Some of us enjoyed a fascinating 2 mile / one hour circular walk connecting 18 points of interest in Eton starting at Windsor Bridge and celebrating Eton’s diverse community and rich heritage. Permanent bronze markers are set in the ground to identify the route of the Walkway and use Eton’s coat of arms, originally given to the town by King Henry VI in 1449.

For more information see https://www.outdoortrust.com/eton-walkway

Some members of our club visited our good friends in our twin Rotary Club of Goslar-Nordharz, Germany.

​Sunday 13th May
The final day and weather has improved over night, sunny with patchy cloud but it has stopped raining. We are busy with questions this morning and thankfully the child safety wristbands are as popular as ever, we came across more, which were buried under some bits and pieces on the stand.
My efforts to keep it clean and tidy lasts about 2 days then it generally goes to pot.

As ever it has been a lot of fun, but am noticing on how hard it is on me this year, an exceptionally tired this year. But I have brought a hammock so will be setting it up in future years so I can sleep on site.

For those who have worked at the show this year, you will know that shop and drop had an additional location this year within the Members area, it has become apparent that there is also a need for showground Information point. Should that happen the volunteer will have to be appropriately dressed, but will be spending their day with in Members enclosure.

The individual classes have gone down well but a rather cranky old lady during some jumping was overheard saying; “Bloody Hell!, If I saw a fence like that, I'd look for a gate.” Oh well you can't please them all..

George (the friendly dragon [costume]) is in disgrace which is odd behaviour seeing as he is so well behaved during this show. Apparently he is a lovely room en suite with bars on the windows. I know this as he is entitled to a phone call, he is awaiting bail. I am not to sure what he has done but rumour has it there was a break in at the castle and some about corgis. I think its best that we do not know and have some deniability... 
If and when he does get released, he will be made to stand and collect his bail money by our tent.

As ever I am grateful to my army of volunteers who once again have put in many hours to assist at Showground Information, they will individually update their community hours. We have been trying to work out how many hours everyone has put in this week, we wouldn't be surprised and if we include the Endurance as well, it will be close to 400 hours. That is a huge well done to everyone involved this year and we are so lucky to be involved with this premier Windsor event.

Our club volunteers to help the public at the official RWHS Show Information stand.

Saturday 12th May
A busy day awaits, I arrived as normal at 7am got the daily orders and other information from the organisers and the fully opened the tent up.

My daily breakfast of Porridge and coffee kept me going before I was joined by Andrea.

The weather has been against us today. Unfortunately it started raining at 1pm and whilst writing this several hours later it is still raining. I was told that one of the land rover slipped backwards off the experience as it was so slippery. I was able to arrange a photo of Gwenda this year presenting the trophy I am sure if you ask nicely she will let you see it.

I spotted George (the friendly dragon [costume] ) earlier sitting under a tree, holding his head I am sure its just headache from the sun yesterday. Thinking about it there were some empty bottles near no idea where those water bottles from...

Its still raining so we have decided to call it a night early at 6pm, we are cold and damp. Heading home to warm up.
As ever I am grateful to my army of volunteers who once again have put in many hours to assist at Showground Information.

Friday 11th May
Half way day and, whilst I was still in bed, friends and colleagues were making their way to the Great Park for Endurance. The day looks good for them - not too warm, not cold, but most importantly no rain. I am sure that Chris and others will report back on their day.

For us, I opened the tent at 7am after I had delivered more chairs. We had lots of helpers yesterday at both shop and Drop and Show Information and I had ran out of chairs so at 0645 I was dropping these off on to site.
Most questions we have had have been quite easy to answer, though we were asked all about the Royal wedding and the person asking couldn't understand why Showground Information didn't have anything for her. Still as ever we were polite and directed her towards the RBWM website.

Thursday 10th May
Arrived just 7am this morning but also brought my partner with me who in fairness was not keen to get out of bed just 6 this morning. But she did and all was OK. We arrived, set up the tent worked out the changes to the programme.

