Commemorative Trees for Horbury, Horbury Bridge and Sth. Ossett
- Written by Nick Bardsley
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The Horbury and Ossett Phoenix project to plant a commemorative Oak Tree in Carr Lodge Park in remembrance of the people of Horbury who fell in the First World War (as 2018 was the centenary of the end of WW1) inspired our local Community Group - Friends of Horbury Parks, to plant further commemorative Oak trees in Horbury Bridge, Horbury Junction and South Ossett.
The photographs show:
1) Nick Bardsley (left), Chair of Phoenix Community and Vocational Committee and Councillor Darren Byford (right), Secretary of Friends of Horbury Park, who planted the second of three further commemorative Oak trees on Tuesday the 28th of May in the grass triangle on Daw Lane towards Horbury Junction, opposite Chestnut House (and with thanks to John and Liz Faulkner for taking delivery of the tree and it's protective ironworks before planting).
2) The Oak tree planted in Reid Park, Horbury Bridge.
The final tree will be planted in Illingworth Park, South Ossett in due course.
Thanks to Darren, who created the successful bids which financed the purchase of the three further trees, we will have a total of four commemorative Oak trees across our community.
21 Winners in Rotary Club Trust Fund Share-out
- Written by Bill Sutton
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Our picture shows representatives of 21 charities schools and good causes who received amounts of between £200 and £500 from the Charity Trust Fund of the Horbury and Ossett Phoenix Rotary Club at the presentation evening held in Horbury on Friday 10th May 2019. All the recipients had applied following an article in the Wakefield Express inviting bids for funding from the Rotary Club's Trust Fund which had raised the money through various events including the Horbury Show and Santa's Sleigh.
Club President Alan Hudders welcomed all the recipients and several guests saying, "The club members are also members of this, our local, community and the majority of the money we work to raise each year comes from our community. It is right therefore that it should be mainly returned to good causes here."
The invitation to bid for funding enables us to learn more about the excellent work being carried out by others in the area and to hopefully make a positive contribution to their efforts. The evening followed the pattern of last year and provided an excellent opportunity for networking among the many groups and organisations represented.
A full list of the recipients can be viewed on the Rotary Club website here (list of recipients with details) but in broad terms 6 grants went to schools, 5 to community groups who tackle the problems of the financially disadvantaged, 7 went organisations providing youth sports or other social activities, 1 to adult sport and 2 to groups tackling disability issues. One of the recipients who did not wish to be named thanked the club for their support and commented that the presentation evening had drawn to her attention at least 4 other charitable groups working in the same area as her, which she was not aware of and will now be working with them to tackle some real local problems.
Special Rotary Award for Roger Parkinson BEM*
President Alan Hudders took the opportunity of having a large audience on the presentation evening to award Roger Parkinson BEM with a Paul Harris Fellowship. Normally awarded to Rotarians for outstanding service to their club and community the unusual step of awarding it to non rotarian
Roger Parkinson was in recognition of his considerable contribution to the ecology of Wakefield District, including the planting of thousands of trees, the creation and maintenance of walkways, the work supporting the arboretum at Newmillerdam and the refurbishment of benches in park land
around Wakefield. The award was roundly applauded by the audience.
* British Empire Medal
Below: Photo showing Centre Roger Parkinson BEM, recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award,
Left; Nick Bardsley Chair of H&O Phoenix Rotary Community Service,
Right; Phoenix Rotary Club President for 2018-19 Alan Hudders
Horbury Show Volunteers needed
The Horbury Show is the main source of funding for the many projects and charities supported by the Rotary Club and there is a need for some additional support in 2019 in the form of men and women able to volunteer for an hour or two on the show day, Sunday 30 June, to help with the show set up, gate and traffic control, programme distribution and a wide range of other tasks. Anyone wishing to volunteer should email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact Bill Sutton on 07717 108415. More information about timings and jobs is available on this website and the Horbury Show website. https://www.horburyshow.co.uk
HORBURY SHOW - Volunteers wanted
- Written by Bill Sutton
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The Horbury Show is run by the Phoenix Rotary Club and raises thousands of pounds for charity every year. All the profits from the show go to Phoenix Rotary's Trust Fund, a registered charity, which spends the vast majority within our local communities. The Show relies heavily on volunteers to run efficiently and keep costs down, enabling it to continue as a free community event.
