ROTARY CLUB: Held their club assembly at the Falcon Hotel on Monday. The senior vice- president, Michael Rowe, welcomed John Quinton as district governor's representative, to the meeting. The chairman of the various committees announced their plans for the coming new Rotary year from July 1.

Stratford Rotary, now in it's 76th year, continues from strength to strength. Membership had increased during the year with five new members, and most of the activities would be continued next year. Brian Slaughter reported that the Charity Golf Day last week had been very successful with more than £6,500 being raised for various charities. It would be arranged again for May 2004.

Similarly the Shakespeare Marathon had been fixed for April 25, 2004 and members would be required to help in this, the club's major fund-raising event. Planning was already in hand.

As John Quinton mentioned in his summing up of the club's activities, the projects arranged through the International Committee were second to none in the district. As reported in Focus Magazine, the scheme involving Aquaboxes, which provides filtered water for disaster areas, was very pressing, particularity following the Iraq war. Already a large number of such boxes had been distributed through Rotary International.

The collection of old mobile phones, where £10 is donated to Water Aid for each phone, would continue. Medical equipment would continue to be provided to Calcutta Rescue, as well as support for the village school in Itigi, and the Buigiri School for the Blind, both in Tanzania. April 23, 2004 has been designated Africa Malaria Day, and the club would take part in raising funds for that worthwhile appeal.

A new building project aimed at helping 700 street children in Columbia, would be initiated. These children are desperately poor with no other help than a scheme run by Father Peter Walters. Many of the children have been used as human bombs, innocently undertaking errands only to have parcels exploded by remote control, at military checkpoints and similar installations.

The other many activities involving Rotary Foundation, Youth Activities and Vocational Service would continue.

Michael Rowe thanked all members for their efforts during the past year, and was sure that there was an excellent basis for another successful year.