Lord Lieutenant visits Wilton Rotary Club and witnesses a special donation to the Stars Appeal.

Once a month, Wilton Rotary Club host a very special evening at the Mercure White Hart Hotel for their friends and treat them to a guest speaker.

On Monday, there was an extra special reason to attend as it was time for the club to present a cheque to the Stars Appeal, Salisbury District Hospital’s Charity, from some of the fundraising it has carried out over the summer. Club President Andy Rhind-Tutt started the evening by reading out a message of thanks to Wilton Rotary Club from Lord Pembroke for all it does in the community and then announced that from the "Wilton Wake Up's" and the Club's annual Mammoth Car Boot Sale a cheque for a staggering £11,224.15 was to be presented to Dave Cates, Head of Fundraising,  and David Kunzer, Patient Ambassador,  from the charity. 

In his response, a delighted Dave Cates explained that donations made from Wilton Rotary Club over many years have played a key role in supporting the charity’s work from which thousands of people directly benefit weekly at the Hospital. He also thanked the Club for marshalling the Walk for Wards yearly, for which around £1.25m has been raised since 2006. 

A short video showed the guests some of the equipment now being purchased with some of the latest donations, such as "By Your Side" sleeper chairs for relatives staying alongside their loved ones in hospital and a very special Omibeam projector that projects dynamic images that respond to gesture and movement and is used to enhance therapy for children being treated on the Children’s Ward.

Following Dave was an emotional and moving speech from Stars Appeal Patient Ambassador David Kunzer, who recounted his journey from shock diagnosis to successful treatment of bowel cancer and his gratitude to the work Wilton Rotary does to support local charities.

After a three-course dinner, President Andy introduced guest speaker The Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Sarah Troughton, who gave a fascinating account of the Lieutenancy role throughout the centuries and her current role representing and supporting the Royal Family since being chosen in 2012.

Mrs Troughton brought many smiles from the audience when reflecting on her very first duty, which was to accompany Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh on the Diamond Jubilee visit to Salisbury in May 2012. She finished up with: "Upon leaving the Amesbury marquee, Her Majesty placed her hand on the 13th-century Sanctus bell from St Mary and St Melor church, paused, and with a smile asked, "Does it still ding, or does it dong?!"  

Assistant Rotary District Governor Geoff Philpot of Andover Anton club gave the final words. He implied that Wilton Rotary Club was an inspirational club, bucking all trends with nine new members and rediscovering itself and its purpose in the community. He congratulated everyone.

The next club event will be giving mulled wine and children's treats at the switch-on of the Wilton Christmas lights with Father Christmas on Friday, 29th November.