The sun is out but last night's rain has made a lovely fresh morning. This means we were rather chilly this morning. We went shopping and pleased to say we just came back with crisps, though a toilet seat will be ordered soon.

At 1130 we escorted our president, Gwenda, to the Copper Horse Area to present our award at the Driving For Disabled (Class 51) for the Driving section. We were greeted by the Course Officials who promoted and mentioned the Rotary Club of Windsor St George several times [ed. thanks]. The winner was expertly judged and this year was awarded to Matthew Law who was riding Tookie. Matthew was thrilled that he was given a trophy that he can keep. Several photos were taken including the official ones, that I will order for the club tomorrow.

Huge congratulations to all of the participants who entered.

Monday 7th May
It's finally arrived - RWHS week. Today is an easy day or should be but causes me the most stress when really it shouldn't. Its picking up Passes day. I arrived on Site about 1030 made my way to the xxx, I had my ID and went in and 10 minutes later all good. No problems - pack as it should have been - all the passes. 

Tuesday 8th May 
Back on site at 11am to set up. I had arranged to meet up with Dennis who runs Shop and Drop. Once I had done as much as I could I then checked in with the organisers. After a meeting I was then back at the tent to finish the set up. At 3pm I finally left site. 

Wednesday 9th May
I got up and arrived on site at 0650. I had to drop off a few more items and at that time I was allowed to park on site, which helps. Just after 0700 I was liaising with the organisers and got all of the information which we should require over the week. We were now fully set up and all right to go. I then finished the setting up of the tent. 

I went for a wander and found myself by the Copper Horse arena I could see a “pack of Press” clearly concentrating on someone so I thought I would have a look myself. Well I could see several suited and booted and definitely some security but could not see anyone else. I spotted one of the organisers and said to them who are we supposed to be spotting in that area. They gave me the eye which implied, 'was I really asking that question'. 
Her Majesty The Queen was the reply, I looked again and there she was, in casual clothing which is why I probably hadn't spotted her. Ah yes of course, obvious now. This shows how tired I am and truthfully it is only day 1. 
Bendicks are here again and like last year they have agreed to donate all of their collected silver foil to our Rotary Club.

George (the friendly dragon [costume]) has been brought over. He is not happy at the moment and has decided to hide himself under one of the tables. We have made the decision to leave him whilst he is this foul mood until the weekend. He snorts every so often, not sure what has upset him so much.

The weather should be fine all week and I am looking forward to a glorious week at RWHS 2018.

It is open to everyone living or working in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to seek fresh solutions to issues that will benefit as many residents as possible in the Windsor, Ascot and surrounding areas* (within RBWM). 

Sponsored by The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, recent years' winning bright ideas include: bird boxes for owls and smaller birds, a night market in Windsor and a community garden.

President Gwenda Lilley says, “The Royal Borough is a beautiful place to live, work and go to school and it’s amazing how people with such bright ideas can make them happen with a little help. I look forward to seeing many bright ideas this year.”

Speaking about this year’s competition, Gwenda added: “This year there is a youth category and I encourage all under-18s to tell us what they would like to see or introduce into the borough. There is a cash bonus for their school or youth group too if their bright idea is a winner.” 

The adult prize winner will receive £700, with 3 runner-up prizes of £200 each.

The youth group (under 18 years of age) is open to all young people, schools and youth groups in the Windsor, Ascot and District. The  winner in this age range will receive £100 plus a £300 bonus cash prize for their school/ youth group (if applicable). There are 3 runner-up youth prizes of £100 each.

* Entries for bright ideas to benefit Maidenhead, please visit the website of Maidenhead Thames Rotary Club

Do you like being involved in the community and meeting new people? Do you believe in dragons? If so, the Windsor St George Rotary Club may be for you.

The Club offers an excellent opportunity to socialise while planning and engaging in various activities which help the local community. Recent and forthcoming events include: a Concert featuring the Caerphilly Male Voice Choir; Windsor and Eton Christmas events; George the friendly Dragon, our mascot, running in the Windsor & Eton Pancake Race, Quiz Night and Know Your Blood Pressure Day. Other events, fitting the 2016/17 international theme of, Rotary Serving Humanity, include fundraising for: Thames Valley Adventure Playground, Children in Need at Heathrow; and The Walk Centre, Nakuru, Kenya.

