Lunchtime Speaker – School Prize Lunch

Meeting Notes This year the Swimathon collected £18,000. This is the highest amount that we have ever
raised from this event. Many of the swimmers are school pupils. On Monday, we invited the schools and
individual pupils who had raised the most money through sponsorship to our lunch meeting and presented them
with awards to thank them for their efforts in raising this money. The awards were presented by Richard
Roberts the Managing Director of Trident Honda, the main sponsor of the Swimathon. The school that raised
the most money this year was Woking High School. Two of its outstanding swimmers, Amy Liddell and
Polly Bridger, collected the trophy on the school's behalf. Meath School collected the most money per
participant. Rudy E and William T collected a trophy on its behalf. Two pupils at Hoe Bridge School also
collected awards. Samuel Woodroffe collected the School Team Fundraisers of the year award and Aayan
Katyra was the Student Fundraiser of the Year raising a magnicent and amazing £415 in sponsorship. Well
done to all the swimmers!
We held our Christmas celebrations this year at West Byfleet Golf Club. The event was very enjoyable with a
three course dinner, live music and dancing. Our special guest was Eric Lundquist from the Rotary Club of
Clamart, Le Plessis Robinson and Vélizy. Le Plessis Robinson is one of Woking two twin towns and is near Paris.
A highlight of the evening was conferring a Paul Harris Fellowship on our Club President Carol Cheesman.
Terry Smith said “Carol joined Rotary in 2016, becoming Club Treasurer in 2019, she was Senior Vice President
in 2022/23 and 2023/24 and was elected President in July 2024. She has continued as President for a second
year in 2025/26. She has made the Club stronger and has recruited eight new members, with another one
joining us shortly. She has introduced corporate members into the Club for the first time. Carol makes things
happen.” The Paul Harris Fellowship certificate was presented to Carol, on the Club’s behalf, by Eric Lundquist
from the French Rotary club. He congratulated Carol on her receiving this prestigious and very well-deserved
award. At our lunch Terry Smith presented her with the medallion which had just arrived.