News 2017
Rotarians thank generous Asda Christmas shoppers
Members of the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus have thanked staff and customers at the Asda store off Abbey Lane, Leicester, for their generosity. Rotarians offered to help customers pack bags and were given lots of cash to help the club conduct its local projects. One shopper had bought two dozen eggs and perched them …
Peace Garden grows eight more trees
Eight trees were planted in the Rotary Peace Garden being developed at Falcons Primary School, off Gipsy Lane, by the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus. Led, once again, by Matthew Herbert, of the Wildlife Trust, and given invaluable help by Viren Shah. the school’s premises officer, Rotarians planted the trees near the solar-powered water fountain …
Ethiopia plan is a marathon, not a sprint
Richard Power, President of the Rotary Club of Leicester, explained to Novus members and guests the 10-year project his club is launching. The Leicester Gondar Orthopaedic Partnership will be a marathon, rather than a sprint, as it aims to provide long-term support for an orthopaedic trauma service in Gondar, a city the same size as …
DG = Discussion Group
When District Governor Chris Davies visited Leicester Novus Rotary, she did not deliver the ‘pep talk’ which many Rotary leaders do. Instead she asked the question: “Why are you here? Why are you in Rotary?” When her question was greeted with silence, she said that is what she always got; what she had come to expect. …
Crocus bulbs planted in Peace Garden
Volunteers joined Rotarians on the latest phase of creating a Rotary Peace Garden in the grounds of Falcons Primary School, in Gipsy Lane, Leicester. As experts Matthew Herbert and Keith Campbell, from the Wildlife Trust, tackled the few remaining major tasks, school premises officer Viren Shah and parents helped plant about 1,000 crocus bulbs around …
Celebrating with ‘our’ school
Members of Leicester Novus Rotary Club were invited to a double celebration at Falcons Primary School, Gipsy Lane, Leicester, which many of us think of as ‘our school’. Its headteacher, Mrs Jasbir Mann, is a past president of the club and the club held its eighth birthday party at the school. For nearly a year …
Congratulations, Penny and the ‘parkies’
Over the last couple of years or so, members of the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus have been working closely with Leicester City Council’s parks department. We’re delighted that Penny Brown (second from left, front row) and her team there have been recognised for attracting volunteers like ourselves and the students from De Montfort University …
Chatting, eating and raising funds
Unlike many Rotary Clubs, Novus members do not eat every time they meet. But every so often they dine together for the pleasure and fellowship that a meal gives and sometimes they do so to raise money for good causes. It was felt appropriate that their meeting closest to World Polio Day on October 24 …
Celebrating their first Diwali Day
When Rotarian Caroline Newton came all the way from her home in Nottinghamshire to speak to Leicester Novus Rotary about her support for a charity in Kenya , she was impressed by the diversity of our club and wanted to learn more about Diwali. The club was really happy when she accepted an invitation to …
Students help Rotary achieve polio dream
For the second year running, students from De Montfort University dug in to help the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus mark Rotary International’s success in almost eradicating poliomyelitis. When Rotary started its campaign in 1985. there were one thousand new cases of the crippling and sometimes fatal disease being diagnosed EVERY DAY. So far THIS …
How a Jaffa cake led to love
New member Mark Esho introduced himself to the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus and started by explaining that his Nigerian Christian name Abayomi (shortened to Yomi) is often translated as meaning bringing joy from God. He was born in Leicester 55 years ago and, due to a missed vaccination, became one of the last people — …
Helping the Memory Walk
Four members of Leicester Novus Rotary Club were among the scores of volunteers who helped the Alzheimer’s Society’s Memory Walk starting and finishing in Abbey Park raise £250,000. Despite the day dawning rather dully, more than 2,000 sponsored walkers completed either the 2km course entirely within Abbey Park or the 7km walk which took them …
Enterprising youngsters reap the benefits
Eight hundred thousand. That’s the number on the opening slide of a presentation to Leicester Novus by Annabelle Armes, who has just completed the end of her first year as Young Enterprise Manager for Leicestershire. Young Enterprise is the largest UK education charity and works with young people aged from 11 to 25. Annabelle told Rotarians …
Peace garden is growing
The peace garden being developed at Falcons Primary School by the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus is nearing completion. Work after school on Wednesday, September 20, resulted in the installation of the water feature and log-filled gabions, metal baskets filed with stones and logs. Weeding and seeding of the lawn within the dedicated area of …
Inspirational talk on why we must End Polio Now
District 1070’s End Polio Now champion Barry Hackett gave an inspirational talk to Novus members, updating them on the current situation and explaining the undeniable logic of why Rotarians must continue their campaign until the disease has been eradicated completely from the world. To recap, for new readers: In 1985, Rotary International (an organisation of …
Novus sails into second round
Leicester Novus beat their friends from the Rotary Club of Wigston in the first round of the District Minor Sports competition. The home side entertained Novus at The Nautical William pub in Wigston where a super supper was enjoyed half-way through the evening. But by that time it seemed likely that the visitors had won, …
Treasure found!
