We had a lovely weekend in May hosting Rotarians from the Netherlands. It was all about sharing and building new friendships. We shared stories about how each of our clubs operate and support our communities, we took them to two local projects that our club supports as well as to see the sites of Oxford, and they shared a huge cheese with us!
Club members from Huizen Gooimeer near Amsterdam first contacted us back in January asking if we were interested in setting up a partnership and exchange visits with their club. We agreed that this was a great way to expand our network of Rotary friends and we set about planning the visit.
We were able to take our guests to visit both Sustainable Shrivenham and Root & Branch. At Sustainable Shrivenham we heard about how the group moved into the new Hub just a few months ago and has quickly established a strong community space with recycling, repair and crafting initiatives as well as sales of pre-loved clothes. At Root & Branch we walked around the gardens and saw the workshops. The charity supports people with mental health difficulties and the members, known as ‘gardeners’, get involved in gardening, cooking, wood work and other practical activities.
Our club has supported both charities with funds and hands on support and we look forward to the relationships continuing to grow in the future.
Of course a visit to Faringdon has to include a walk to Folly Tower. Thanks to Amy and Laura for telling us about some of the history of the tower.
On Saturday we visited Oxford and were able to tour one of the university libraries, a few of the colleges and take a trip along the Thames.
We returned to Faringdon for the evening and a very sociable dinner at the Snooty Mehmaan. And the cheese! Members of Huizen Gooimeer presented us with an enormous round of cheese, local to their club. Everyone left with very generous slices of cheese.
I was also presented with an End Plastic Soup jigsaw. Another perfect gift – I don’t know who told the group that I was a fan of jigsaws. The club is one of the founding clubs of Rotary’s End Plastic Soup initiative. Started in and around Amsterdam and now supported by Rotary clubs across the globe.
Cheese and jigsaws – a perfect end to a lovely weekend!
We are already looking forward to a return visit to Huizen next Spring.
Karen Eveleigh
Read more about Sustainable Shrivenham https://www.sustainableshrivenham.com/
Read more about Root and Branch https://www.rootandbranch.info/
Read more about Rotary Huizen: https://www.rotary.nl/huizengooimeer/