Rotary International District 1260 - International Services

When Rotary networking really works...resulting in five pallet loads of children's books going from Beeston in Nottingham to a destination near Johannesburg.

Report / Photos from Les Lee, February 2006

At the District Foundation Rally in Nov 05, Valerie Leivers, a member of the RIBI Foundation Committee and District 1220, gave a presentation on Grants. As an example she cited a discovery grant given to one of their members, Ray Lewis, to visit Cape Town. During his visit he met up with members of the Kirtenbosch Rotary Club who mentioned their need for children’s books.

Hearing this, AG Les Lee said he might be able to help with transportation - as he has connections with School – Aid which sends educational material to Africa.

Following the meeting Ray contacted Les who said 'yes -  they could help, but the shipment was due to go in about 10 days'.

DG Meirion Morris, handling the pallet truck expertly!

With support from President Jeff Curtis of the Rotary Club of Beeston (near Nottigham) and their members, contacts were made, books collected and packed into labelled boxes. There were about 10,000 books which equated to five pallet loads.

On Sunday 22^nd January Members of the Rotary Club of Beeston brought the boxes to the School Aid warehouse near Beaconsfield and loaded them onto pallets that were hurriedly supplied by another Rotarian Geoff Dell from Berkhamsted Rotary Club. District Governor of 1260, Meirion Morris, was advised of the visit from another District and even though he had a busy schedule, insisted on giving his weight to loading the pallets and getting practice using the pallet lifter. Chesham Club were represented by AG’s Bernard Pritchard and Les Lee.

Les who was supervising loading on behalf of School – Aid said that DG Meirion would always be welcome back to the warehouse when the next delivery goes.

The five pallet loads now join another 16 pallets previously loaded at School – Aid that will go initially to Cape Town and to a final destination near Johannesburg. I do believe that the internal delivery is via another Rotary contact made in South Africa.

If anyone would like information about the work of School – Aid check www.school-aid.org or contact les.lee@zen.co.uk

From L to R: Jack Walton (Beeston Club), AG Bernard Pritchard (Chesham), 
Ray Lewis (Beeston Club and originator of the District project), 
DG Meirion Morris (Dist. 1260), President Jeff Curtis (Beeston), 
Adrian Curtis (Non Rotarian, Jeff Curtis’s son) and 
Geoff Bryan (Beeston Club)

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