The Horbury Show 2019 will take place on 30 June and we need additional voluntary help in the form of people willing to assist for a few hours during the 2 days leading up to and on the day itself. Help is needed on tasks such as loading and unloading equipment onto a lorry or transit van, collecting and distributing traffic cones, directing traffic, setting up show rings, litter picking, distributing tables and chairs, leading stall holders to their pitches, and many more. Help will be needed on Friday 28 June from 4pm to 6pm, Saturday 29 June from 1.30pm to 2.30pm - litter pick, and Sunday 30 June (Show Day) - various times, in one or two hour blocks, from 7am to 6pm.
Some of the loading and unloading requires a reasonable level of strength, but the majority of the jobs require only normal levels of fitness and mobility.
For more information on volunteer jobs or contact us in any of these ways: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or text on 07717 108415, or the Horbury Show Facebook page
Phoenix Rotary, CLIC Sargent & Morrisons
- Written by Michael Robb
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On the evening of Thursday 28th March 2019 an audience of over 40 people including a good number of Phoenix Club members and their partners were treated to a presentation by Josanne Richardson the local Fund Raising Manager from the charity CLIC Sargent who also brought along Lara-Frances Joyce a service user Mum who's daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of eight months old.
Jo explained that CLIC Sargents priority is Cancer in Children and Young People.
They aim to work to six priorities:
- Providing day to day care.
- Financial assistance to families affected.
- Support, during treatment, for both the child and family.
- helping children cope with the effects of cancer.
- Bereavement support.
- Campaigning for change
Lara also spoke passionately about the tremendous help and support, offered by CLIC Sargent, to her daughter and family from diagnosis to the present day. Lara told the Club that her daughter now attends mainstream school and is growing into a typical young person with a mischievous eye and great sense of humour.
CLIC Sargent is currently the Charity Partnership of Morrisons, who sent two representatives along to the event, from their local Wakefield branch, Bev Kelly and Amanda Holland. Phoenix has been working with and continues to work with the Wakefield Store to assist in their charity collections.
The evening culminated with Club President Alan Hudders and Mike Robb the Phoenix Youth Chair and the evening's event organiser, presenting a cheque for £200.00 to Jo for the CLIC Sargent Charity.
Left to Right: Amanda Holland (Morrisons), Alan Hudders (President of Phoenix Rotary 2018/19), Jo Richardson (CLIC Sargent, Fund Raising Manager), Lara-Frances Joyce (CLIC Sargent, supporter and Mum), Mike Robb (Phoenix Youth Chair and the event's organiser) and Bev Kelly (Morrisons).
2019 Good Citizens Awards Evening
- Written by Bill Sutton
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Four Horbury residents have been recognised by the Rotary Club of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix for their long term commitment and contribution to local community life. All four were invited for a meal at the Rotary Club meeting where they were each presented with a framed certificate, trophy, and a celebratory bottle of wine, as a memento of their evening and acknowledging all they have done.
Wendie and David Wilby in recognition of their unstinting and selfless work for over 20 years with Horbury Pageant Players, and providing development opportunities to many people in our community.
Wendie and David had experienced life on stage in Ossett, Wendie in amateur dramatics and David as a choir member. 22 years ago the Horbury amateur theatre group, Horbury Pageant Players, asked Wendie to stand in at short notice after one of the cast had to drop out due to illness two weeks before a show. She soon learned the script and the show went on to be a great success.
Further acting parts followed before she changed role and became that of Producer/Director which involved sourcing the script, and organising auditions and rehearsals many months before the curtain goes up, and most importantly, directing the cast and crew. Up until a few years ago the group would present the pantomime in February plus a musical review in the summer, quite a commitment. All this wouldn't have been possible without the help and dedication of countless other volunteers over the years.
Husband David, being a loyal supporter, soon found that his joinery skills were required, making scenery and props, having learned how things worked back stage, he gradually moved into the difficult co-ordinating role of Stage Manager.
Over the twenty two years that Wendie and David had been involved with the Horbury Pageant Players, hundreds of people from the local community, from the very young to the more mature, have been on stage, gaining experiences which have boosted their confidence and skills for life. A few have gone on to study at RADA in London.
Having retired from the stage in 2018 Wendie and David were able to relax by attending the opening night of the 2019 pantomime. When presented with their award they modestly pointed out that the Pageant Players Group could not present the productions it has over its 72 year existence without the help of countless volunteers, players and of course public support.
