Llanelli Rotary's outgoing President reflects on a year of great achievement

Outgoing Llanelli Rotary Club President Hywel Bassett reflected on a year of great achievement for the club at the annual Presidential Handover dinner held at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli.
“The Rotary International theme for the year was ‘Light Up Rotary’ - and the candle was well and truly lit my year as President of the second oldest Rotary Club in Wales,” said Mr Bassett.
“It has been an exceptionally busy year, with very successful fund-raising activities for different charities, excellent youth and social events and some very successful community projects.”
Mr Bassett was succeeded as President by Mrs Susan Roberts.
In his valedictory speech, he reflected on some of the highlights of his year as President –

• The annual Rotary Golf Day at the Ashburnham Golf Club in Pembrey raised more than £1,500 on the day for the club’s charity account. 
• World War One Commemoration concert held at Greenfield Chapel, Llanelli, and featuring Cor Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir, Cor Curiad, soloists Jordan Williams and Keely Morgan and the Swansea 244 Squadron Drummers. “I wish someone had made a recording of that concert; it was absolutely brilliant. We were able to donate £3,000 to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.” 
• Organising Santa’s Grotto at British Home Stores in Trostre, Llanelli. “It was great to see the children’s faces light up when they came face to face with Santa.” Nearly £1,800 was raised for charity. 
• During December, the club delivered 46 Christmas Food Hampers to those in need in the Llanelli area. 
• Youth events and competitions included the Youth Speaks Competition at Llanelli Town Hall, Young Musican Competition at Stradey Castle; Young Chef Competition at Bryngwyn school, Young Photographer Competition and display of photographs in the St Elli Shopping, Young Citizen competition and Young Writer competition. 
• Stroke Awareness Day at the St Elli Shopping Centre when Rotary’s duty doctors took some 370 blood pressure readings, promoting the message to the local community of the importance of getting your BP checked regularly. 
• Llanelli Rotary Club secured a Rotary District matching grant of £1000 for a new play area in Heol Goffa School, Llanelli, bringing the total raised for the project to £2000. 
• Llanelli Rotary Club has continued to support the Trussell Trust Food Bank in Myrtle House Llanelli. Food worth more than £1000 has been purchased for the bank. 
• During the year, Rotarians assisted with collections for Marie Curie Cancer, The Red Cross, the Nepal Earthquake Disaster appeal and collections for the Food Bank. The club also purchased a £500 Shelter Box for victims of the Nepal Earthquake. 
• The ‘Rumble at Stradey Park’ Charity Boxing Night. The club was able to donate £1000 to Trostre Amateur Boxing Club and raise £2,400 for the club’s charity pot. 
• The Carten Cardiff to Tenby Bike Ride undertaken by senior vice-president Mark Evans. Together with a quiz night at the Stag Inn, Five Roads, £3,500 was raised for the Llanelli Prostate Cancer Appeal. 
• Rotarians and partners visited France in May for a D Day Landings Commemoration Trip. The trip was a huge success and admirably organised and led by Honorary Rotarian Lt Col David Mathas. 
• Past President Alun Cope celebrated 50 years in Rotary - a wonderful achievement. 
• The Young Chef competition at Heol Goffa School. 

During the year some prominent and memorable speakers visited the club including -
Swansea Sound presenter and personality Kev Johns, Rev David Jones of Greenfield Chapel, Daloni Rees, the BBC broadcaster, Carol Lee, the author and journalist, Llanelli MP Nia Griffith, Claire Rumble and Nicola Llewellyn from the Hywel Dda Trust Fund, Wayne Pivac, the Scarlets Rugby Coach, Dr Claire Firth, who spoke about the Basque Country, Tanka Rai and Dhyan Rai from Llanelli’s Nepalese Association, and Mr Yeung Ng, the Consultant Urologist from Prince Philip hospital, who spoke about Prostate Cancer.
During the year Past President Ken Abban, the club’s International Chair, was able to report that the Hark Appeal mobile audiology clinic was now in full operation in the Accra area in Ghana.
For the first time, the club took part in the collection of used ‘back packs’ for the needy in Africa. Rotarians collected more than 500 packs which were filled up with essentials and sent these off for distribution through the Mary’s Meals project. (Photo above)
Mr Bassett said he was grateful to all the club’s members for their help and hard work during the year. Duties such as driving the Gateway Bus and delivering meals on wheels were among a whole host of regular ‘community’ activities undertaken by the club.
Mr Bassett added that it was a great pleasure to accept a ‘ Presidential Citation ‘ which was presented to Llanelli Rotary Club by Rotary District Governor for actively working towards ‘Lighting Up Rotary’.
Mr Bassett said there were some very sad moments during his year of office – the deaths of Monro Walters and Past President Gordon Battersby, a Rotarian for more than 42 years. During the year, the club members also paid respect to Catherine Thomas, the wife of Past President Richard Thomas.