Sports & Social Report June 2024

1. My report will be in two parts.  The first will describe our events over the last 12 months and the second will outline our plans for the next year.
2. The activities we organise are governed by the membership and may I take this opportunity in thanking members for their suggestions. 
3. We try to ensure all our activities are available for the whole membership to enjoy.  Where this is impractical, we arrange for members to join us later for a meal or drink.
4. The 2023/24 year started off with a bang, with our first event being on 1 July, being a social walk from Cresswell Quay.  Managed to get the tide times correct, so we were able to do a circular walk by using the stepping stones.  It was a lovely day, but disappointed to find our Café stop was closed.  Pleased to note that Robin Bradbury sprang into action, with the standard Rotary full-back plan of going to the pub.  We soon found ourselves in a Public House, enjoying a beer or two with a river view in the warm sunshine.  At the end of the walk, or was it a stagger The Cresselly Arms laid on a very enjoyable two-course lunch.
5. In August we had our now annual Barbeque, courtesy of Lynn Werrett.  I believe we had a most enjoyable meal and quiz, thanks to MasterChef Patrick Jones and expert quizzer Kenna Crawford.
6. Yet another event in August was supporting our own member, Mary Adams at her postponed handover lunch as the 2023/24 District Governor.
7. And finally in August we had our Muddy Boots visit to A40, as suggested by Ken Morgan and expertly handed over to me.  If nothing else it helped demonstrate why construction has got so expensive, with all the non-construction activities that have to be performed these days.  This is before they had the bad luck of finding a major strata fault, just where a bridge support was planned.
8. September was also busy with our annual Duck Race & Pig Roast.  The 2023 event will go down in Rotary history as the one where the water cleared the Car Park and two Rotarians joined the ducks for a race, but disappointingly were disqualified.  Last year we had a higher number of escapee ducks, but we did get some nice post cards from Ireland and beyond.
9. The following week we had our annual charity Cycle Event.  Numbers were a little disappointing, but it did still bring in much needed funds for Prostate Cymru as well as other charitable causes.
10. And finally in September it was a pleasure to have a visit from the Merched Y Mor, Woman of the Sea, the Welsh all female rowing team doing the world’s toughest row across the Atlantic Ocean.  Have to confess that I thought Merched Y Mor may be Welsh for mermaids and was a tiny bit disappointed when they arrived.
11. In the first week of October 2023, we had our trip to the Morgan Motor Company Factory at Malvern.  Again a very pleasant day out and special thanks to President Phil Thompson for organising and driving the mini-bus and Charles Clewett for the suggestion.
12. In late October, following suggestion from President Phil Thompson we met up for a meal, followed by a visit to Folly Farm to see the legendary show, “That will be the Day”.  I thought the meet up time was a little early by 2 hours, but discovered that the Boars Head work on Greek Time, which is two hours behind.
13. As normal practice, we only did one event in November/ December which was our visit to Dyffryn Taff for the Christmas show.  Thank you to Elaine Bradbury for arranging the tickets.
14. By the end of the year despite feeling I was herding cats, we manged to kit members out with matching Polo Shirts.  The suggestion we should have “loud” yellow sweatshirts/ hoddies to advertise the club is ongoing, as are the fleece jackets and gilets.
15. And so into 2024.  After discussions at club meetings, it was decided we should try a different venue for the Pints & Poems Evening.  Cresselly Arms was the unluckily pub, which I managed to clear of customers with my rendition of a Kit Wright’s poem.  Despite this, pleased to advise it was a most successful evening, with many gusts and a special mention to Julie Jones who brought a mini-bus full of them.
16. Early March some of us met up with Jack & Jane in Cardigan for a curry evening.  If there is enough interest in the club, we could make this an annual club event.
17. Regretfully all events were soon on hold around this time, as I believe I had Covid despite the tests saying otherwise.
18. A suggestion was made that we should go on a coastal trip on the Waverley paddle steamer.  Unfortunately this year’s trips were sold out, but we are now on the mailing list for next year’s programme.
19. And finally, the last event we have done this Rotary year, is the Bosherston Lilly Ponds walk on the 8 June.  Enjoyed by nine of us with another two joining us at Stackpole Quay for lunch.
20. Turning to next year’s events, we will be keeping to those we have done this year as our core activities.
21. We will hopefully do a Waverley boat trip and subject to club interest do a nature tour of Ramsey Island.  To be viable we would ideally need to be 12 or 24 in total.
22. Walks last year were down to 2 and I hope to get back to my seasonal walks of 4 a year, with a lunch stop at end for others to join us.
23. The Morgan trip proved very successful and I hope we can put a similar event on next year.  Please let me have your suggestions.
24. And finally I regret I have still not worked out the logistics for a winter Swedish husky trip to see the northern lights, but it is on my bucket list!

David Haward
Allegedly the Chairman of the Extraordinary Sports & Social Committee
Narberth & Whitland Rotary