Bruton Defibrillator Used to Resuscitate Someone

Colin went to check the defibrillator in Bruton on Wednesday morning and found that the cabinet had been opened and that the defibrillator was gone.

We reported this to South West Ambulance Service and they checked the records and found that it had been used in an incident that morning.

Later on in the morning, we were contacted by a representative of Heartbeat South West who had been contacted by Shepton Mallet police. “Your Bruton defib was successfully used by the Police to resuscitate someone“.

The defibrillator is now back in the cabinet but will need purchase new pads and other items before it is ready for use again.

Many thanks to all of those who helped towards getting the defibrillator in Bruton.

Lest We Forget

There are some who are born to lead. This was patently obvious at the summit of Lodge Hill on the evening of Remembrance Day where there was much activity involved in illuminating the Living Cross. Three members of Brue Valley plus a supporter ( Rogers L and W, Peter and Anne) assisted the regulars in positioning the metal posts and lanterns. Director of Operations (aka Nicky Creed) proved to be in excellent form sending her colleagues down the treacherous slopes of Lodge Hill. The mud didn’t help but with perseverance the 56 lanterns were positioned. The result was stunning. We lifted a glass or three in the twilight (thank you Nicky) ! Next year your correspondent will bring crampons and rope!

Crash, whizz, bang

Not content with the fireworks which a Brue Valley business meeting can provide, five Brue Valley Rotarians and one helper went to assist our mother club, Shepton Mallet, at their community bonfire and firework display at Shepton Mallet football club.

After a year off for Covid, this exceptionally well organised event was well and truly back with the usual popular appeal.

Due to your correspondence putting “Service above Self” down a dark and tree lined path, the photographs have to be interpreted as artistic representation rather than a true reflection of the visual delight experienced by those on the field!

JigFest results puzzle Rotarians!

Happy visitors who scooped up bargain jigsaws at JigFest

Many of our members were at first puzzled when a JigFest was proposed to raise money for charity. No we were not expecting kilts to be worn for a morning of Highland Dancing but instead we were going to offer bargain JigSaws at prices from as little as £2.

So during the past few months Brue Valley Rotary Club members have been collecting new, used and nearly new Jigsaws in order to resell them at bargain prices. No one was really sure how many people would want to come along to Kings School Bruton today to buy any of the 300+ puzzles we had on offer.

But we were delighted when people started to turn up in search of Christmas presents, gifts to keep elderly relatives occupied or simply challenging puzzles to exercise the brain. In total £560 was raised which will go a long way to help the many charities Brue Valley Rotary Club regularly support.

Coffees and teas were available to visitors as well

Race Night at District 1200 Conference in Plymouth

On Friday 15 October, 13 jolly members of Brue Valley Rotary travelled to Plymouth to host a Race Night for Rotary District 1200 Conference 2021. Most of us travelled in the Wincanton Community Bus, very ably driven by Rotarian – and qualified bus driver – Andrew Moore, despite the various hold-ups and detours it was a safe journey.

The Race Night was attended by some 140 delegates from District 1200 and, by the volume of noise they made, they seemed to have had a good time. Much betting was done, and although not everyone was a winner, two good causes benefitted from their generosity. Childrens’ Hospice SW and Parkinsons UK.

There was an estimated £950 raised on the Tote and £350 on the Raffle, Rotarian Adrian Foster from Chippenham, who was the lucky bidder for ownership of the winning horse in the last race, won £156 as his prize – he very generously donated £100 to the pot. So, although not finally confirmed, it looks like Brue Valley Rotary helped District 1200 to raise approx £1400 for two very worthwhile causes.

Very many thanks to all delegates, the Brue Valley Race Team and especially Andrew Moore for getting us there and back safely.

Good to be back – Castle Cary Carnival 2021

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A strong team from Brue Valley Rotary assembled, at the appointed time and place, for bucket collection duties at the first Castle Cary Carnival since 2019 – it was good to be back! Two of our number had been on Rotary duty at Plymouth the previous evening until the small hours; earlier in the day others had been involved in a community coffee morning so Rotary Exhaustion (RE) might have been expected. Your correspondent is delighted to report that RE wasn’t in evidence and morale was extremely high. It wasn’t long before the firework spluttered into the sky signalling the start of the 2021 Carnival. The Brue Valley Rotary Team were swiftly in action shaking the buckets and persuading the not inconsiderable numbers to dig deep. The Carnival’s return, albeit it a walking format, was welcomed by everyone. We enjoyed it too!