough Hill School on Wednesday evening as this yearโs Farnborough Rotary Young Musician Competition got underway. Now in our second year of organising the event, it proved to be another magnificent showcase of local talent!
Students from Farnborough Sixth Form College, The Wavell School, and Farnborough Hill School took to the stage to perform for our adjudicator, Mark DeMott, Head of Performing Arts at All Hallows Catholic School.
Performances spanned a wonderful mix of stylesโfrom Bach and Schubert to Abba, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim, and even Coldplay. After each performance, Mark provided a thoughtful (and often humorous!) debrief, and our President, Martin Sampson, presented each participant with a certificate of achievement and an award.
Congratulations to our winners:
Instrumental Winner: Charlie Burgess (The Wavell School)
Vocal Winner: Norah Dwyer (Farnborough Hill School)
A big thank-you to Mrs Maria Young, Farnborough Hill's Headmistress, for giving us permission to use the superb facilities, Joe Adams, Farnborough Hillโs Director of Music, for his invaluable support, and to Mark DeMott for his expert adjudication. The evening was enjoyed by everyone presentโincluding many of our club membersโwho are already looking forward to next yearโs competition!
๐ฆ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ โ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
In 2000, members of the Helston Lizard Rotary Club in Cornwall developed the concept of a self contained disaster relief box that could be rapidly deployed anywhere in the world. From this initiative, ShelterBox was founded. Today, it operates as an independent international disaster relief charity, maintaining strong ties with Rotary through leadership, fundraising, and a formal global partnership established in 2012.
Our club has supported ShelterBox for many years and is proud that Keith Holland now serves as a ShelterBox District Coordinator and Ambassador, a role which includes delivering presentations on the work of ShelterBox across the globe to local clubs, schools, scouts, and other organisations. In a recent interview, Keith expressed his commitment to raising funds that provide shelter and life saving aid to those affected by disasters such as Hurricane Beryl in 2024. His efforts help ensure ShelterBox warehouses around the world remain ready to respond whenever disaster strikes.
We are proud to support this ongoing Rotary partnership dedicated to rebuilding lives worldwide.
If anyone would like to know more from Keith, please contact us.
๐ท The Donkey Derby returns!
Weโre pleased to announce that the much-loved Donkey Derby, a joint venture organised by Farnborough Rotary and Rushmoor Rotary, will be back at King George V Playing Fields on Spring Bank Holiday, Monday 25th May โ and this year, our main sponsor is the Holiday Inn Farnborough
The Holiday Inn has proudly hosted Farnborough Rotary Club meetings for many years, and you can even spot our plaque by their front door โ a small reminder of our ongoing partnership and community projects planned each week.
Curious about what we do or thinking of getting involved? Weโd love to welcome you!
๐ท Message us on Facebook
๐ท Visit: https://t.co/TunEU4kQrH...
๐ท Or call Peter Taylor, Club Secretary, on 0300 772 7011
Join us one Thursday at the newly refurbished Holiday Inn and see the spirit of Rotary in action!
Christmas might be over, but what a fantastic season it has been. Throughout December we walked the streets, knocked on doors, stood in shopping centres, collected, counted and banked every penny you entrusted to us.
You dug deep, made donations in person and online, added Gift Aid through JustGiving and chose to give to charity at a time when many other bills were calling for your attention โ thank you for that kindness.
We could not have done so much collecting without the help of other local charities and organisations, and to them we say a heartfelt thank you.
Even with one evening lost to terrible weather and a shopping-centre collection abandoned due to a double booking, your support meant we still raised just over ยฃ18,000.
From all of us who were involved: thank you, Farnborough โ you have made a real difference this Christmas.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: We deeply regret that due to the adverse weather conditions we have decided not to go out tonight with the Christmas float on the ๐ข๐น๐ฑ ๐ง๐ผ๐๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น route. We are trying to rearrange this for Saturday evening with a 5pm start, and will advise soon if this is going to happen.
m ยท
There can be nothing more daunting for a secondary school pupil than to be told that they are going to talk to a Rotary club where the members are almost all older than their own parents! That, however is what happened today when we were delighted to hear from Cassie and James from All Hallows School, Farnham and Jasmin and Lirion from Wavell School, Farnborough, when they came to talk to us after lunch.
All four students had recently participated in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) programme by attending a five day course at an outbound centre in Surrey. During their time there they participated in a variety of mainly outdoor activities aimed at giving them the opportunity to experience and learn things about themselves, about working as a team and more importantly about leading and supervising other people.
They all admitted that on Day 1, they all wanted to go home, but by the end of their time there, the smiles on their faces said it all; they had bonded and enjoyed their time away. Together they gave us an excellent presentation supported by slides showing some of the activities they had completed.
To recognise their successful completion of the course, Rotarian David Brewerton presented each of them with a framed certificate to take home. Well done all of you!
There can be nothing more daunting for a secondary school pupil than to be told that they are going to talk to a Rotary club where the members are almost all older than their own parents! That, however is what happened today when we were delighted to hear from Cassie and James from @AllHallowsSchool Farnham am and Jasmin and Lirion from @WavellSchool, Farnborough, when they came to talk to us after lunch.
All four students had recently participated in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) programme by attending a five day course at an outbound centre in Surrey. During their time there they participated in a variety of mainly outdoor activities aimed at giving them the opportunity to experience and learn things about themselves, about working as a team and more importantly about leading and supervising other people.
They all admitted that on Day 1, they all wanted to go home, but by the end of their time there, the smiles on their faces said it all; they had bonded and enjoyed their time away. Together they gave us an excellent presentation supported by slides showing some of the activities they had completed.
To recognise their successful completion of the course, Rotarian David Brewerton presented each of them with a framed certificate to take home. Well done all of you!