Invite to young rotary ambassador

■ Could you just remind me why we are going to have to pay for our green bins? Was it because the council is short of money?

Ashhurst Avenue, Whitstable

■ As someone who used to skate at Queens Club in my student days, I thought the Canterbury ice rink in the Dane John Gardens over the Christmas/new Year period was a great idea and much-enjoyed by those who participated.

My wife and I took it as an opportunity to treat our family who were staying with us over New Year, and even though we booked for one of the quieter times, it was still busy, so I don’t see where the idea of ticket sales being down came from.

The support ‘penguins’ were an excellent addition, giving small children confidence on what for many was their introduction to ice skating, and the cost was in line with what other ice rinks charge.

As for resources used, well, 46,000 litres of water is about average for one personal swimming pool and though it would have been better to use mains electricity, the cost of installing a supply for such a short period was probably not justified.

Anyone who came along and heard the excited noises coming from the children on the ice would agree with me that it was money well spent and, who knows, a possible new Olympic champion might have been inspired right here in Canterbury.

Queens Avenue, Canterbury

The Rotary Club of Canterbury has a long tradition of supporting young people living in the Canterbury district with foreign travel opportunities.

One of these is the annual Mini Group Study Exchange (MGSE) which provides a chance for two people from our area, aged between 18 and 25, to join with others of the same age from our four continental Contact Clubs in Leuven (Belgium), Leiden (Holland), Ludenscheid (Germany) and St Quentin (France), for a week of social, vocational and sporting events.

This year it is the turn of the Rotary Club of St Quentin to host the MGSE, between August 23-29.

I’m delighted to be able to invite young people from the Canterbury area looking to broaden their horizons, who are interested in international cooperation, who would like to be an ambassador for Canterbury Rotary and improve their CVS, to apply for a place on the 2020 MGSE.

We are looking for two young people to represent Canterbury. The successful candidates will only require spending money as the Rotary Club of Canterbury will pay all the registration, travel and participation costs.

Further details and an MGSE application form can be found in the Young People section of the Rotary Club’s website at: www. rotarycanterbury.org.uk - or by emailing: mgse@rotarycanterbury.org.uk.

President, Rotary Club of Canterbury