Debora Smith was recognised for her commitment, energy and enthusiasm to promote community activities in the Horbury area
Debora’s commitment to the community of Horbury began over a decade ago when she first moved into the village and became a Leader for the local Beavers, a role which still takes up much of her free time.
She is a founder member of the Horbury W.I. taking a leading role as their first President and working hard to recruit new members to a very lively and proactive group. She has continued her involvement as the Treasurer.
Notwithstanding a full time job and her already extensive time commitments to the community, Debora has also undertaken a rigorous and exhausting training regime to take part in various half and full marathons, fundraising for the Haven, a local Breast Cancer support centre. She was also one of the brave competitors committing to a 12 week training programme for the Strictly Come Dancing event at Horbury School raising money for Breast Cancer Care.
Debora demonstrates a deep desire to make a difference to all communities and has recently completed an induction programme to be a Magistrate.
Julie Yarrow was recognised for her dedication and commitment to the people and community of Horbury by working to provide outstanding facilities and signposting opportunities
Julie began her involvement with Horbury the community of Horbury & District over a decade ago as the Wakefield Express local correspondent which entailed her connecting with local groups to promote events and activities in the area. Along with her partner and others she was also actively involved in the Friends of Carr Lodge Park which led to the creation of the existing childrens play area.
The knowledge and contacts she developed as our local correspondent proved invaluable as she became part of the organising team for the Horbury Craft and Street Fayre, an annual community event giving local groups the opportunity to promote their activities and crafts. This brought many visitors into Horbury and is one of the key summer events in the local calendar.
As a homeowner in Horbury, in 2008 she was elected as a Trustee of the Horbury Common Lands Trust, which is one of the oldest grant making Trusts in the country offering financial support to the people and fabric of Horbury.
Julie has worked for many years as a volunteer at the Community Centre and with her tenacity and drive has been a constant strength in developing the Cluntergate Centre. As a Trustee of the Horbury Community Centre Trust, Julie was one of the central figures in seeking and obtaining significant grants for the recent refurbishment.
Within every community there are the movers and shakers and there are those who just do and Julie Yarrow is certainly one of those who quietly works in the background, seeking no public recognition but deserving the acknowledgment she shuns.
The awards were presented by the current Horbury and Ossett Phoenix Rotary President Alan Hudders and seen on the left of the photos is Club member and Past President Ian Rayner who not only coordinated the research on the candidates but also organised and compered the Presentation Evening. A big thankyou to him for his hard work.
2019 Seniors Treat
- Written by 2018/19 President Alan Hudders
- Hits: 4060
On Wednesday 27th March 2019 The Horbury & Ossett Phoenix Rotary Club provided a treat for 147 Seniors form Horbury/Ossett Area.
The afternoon included bingo, an entertainer Ken Romano, a packed lunch sandwich, sausage roll and bun, supplied from Boulby's and served with tea and coffee, finishing with a raffle.
Thanks to a number of Rotary members and some partners the Event ran very efficiently and was enjoyed by all attendees.
This was achieved by using some of the funds raised over the Christmas period's Santa's Sleigh Runs.
Once again another example of Rotary making a real difference in our Community.
Phoenix Rotary helps Morrisons lead the way on World Cancer Day
- Written by Bill Sutton
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Morrisons Supermarket on Dewsbury Road, Wakefield, is leading the way with their fundraising efforts for the Clic Sargent cancer charity and the Rotary Club of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix have been regularly lending them a hand over the past 9 months by conducting bucket collections in store, including last Friday which was World Cancer Day.
So far Morrisons have raised over £13,100 in the last financial year and the Rotary collections have contributed over £2800 to that total. Mike Robb, Youth Services Chairman of the Rotary Club said, " It is great for us to be able to support the charity fundraising efforts of Bev Kelly and her colleagues at Morrisons. The team at the supermarket have also been very supportive of our efforts to raise funds for our charitable trust by allowing us to take Santa and his helpers to the store over the Christmas period. We will be inviting Bev and her Manager along to our Presentation evening in May when we intend to distribute a significant amount of money amongst many charities and good causes within our communities."
Bids for funds from the Rotary Charitable Trust can be made up to and including 28 February 2019, use this email address to ask for an Application Form: email address now deleted or contact through Facebook at Rotary Club of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix.
Photo Rotarians Mike Robb and
Ian Rayner collecting at Morrisons