Christmas shopping – A trip to Lille and Bruges last December was very beneficial for the Ross club and several of the charities that it supports.

The arrangements for the trip were made through PGL, which in turn has donated all the profits from the trip to the club by way of sponsorship. Managing director Martin Davies presented the cheque for £1,617 to the club at a recent meeting. The money will be used to help support the Larruperz Centre, Rotary’s ongoing project in Namatumba, Uganda, and other local charities.

BOXING EVENING – Twenty-five years on from its 1984 inception, Ross Rotary Club’s boxing evening raised £5,250 for local Rotary charities, bringing the total raised over the years to nearly £115,000.

The Chase Hotel again hosted the event for 160 guests. Boxing was staged by Droitwich and Tudorville ABCs and provided eight exciting bouts.

Before the boxing and after a brief address by co-founder Ivan Perry, the scene was set and the atmosphere charged by former world light heavyweight champion John Conteh, surpassing the expectations of all who remembered his vintage performance at The Chase in 1999. John has subsequently agreed to become a patron of the event, adding his name to those whose support is already pledged.

This year’s auction included a guided tour for two of the gardens at Highgrove, two tickets for the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, a visit for two on Members Day at the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show and dinner for two at the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame.

The 2010 boxing evening will be at the Chase Hotel on Friday, March 5.

GREEN GODDESS – On Monday last, those attending the Rotary Club meeting at the Royal Hotel were entertained and challenged by the TV personality Diana Moran, more well known as the Green Goddess, after an excellent meal provided by the hotel.

Taking time out from her busy schedule of broadcasting, lecturing, writing books, and considerable work with a number of charities, she gave a humorous and thought-provoking talk.

Last year, at nearly 70 years of age, she walked the Great Wall of China and raised £140,000 for her various charities but decided that climbing Mount Kilimanjaro this year was not for her.

Following her talk, a raffle was held which raised more than £300 for Breast Cancer Research.

BLOOD PRESSURE TESTING – The club will be checking Ross shoppers’ blood pressure on Saturday in a bid to help cut down the alarming number of strokes recorded in the UK every year.

The club is joining scores of Rotary clubs across the UK taking to the high streets and offering blood pressure checks as part in Rotary’s Stroke and Health Awareness Day.

A testing centre will be set up at the WRVS Office in Gloucester Road from 10am to 3pm with the help of the local First Responders. To find out more about Ross Rotary Club and its activities, call 01989 567810 or visit rossrotary.com.