Rotary Club of Bicester

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A very warm welcome to the Rotary Club of Bicester!

Bicester is a rural market town, dating back to Saxon times, with some interesting historical features including a fine parish church, remnants of the old Priory, and a ‘lock up’ where offenders were kept overnight before their transfer to Oxford Gaol. Once famous as a sheep market for the surrounding area and in the 20th century as a garrison town with the largest ordnance depot in the country, it is now perhaps better known as a mecca for shopaholics through the retail outlet of Bicester Village. Venture into the town and you will find many fascinating old buildings and traditional town shops. The Town Council offices are housed in The Garth, a charming Edwardian building set in formal gardens and bequeathed to the town by its former owners. During the summer months various events, including a Jazz Festival, are held in the Park. The remains of the Roman town of Alchester lie two miles to the south-west on Akeman Street. The countryside to the north-west is immortalised in Flora Thompson’s trilogy 'Larkrise to Candleford'.

The Bicester Rotary Club Since receiving its Charter in 1954, the Club has followed the Rotary ideals of Service - by supporting Community projects both at home and abroad – and Fellowship – through weekly club meetings, with speakers twice a month and various social events. New members are always welcome and visitors are invited to join us for speaker meetings by contacting the Club Secretary.

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Images of Bicester shown above were taken by adults with learning disabilities for A Calendar for Bicester, sponsored by Bicester Rotary Club.

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To find out more  About Rotary watch the videos here

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Recycle your old Computer

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Next Meeting: 25/11/2008 Topic: Islam v the West - A Self-fulfilling Prophesy: Basil Eastwood (evening)
Basil Eastwood is a retired British Diplomat. He first went to the Middle East in 1962 prior to studying classical Arabic and Turkish at Oxford. He was sent back to the Middle East when he joined the British Diplomatic Service in 1966 and has served in Saudi Arabia, Egypt , Sudan and, more recently, as Ambassador in Syria from 1996 to 2000.  Since his retirement in 2004 he has done consultancy work for the Foreign Office on Arabic extremist websites and has been involved in a structured dialogue between senior non-official westerners and political Islamists and as a moderator in a dialogue between Iraqi politicians and militants.
Following the death of his daughter Cecily, tragically killed in a Zambian road accident in 1997 while working with an organisation helping children who have been orphaned by AIDS, he and his wife Alison set up Cecily’s Fund, a registered charity which enables Zambian orphans and other vulnerable children to go to school.
Visitors are very welcome to attend this evening. Dinner served at 7.30pm.
Please use the Contact Form in the LHS menu bar of the Home Page



Last Meeting: 18/11/2008 Topic: Working Together for Specialist School Status: Chris Hughes (Bardwell School)
Bardwell Special School in Bicester is applying for Specialist School Status in Communication and Interaction. This will enhance existing provision within the school and enrich the programme of outreach work in the local community. To achieve this, the school must raise £20,000.

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