Eleven members took part in a walking treasure hunt around the picturesque village of Burton Overy. They tackled 32 questions, most of which had been devised by Liz Gilbert, of the Inner Wheel Club of Oadby, who kindly allowed Jim Matthews and his wife Sally to re-deploy them to help raise just under £50 for …
Pulling Together for Kenya villagers
Caroline Newton might be a Rotarian of only a year or so, but she is not a lady to let the grass grow under her feet, as we discovered when she spoke to Leicester Novus about the Friends of Kianjai Kenya. Caroline, a member of the Rotary Club of Grantham Kesteven, first visited the Meru …
Emily… a leader now and for the future
Primary school teacher Emily York came to thank the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus for sponsoring her “life-changing” week as their delegate on the 33rd Rotary Youth Leadership Award — RYLA — to be held at Grafham Water, near Huntingdon. Thirty-six young people aged 18-26 sponsored by businesses and Rotary clubs.took part in an intensive week of physical, …
Tired and wet… Emily’s having a great time
On Day Two of her RYLA experience, teacher Emily York’s bubbly enthusiasm shone through, even though her sleep had been interrupted and she had been wet rather than dry for most of her time. RYLA — Rotary Youth Leadership Award — courses have been held at Grafham Water, Anglian Water’s reservoir and activity centre in Cambridgeshire, for …
Understanding Autism
Jack Knight, Graduate Community Fundraiser for Autism East Midlands, engaged club members early on in his presentation by giving each member a “True” or “False” card which tested knowledge of what autism is, who it affects and how it affects them. It is a lifelong condition without cure which affects 1 per cent of the population. Not …
New president Pradeep inducts new member Mark
It was time for another presidential handover at Leicester Novus. With incoming president Pradeep returning from his holidays the club were excited to see the start of this new chapter and his very important year. Wearing the chain of honour President Gemma started proceedings and welcomed the club for the last time in her role …
Mellor pupils are stars… official
Twelve pupils at Mellor Community Primary School have been rewarded for being well-behaved and helpful good citizens. The Rotary Stars awards were presented by Pam Spokes, Youth Services Chairman of the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus, at a school assembly. The pupils had been nominated for the awards by their teachers. In addition to the …
Oliver wins Young Designer title
A canny invention for the motorsport world scooped the top prize in a Rotary competition for young designers. A-level student Oliver Warner, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus, was named Young Designer of the Year at the competition organised by District 1070 Rotary Clubs and hosted by De Montfort University. He impressed judges …
Rotarians give Peace Pole for garden project
When the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus decided to provide a Peace Garden in the grounds of Falcons Primary School in Leicester, members of the Rotary Club of Oadby Launde immediately offered help. Apart from giving time and physical effort, members of Oadby Launde also said they would provide a Peace Pole, standing eight feet …
Assembled and ready…
Every spring hundreds of members from Rotary Clubs across the East Midlands assemble in lecture theatres at Loughborough University to hear inspiring speakers and discuss plans for the coming Rotary year, which starts on July 1 each year. Among them this year were 10 members of Leicester Novus — more than half of the club. Pictured …
Falcons Primary School Peace Garden: Act 2
For the second time in less than a month, Novus Rotarians gave up their Saturday morning to help develop a Peace Garden at at the two-year-old Falcons Primary School in Gipsy Lane. Leading the effort is member Frazer Robson. He reported: “Working alongside parents and governors we continued to make steady progress working on …
Air Ambulance receives cheque from Novus
Paul Bonnett, the Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Leicester, is a volunteer ambassador for the Air Ambulance. He offered to come and speak to the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus, which he did in February. Paul returned for the club meeting on May 4, to collect a donation of £285 which will help …
Curry Night adds £102 to charity pot
Every so often, the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus shares a Thursday evening meal to boost fellowship and, incidentally, funds for charities. The April 2017 meal was taken at Aspects at The Plough, Enderby, when ten members were joined by President Elaine Vandelli and Michael Smith, of the Rotary Club of Kibworth and Fleckney. Their club was …
Signed up for Abbey Park planting
A plaque marking the planting of nearly 2,000 crocus bulbs has been installed in Abbey Park, Leicester. The bulbs were planted by the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus as part of Rotary International’s 29-year effort to rid the world of polio. The crocuses are purple – the same colour as the ink used to …
Helping shoppers feel less pressure
A total of 183 shoppers who went to Asda in Abbey Lane, Leicester, the day before St George’s Day went home knowing how healthy their heart was. They did so because Rotary clubs in the Leicester joined forces to offer free blood pressure tests. Organised by Chris Trivett, of the Rotary Club of …
One Roof benefits many homeless
The Rev Helen Hayes, chairman of Leicester Charity One Roof Leicester, outlined to Leicester Novus Rotary Club the charity’s impressive record. Helen is a non-stipendiary pioneer priest working with the homeless, overseeing the work of three staff members and hundreds of volunteers. She showed 13 members and guests an eight-minute video made during the UK’s …
