Recent News and Past Events

Moroccan Gourmet Banquet
Wednesday 22nd March 2023



Everyone who attended enjoyed a great 7-course dining experience at the Daarna Restaurant in Goldsworth Rd, with a menu particularly selected for foodies. We are pleased to report that this was a very successful event, raising money for charity and we are most grateful to the local businesses who each sponsored a course.




Gourmet Sponsors
We are most grateful to our sponsors:
- DWH Investments
- HSS Hire Services (Southern) 3 Manor Way, Old Woking, Woking
- C&E Electrical Wholesale Ltd, The Old Forge, Kingfield Road, Woking
- William Lacey Group
- Bellini Italian Restaurant
- KH Heating and Plumbing https://khheating.com
- New Haw Dental Surgery
These companies have kindly sponsored a course each, for which they will also receive recognition on the night. Their generous support will make a considerable difference to the fundraising
Woking District was raising funds for Rotary's own charity - The Rotary Foundation. Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent over $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions. With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world. Rotary has led the effort to eradicate Polio throughout the world. This has been a massive undertaking.
Nepalese Banquet Fundraising Event
The Nepalese Banquet was held at Everest Spice, 1 St Johns Rd, Woking GU21 7SE on 3rd November 2021 in the evening at £35/person. See the pdf flyer for more information about the 7 course banquet. A great time was had by all and raised useful funds for charity.





Event Sponsors
We are most grateful to our sponsors:
- Graham Turner's Family Butcher, 3 Coldharbour Road, Pyrford, Woking
- DWH Investments
- HSS Hire Services (Southern) 3 Manor Way, Old Woking, Woking
- C&E Electrical Wholesale Ltd, The Old Forge, Kingfield Road, Woking
- STIHL https://www.stihl.co.uk
- KH Heating and Plumbing https://khheating.com
- Howdens https://www.howdens.com
These companies have kindly sponsored a course each, for which they will also receive recognition on the night. Their generous support will make a considerable difference to the fundraising
Rotary Social on the Canal boat 'Kitty' on 11th August and 8th September
The Rotary Kitty trip on Wednesday 11th August was aboard 'Kitty', a 12 passenger canal boat on the Basingstoke Canal departing from Woking Wharf. A great time was had by all on our late afternoon/evening trip down the canal and back. See the photos taken below. A second trip aboard Kitty, took place on the 8th September in the afternoon.
If anyone is interested in learning more about 'Kitty', please look at their website:
https://basingstoke-canal.org.uk/boat-trips/our-boats/kitty
Apparently, Kitty was named after a horse of that name that worked on the Canal in the 40s and 50s.



Joint Rotary Meeting with Uppsala Linne, Sweden Wed 25th August 2021
We all enjoyed a talk by longstanding Woking District Rotarian Peter Kleyn speaking about his experiences of living and working in Sweden, with our Rotary friends in Uppsala who enjoyed getting a Brit’s take on their country!
Our Rotary Meeting Wed 20th July 2022
We were delighted to welcome back Allison Dunn, a former full member of the club who is currently an associate member whilst she is working in the Gulf. Allison gave a fascinating talk about her work in Qatar working in the client organisation for the Doha Metro. But the most interesting part of her talk, and the subsequent questioning, was about the differences in business culture between the UAE and the UK, and also here experiences as a woman in this rather different world.
Our Charity Golf Tournament Wed 6th July 2022

Our annual Woking District Rotary Charity Golf Tournament took place at West Byfleet Golf Club on Wednesday 6th July 2022.
The event consisted of an afternoon stableford competition, drinks in the bar followed by dinner in the dining room.
Mens, ladies and mixed teams were all made welcome.
The challenges for the day include nearest the pin and the longest drive and concluded with presentations to the winners, a raffle with a good range of prizes and an auction including rounds at other clubs in the Woking area.
The cost for a team of four to participate this year, including golf and dinner, but not drinks, was £360, with all proceeds going to charity.
If you are interested in putting in a team for next year, please contact the golf day organisers using this form.
This year's event made a profit of £5,900 for two local charities.
Our Rotary Meeting 2nd June
Last Wednesday's meeting highlight was guest speaker Rotarian Phil Godfrey of Solihull RC who spoke to us about four closely inter-related topics:
•APS (Antiphospholipid Syndrome )
•His personal connection with APS
•His walk from Isles of Scilly to the Shetland Islands, stopped sadly through injury,
•His current Rail Tour, 42,000 miles during which he has met some fantastic Clubs and Rotarians
All of the above was squeezed into a little over half an hour or so and was really very interesting.
None of us had ever heard about Antiphospholipid Syndrome which is a disorder of the immune system causing an increased risk of blood clots. This means people with APS are at greater risk of developing conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that usually develops in the leg. Depending on which organ is affected by a blood clot and how severe the obstruction of blood flow to that organ is, untreated antiphospholipid syndrome can lead to permanent organ damage, heart attacks, strokes or death. Another effect is that it can cause multiple miscarriages with a devastating effect on young prospective parents trying for a baby.
• APS website including, printable leaflets and posters: https://aps-support.org.uk/self-help/fact-sheets
• APS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/APSsupportUK
Woking District Members felt like doing something active and raised vital funds homeless people at the same time!
Rotarians took part in The Surrey Hills Challenge to raise money for Transform Housing. There were 6 different events - so a challenge for everyone in the beautiful landscape of the Surrey Hills on the Greensand Way. People of all ages and fitness joined in It could be a run or a walk and some you can even do with your dog.
If you want to know more about Transform Housing: https://www.transformhousing.org.uk/
or email dannand@transformhousing.org.uk