Axbridge District Rotary
Looking to have a positive impact on those around us
People of Action
Club News
Here’s a selection of recent Club news and updates from events from the last months.
Older events can be seen in the photo gallery at the end of this page.
Footpath Clearance – August 2024
Club members and some local volunteers cleared the Bailiffs’ Wall public footpath in Axbridge.
This is a popular footpath running south out of the town along side the Old River Axe.
The Club has been clearing this path for 5 years, with a cut down at least once a year, sometimes two depending on growth.
The project is carried out with the support/backing of Somerset County Council.
Charity Quiz Night – May 2024
Another successful event and very much enjoyed by everyone.
Yes, this event clashed with that thing called Eurovision! But some wise people decided to forgo such “entertainment” and decided to part-take in our fundraiser.
This event was to support this year’s chosen charity of Freewheelers EVS (‘Blood Bikes’) with monies going to assist with their on-going operational costs, with it being fully funded by such donations.
The winning team were “Stand & Deliver” (Yes, there was an Adam Ant answer to one of the picture round questions).
The event generated just over £600 surplus, which will be passed on to the charities in due course.
A big thank-you must go to all who took part on the night and to those who organised and ran the event that being the membership of Axbridge District Rotary as a whole – a great team effort.
Footpath Clearance – April 2024
This was the Club’s 2nd clean up of this path, so didn’t take as long as the first! So should be easier with the on-going maintenance.
The stairway/footpath leads from the bypass (opposite the old railway station building) up to the footpath network on the hillside to the north of Axbridge town.
Part of the visit this time was to replace a damaged section of the handrail, thereby helping to ensure the safety of those using the footpath.
Once again this work was carried out for the full support and permission of Somerset County Council.
Club Charter Night – February 2024
Copy of press release:
It’s Official – Axbridge District Rotary has been chartered!
Since formation, Axbridge District Rotary has been operating as a ‘satellite’ club of Burnham-on-Sea Rotary Club, but that has now changed.
On 29th February 2024 the Club was chartered meaning that Axbridge District Rotary is a Rotary Club of its own standing and we are looking forward to continuing our community supporting and charity fundraising activities.
The Club would to thank the members of Burnham-on-Sea Rotary Club for their support and to our continued working together.
Our next ‘big’ fundraiser is a Charity Quiz Night on 11th May 2024 at Shipham Village Hall – Full details will be on our Facebook page in due course. The Club have held a number of these successful/enjoyable nights over the last couple of years with in-excess of £5000 being generated to local charities.
Photo #1 – Left to Right – Lesley Watts (President, Axbridge District Rotary Club, Ric Canham (Instigator of Axbridge District Rotary), Keith Gough (President, Burnham-on-Sea Rotary Club), Stuart Gilbert (District Governor, Rotary District 1200)
Charity Presentation Night – January 2024
Copy of press release:
Axbridge District Rotary Press Release – Jan 2024
At a recent Club meeting presentations were made to local charities/good-causes following on from the Club’s Autumn’23 events/activities.
Cheques were presented to:
- Freewheelers EVS (Blood-bikes)
Provides a free motorcycle courier service to the NHS & Air Ambulance services in the South West of England – £1100 was given as a result of the Club’s Autumn Charity Quiz Night held at Shipman Village Hall, plus other donations. - Cheddar Food Bank
£224.99 was given – £124.99 from the a public collection at Axbridge’s Christmas Fair / £100 Club donation.
Also 60kg of food was donated by the public to our stand at the above fair.
Axbridge District Rotary will continue to support local charities and good causes with our 2024 programme of events, please check our Facebook page for details.
Club News – Archive
These are some of the events/projects that Axbridge District Rotary have been a part of.
- 1st visit/clearance of the footpath/stairway to the north of Axbridge.
- Charity stall at local charity/community fairs.
- Charity talk by Freewheelers EVS at a club meeting, along with cheque presentation.
- Assisting, along with other local Rotary Clubs, the ‘Pines for Pounds’ project which supports the on-going great work at Weston Hospice.
- Club visit to the base of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance service following the Club’s fundraising.
- Supporting the ‘Chocs 4 Champs’ initiative, which looks to provide support to young carers nationally. In partnership with Burnham-on-Sea Rotary Club, we helped young carers in North Somerset and Somerset counties.
- Path clearance at Bailiff’s Wall, next to The Old River Axe running south out of Axbridge. The Club has now cleared this pathway for the last 3 years!
- Road signs cleaned round the local towns & villages.
Path Clearance – Before #2 (Sept 2023)
Path Clearance – Before (Sept 2023)
Path Clearance – In Progress (Sept 2023)
Path Clearance – After (Sept 2023)
Winscombe Fair (Sept 2023)
Freewheelers Presentation (Jul 2023)
Trees For Pounds (Jan 2023)
Air Ambulance Visit (Oct 2022)
Chocs 4 Champs (Easter 2022)
Chocs 4 Champs (Xmas 2021)
Path Clearnace #1 (2021)
Path Clearnace #2 (2021)
Path Clearnace #3 (2021)
Path Clearnance #4 (2021)
Road Signs Cleaning #1 (Feb 2020)