A major event in the calendar is the Club’s annual exchange with the Goslar-Nordharz Rotary Club of Germany. This year’s trip will see 60 or so Rotarians visiting Dublin for the delights of the Emerald Isle.

Windsor St George Rotary Club meets on Tuesday evenings, in Datchet, for a meal followed by a speaker or another event. If you'd like to find out more you are welcome to join us for coffee at the Manor Hotel, Datchet, on Saturday 1st April, 10:00 am - noon. If you cannot make it then please get in touch to arrange another time for a chat.

There was a warm welsh welcome in the hills around Norden Farm in Maidenhead last Saturday (24 September 2016) when the audience were treated to a concert provided by the Caerphilly Male Voice Choir. Singing to an almost full auditorium they performed traditional welsh songs including Myfanwy and Men of Harlech. These invoked a strong sense of ‘hiraeth’ in those of us with welsh roots.
Unusually for a male voice choir there was a female vocalist, Cheryl Roberts, who is classically trained and included in her repertoire songs from shows such as Chess and Sweet Charity. This combination of music was certainly uplifting. The closing song of the concert, Calon Lan, was dedicated to a recently deceased member of Windsor St George, Emrys Richards.
The concert was organized by the Rotary Club of Windsor St George in conjunction with Norden Farm. Profits from the concert will go to Rotary Foundation charities such as Shelterbox and the Walk Centre in Kenya which the club supports. A raffle raised money for the Rotary ‘End Polio Now’ campaign which has almost succeeded in eradicating polio from the world. If you would like to join the Rotary Club of Windsor St George please contact us at Are you? or visit www.ribi.org

We were delighted to welcome back to the club our RYLA candidate, Charlotte Smith, who participated in the Rotary Youth Leadership Award earlier this summer in Rhos-y-Gwaliau, North Wales. This is an Outward Bound style course with the emphasis on leadership. As it's a residential course, it also counts towards the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Charlotte gave a wonderful presentation about the exercises and activities during the week-long course and showed us how much she had learned and grown by participating fully.

It is a Rotary International programme for young people offering one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives by taking part in developing qualities of leadership, team working, initiative and problem solving at the start of their careers.
The programme develops a more complete personality and the new found confidence and skills are brought back into the workplace and community.
For more information, see ​http://www.rotary-ribi.org/districts/page.php?PgID=255998&DistrictNo=1090

The next course will take place from 22nd-29th July 2017.
If you are a young person aged between 18 and 25 living in the Windsor/Datchet area and would like to be considered for the next course please contact us at Are you?

​Uplifting music, stirring melodies, rich harmonies; the Caerphilly Male Voice Choir delivers on all these. Established in 1906 this is one of the longest running choirs in Wales and, boy, they love to sing. With a wide-ranging repertoire, expect to hear anything from male voice classics to operatic pieces and show-stopping songs from popular musicals.

Tickets £15 from Norden Farm box office 01628 788977 or book online at https://norden.farm/events/caerphilly-male-group-voices-concert

Worthy winner Oakhaze McClintock ridden by Jessica Benton (owner Judi Ralls) in the Driving for the Disabled competition sponsored by Grundon Waste Management. Presenting the Challenge Cup is Rtn Richard Cox (President - Windsor St George Rotary Club) and Kirsty (Grundon Waste Management).

As in previous years, our volunteer Rotarians are assisting visitors to the Royal Windsor Horse Show in the Showground Information Stand. If you are at the show, please pop by to say hello. We'd love to see you.

Rotary clubs are based within local communities, with their members meeting on a regular basis to enjoy friendship, networking, and to plan projects that will benefit the lives of others. If you'd like to find out how you could join us, please contact us.
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For information about the Royal Windsor Horse Show, visit www.rwhs.co.uk