Rotary links hands across the sea

Rotary is truly international. Once you become a Rotarian the world is literally at your feet. Wherever you travel, wearing our distinctive lapel pin, you will be recognised and helped in every way.

There are clubs almost everywhere in world where you will be warmly welcomed should you choose to visit.

Many of you will know that the city of Peterborough has been twinned with the French city of Bourges since the 1950s, hence the name of Bourges Boulevard.

Peterborough Rotary club keeps the twinning alive.

Every year since 1957 there has been an exchange between the Rotary clubs of Peterborough and Bourges.

This year Bourges Rotarians visited our city.

Their packed programme included lunch with the mayor, a pub meal, a visit to a junior academy school, evensong and guided tour of the cathedral and a visit to the Whittlesey brickyards.

Their main highlights were attending the Mayor’s Ball and witnessing the unveiling of a spectacular plaque celebrating the twinning arrangement between the two clubs.

Orton Rotarians were delighted to return hospitality from last year by hosting our Dutch Rotarian friends and their partners. They wanted to sample pub food so a visit to The Cuckoo started proceedings. They were also treated to a superb BBQ in the lovely garden of one of our members, an evening of talk and laughter.

No visit would be complete without a visit to the Town Hall, especially when the current mayor John Fox is an ex member of Orton Rotary.

Their arrival at the Town Hall followed a ride on the steam train from Wansford and time to walk round Queensgate.

The best china awaited and a chance to try on the city robes.

A guided tour of the cathedral completed a packed day.

On the final day a member of Ortons who leads walking holidays organised a country walk based around Easton-onthe-hill.

The walk finished at The Bluebell pub where there was a beer festival with at least 18 different beers to try! This was a truly British experience following a picturesque walk with views around almost every bend. Both visits exemplify what Fellowship within Rotary means.