A Royal Education

Promoting education is one of the core aims of Rotary and the Tettenhall Club is proud to work with a number of local schools in Wolverhampton to help in their work.

Tonight we were joined by Mark Heywood, the Headmaster of the Royal School in Wolverhampton, to talk with us about the School's approach to the education of its pupils and his belief that education may well best be kept out of the classroom.

Mark explained that the Royal's approach was not only about delivering academic success but as importantly about developing their pupils character and ensuring that they left with the life skills necessary to ensure their success in the world.

In order to foster an atmosphere where students characters can develop they are given the opportunity and encouraged to engage in a wide range of extra curricular activities. These activities are designed to provide them with challenges which will allow them to learn by taking risks, to develop team working and leadership skills and to empower them to take responsibility and to make decisions for themselves.

Many students take part in expeditions both within the UK and internationally and Mark shared with us stories of the students achievements. An important element of these expeditions and extra curricular activities is to help students understand the importance of helping others. Recent expeditions have seen the students constructing and refurbishing classrooms in India and building a play ground for the children of a South American village. 

We've had the opportunity to witness at first hand just how successfully this approach works with the members of the Interact Club which was formed recently at the School and which is already helping to make a positive difference in its community. We wish Mark and his team at the School every success are looking forward to working with them and with the pupils in the future. 

HRH The Earl of Wessex

The Royal School in Wolverhampton is proud of its long association with the Royal Family and today staff and pupils of the junior school had the honour of a visit from their patron His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex KG GCVO.

The entire student body turned out to greet HRH and they were joined by several members of Tettenhall Rotary Club who as part of their service to our community are involved with the work of the School.

Club members Harun Rashid and Sammy Chung, both of who are Governors of the School, were presented to HRH and Club member Bert Finch explained to HRH our involvement with the School's new Interact Club and the excellent start which the Interactors have made.

Both the children and our Club members thoroughly enjoyed meeting HRH who subsequently unveiled a commemorative plaque which is to be placed next to an oak tree planted as the culmination of the 80th Anniversary celebrations of The Royal Junior School.

In Memory - John Lochhead

The passing of former Club President John Lochhead has come as a shock to all of us at the Club.

An accountant by profession John built a successful local accountancy practice in Wombourne, which is now carried on by his sons Andrew and Chris, in addition to his other business interests.

Known for being competitive but always level headed John could always be relied upon to get the job done.

Locally born but fiercely proud of his Scottish heritage it was so appropriate that Flower of Scotland was played as Club members gathered with friends and family today at a service of thanksgiving for John's life in order to pay our final respects.

John will be greatly missed by all of us and our thoughts are with John's wife Mary and her family.

Rotary's Future Vision

Founded in 1917 The Rotary Foundation is Rotary's own charity. The mission of the Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

We've always taken pride in the efficient way in which the Foundation is run which helps to ensure that all of the money that we put into the charity is used for charitable purposes rather than being gobbled up in administration fees. Money raised for Foundation is deposited with the charity for three years and the interest earned on the money during that time covers all of the cost of administering the charity.

To make sure that the Foundation continues in its mission to help more people a number of changes are going to be made in the way that the charity operates and this evening the Club was joined by Assistant District Governor Ashley Gray to explain this Future Vision Plan.

Concentrating on six main areas of focus

• Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
• Disease prevention and treatment
• Water and sanitation 
• Maternal and child health
• Basic education and literacy
• Economic and community development

the Future Vision Plan will simplify the way in which Foundation operates, reducing administration costs and making it easier for Rotary clubs to work together locally, nationally and internationally to deliver projects which realise the Foundation's mission helping to change the lives of millions for the better.