The Best Guide for the Neston Area

Neston Rotary to Close Its Doors in June

It is with great sadness that, after 56 years, Rotary in Neston has decided to cease operating in the town from 30 June 2021.

Neston Rotary at Neston Village Fair.The club, which has served the town of Neston and beyond, is probably best known for its Santa's Sleigh activities, but it has been so much more than that over the years:

• Many young people have been sent on leadership courses in Wales; and on
  
• Youth exchange programmes across the world.
  

The Club have organised:

• Photographic and music competitions to assist young people's education;
• Technology tournaments organised with Neston High School and other Wirral and Cheshire secondary schools; and
  
• RotaKids clubs for younger students at the town's primary schools.

• Neston Rotary's Santa and Santa's Sleigh appearances will be sorely missed.

Some of the most famous choirs in the world have visited our small town, and it has helped raise funds for much needed charities both locally and abroad. Neston Rotary members have travelled to India on polio immunisation programmes, and to the Amazon area of Brazil to complete international projects.

Through the COVID-19 pandemic members of Rotary in Neston delivered over two thousand prescriptions and helped out at vaccination centres.

Once a thriving club of local members of the community, their numbers have dwindled and now only a very small group of men and women are left, who are simply unable to complete the service that they would like to in the community. The members will carry on in Rotary International but will all move to other clubs to carry on their volunteering.

A spokesperson for the club said: "We are devastated that we have had to take this decision. We have tried so many times to ask people to join us and help volunteer in the Neston community, but sadly we have not been successful, and we simply cannot carry on with so few members. Who knows, maybe in the future a new Rotary group will rise from the ashes in a new form, and the people of Neston and Parkgate will be able to form a new style club."

Rotary in Neston would like to thank all of those people who have supported their volunteering events over the years and ask that when possible they continue to support Rotary International.

Written and submitted by President of Neston Rotary Trevor Irvin.

Editor's note

I loved the anticipation and Christmas spirit waiting outside for Santa to appear in his sleigh and wave to my young son, who was in awe of the lights and the music and the atmosphere. And it's not just Santa's Sleigh that Neston Rotary have organised, they have also been central to the main Christmas event in Neston each year, so that will look different in time to come. Their 'human fruit machine' has been a popular feature at past Village Fairs too.

Thank you Rotary Club of Neston for all of the hard work, dedication and achievements in the community that you can be so very proud of. We will toast to your successes when we're "allowed".

Report this article as inappropriate

Comments

merrymac

At 17:06 on 29th March 2021, merrymac commented:

Sad but volunteering time is sadly in
short supply throughout Society today

[Report this comment as inappropriate]

martyn w

At 09:20 on 1st April 2021, martyn w commented:

I've always been grateful to them for supporting me being sent on VSO to Nevis in 1976. Always noticed them at the village fete, and at Christmas, had no idea the organisation was not thriving.

[Report this comment as inappropriate]

CO Jones

At 10:42 on 1st April 2021, CO Jones commented:

Not sure that is entirely accurate merrymac. Volunteering is thriving and there are more people involved in donating their good will and time for nothing than ever before.

What has changed is how people volunteer. I am an active volunteer with organisations including WaterAid and CH 64 events plus many others.

Dare I say, The Rotary Club has not been on my radar but i can't really explain why. It does not fit as easily for me as other shorter duration but perhaps more intense volunteering activities suit me and my Wife as we both work full time.

Just like anything else though, the use it or lose it mantra applies. They clearly didn't have enough community spirited people coming forward to support them. Therefore the mirror needs to be held up by the community of Neston to reflect themselves if people wonder how it came to this.

[Report this comment as inappropriate]

Rob Ward

At 10:12 on 5th April 2021, Rob Ward commented:

Merrymac is usually right, but I think he is wrong on this occasion. Repeated surveys show that volunteering has not declined. Many organisations grow and then shrink, if as members get older not enough young people replace them. In Neston, the response to the pandemic has been fanastic, with NCYC acting as a focus for people who have volunteered.

[Report this comment as inappropriate]

merrymac

At 10:23 on 5th April 2021, merrymac commented:

Thanks CO and Rob for correcting me. Yes the CH64 Community indeed came up trumps for volunteering at the Vaccine roll out. Why Rotary should decline, I don't have an answer

[Report this comment as inappropriate]

You need to log in before you can do that! It's only a quick registration process to join the AMA network and completely free.