Winning Mellor pupils are the stars
A dozen pupils at Mellor Primary School have become the latest to receive Rotary Star awards sponsored by the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus. They were presented during a school assembly by club secretary and Youth Services lead Pam Spokes. The scheme is designed to reward — and therefore encourage — schoolchildren to achieve at a high level …
Work starts on school’s Rotary Peace Garden
About 20 volunteers started work on the new Peace Garden being developed by the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus at Falcons, the Sikh-ethos Primary School in Gipsy Lane, Leicester, whose headteacher Jasbir Mann is a member of the club. She is pictured with President Gemma Kiddy filling a wheelbarrow with weeds. Elsewhere, three other club members were joined …
Rotarians visit masjid and learn about Islam
Led by President Gemma, four members of the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus visited the Masjid Umar, the impressive mosque In Evington Road. After being present for the evening prayers, the party were entertained by Mosque general secretary Gulam Husain and imam Shaykh Mohamad who generously gave 90 minutes of their time to discuss the beliefs …
Space: destination for 90,000 a year
Mike Kapur, chairman on of the National Space Centre in Leicester,spoke passionately to Leicester Novus Rotary on the centre’s mission to entertain and inspire young people to become interested in space and science generally. Mike said that not only does the centre attract 90,000 school visits a year — mostly from within a radius of about …
Rotarians outfoxed… by squirrels
On November 20, 2016, members of the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus planted about 2,000 crocus bulbs in Abbey Park, Leicester. Gratefully acknowledging the help of about 20 students from De Montfort University, the club invited the students — and anyone interested — to come back in the spring to see the crocuses in bloom. Sadly, …
More Shelter needed for homeless
Four years ago, when he was Immediate Past President of Leicester Novus Rotary, Frazer Robson spoke about The Shelter Housing Aid and Research Project, of which he had been a trustee since the 1980s, Then, he told the club, there were about 50 people sleeping rough in Leicester each night. Four years on, he …
Great British Spring Clean yields…
The nationwide Great British Spring Clean was held over the weekend of March 3-5 2017. In Leicester the effort was co-ordinated by the city council’s parks staff. The department’s Penny Brown, with whom Leicester Novus had worked on the Walnut Street ‘pocket park’ clean-up and on the planting of End Polio Now crocus bulbs …
Exchanged banners demonstrate Rotary fellowship
One of the many benefits of being one of the 1.2 million Rotarians is that they are all entitled to visit any of the 32,000 clubs in the world. Traditionally, many Rotarians take a banner from her or his own club as a gesture of this global fellowship. Over the last 21 years, Novus member Jim Matthews …
The Air Ambulance mission explained
Last year, under President Paul Bonnett, the Rotary Club of Leicester, raised £7,000 for the Air Ambulance service. Immediate Past President Paul is continuing his work for the charity as an ambassador and he visited the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus on Thursday, February 16. He explained that the charity leases three helicopters; …
Did You Know?
Forty years ago, Rotary launched its campaign to rid the world of polio.
Then, 350,000 people — many of them children — were being disabled and killed by the disease every year.
We started in 1979 with vaccinations for six million children in the Philippines.
Today, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic.
Rotary and other partners stuck at it, raising $1.2 BILLION and immunising more than 2.5 BILLION children.
We have eradicated two of the three strains of the disease.
Wouldn’t you like to be part of such a success story?
You can be, by e-mailing Novus Rotary
Rotary is dedicated to seven areas of focus: to build international relationships, improve lives, and create a better world to support our peace efforts and end polio forever.
Promoting peace
Rotary encourages conversations to foster understanding within and across cultures. We train adults and young leaders to prevent and mediate conflict and help refugees who have fled dangerous areas.
Fighting disease
We educate and equip communities to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases like polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. We improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care in developing areas.
Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
We support local solutions to bring clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to more people every day. We don’t just build wells and walk away. We share our expertise with community leaders and educators to make sure our projects succeed long-term.
Saving mothers and children
Nearly 6 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. We expand access to quality care, so mothers and their children can live and grow stronger.
Supporting education
More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.
Growing local economies
We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development and create opportunities for decent and productive work for young and old. We also strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.
Supporting the Environment
More than $18USD million in grant funding from the The Rotary Foundation, Rotary’s own charity, has been given to environmental-related projects over the past five years. Creating a distinct area of focus to support the environment will give Rotary members even more ways to bring about positive change in the world and increase our impact.
