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PRESS RELEASE

Christmas Float

It is coming to that time of year again when the nights are drawing in, the leaves are falling off the
trees, we are starting to see the shops selling Christmas decorations and Rotarians can be heard
hard at work, preparing the Christmas Float for another year, touring the towns and villages to
bring the wonder of Father Christmas with his brightly illuminated sleigh and the sounds of
Christmas hymns and songs to the children of North East Wales.
But behind the scenes, there’s an awful lot of work required to ensure the Float looks at its best
and everything works!
For the best part of a month each year the Float with its various teams of volunteers suffers the
vagaries of Welsh December weather, from hail and snow to driving rain and all this takes its toll on
not only the Float, but also the specialist four wheel drive dedicated towing vehicle, (not to mention
the Rotarians themselves!). Rotary President Malcolm Mellor commented that each year, after the
float finishes its touring just before Christmas Day, it languishes unloved in outbuildings kindly
provided by local farmer Edwin Hughes at Cornist Farm, just one of the many generous sponsors,
without whose support, the Christmas Float would not be possible.
Then October comes round and both Float and towing vehicle are inspected and a schedule of
repair, refurbishment and replacement works is prepared. Rotarian John Williams who has a well
known motor engineering business in Rhosesmor ensures the ageing Daihatsu towing vehicle is
serviced and MOT’d, an increasingly onerous duty in view of the age of the vehicle, whilst other
Rotarians with specialist skills or simply the ability to wield a paint brush give up many weekends to
ensure The Float looks at its best. Malcolm commented “all the members’ time is undertaken on an
entirely voluntary basis, however the additional costs of renewals and repair are significant and the
Club are this year asking for donations from the general public to ensure the future of this much
loved tradition”.

This year’s touring schedule, like last year, is somewhat reduced from previous years, due not only
to the reduced number of volunteers, but also ever increasing health and safety obligations,
although all the ever popular Static Town Centre events will remain.
Float organiser, Gordon Cook stated that he has arranged the touring schedule in such a way that
the Float can be seen by as many people as possible, although this does mean that, “Santa Stops”
are limited to fixed points only as advertised on the touring schedule.

The schedule will be found on the Rotary Club’s website when finalised.

If you wish to donate the details are provided below:
A/C Name: Rotary Club of Flint & Holywell Sort Code: 40 24 27 Account Number: 51159666

Tree planting at Pant y Wacco in response to plant a tree for our Queen’s Jubilee – March 2022 move forward to August 2022 – a ‘twig’ remains – WHY oh WHY!!!!

March 2022

August 2022

Any information on those responsible will be confidentially received

Bailey Hill Project Manager Jo Lane and her team describe the extent of the works undertaken around “Mold’s Castle”

Members of The Rotary Club of Flint and Holywell were guests of The Mold Town Council when they visited the recently completed Bailey Hill Park in Mold. Showing the Rotarians around the site, The Bailey Hill Project Officer, Jo Lane gave a brief history of the site from its earliest days following the Norman invasion of England and Wales in the 11th century. William “The Conqueror”, following his successful invasion  of 1066 rewarded the Norman Knights who helped him defeat the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings, with grants of land. The area now known as Mold was given to a Roger De Monthaul and to protect his new domain, he constructed the first castle in the traditional ”Mott and Bailey” style of that period, with a large mound “The Mott” built at the top of Bailey Hill, positioned to take full advantage of its commanding views looking over the Alyn Vale whilst providing living accommodation for “The Lord” and his knights and families. This would have been a defensive structure protected by wooden palisade fencing, with a lower area occupied by the villagers, (The Bailey) also protected by firstly wooden and later by more substantial and permanent stone walling.

Jo, and three of her volunteer guides, Bill, Graham and Karin explained that following a Heritage Grant from the National Lottery of £1.8m, the entire Bailey Hill site had been dramatically improved with a new visitor centre. New pathways and cosmetic re planning of the site, with improved access was also undertaken, designed to encourage increased visitor numbers. Jo, a Mold resident herself, explained that there were many Mold residents who had lived in the town all their lives but had never explored the site, which in the past had been used for a variety of recreational purposes including tennis courts and a bowling green. Indeed to the lower “Bailey” twelve Gorsedd Stones from the 1922 Eisteddfod can be found on a plateau adjacent to the northerly boundary. The excavation works had also uncovered a wide range of artefacts, many in excellent condition, including arrow heads, building and cooking implements and over twenty skeletons! These skeletons, many of which are in surprisingly good condition, have been sent to Durham University for analysis and Jo stated the entire team were eagerly looking forward to the results of these tests which would give them a much clearer picture of the type of people who lived in Mold in Norman and Mediaeval times, including their ancestry, their diets, life spans etc. The President of The Rotary Club, Malcom Mellor thanked Jo and her team for such an interesting talk and for providing such a fascinating history on the origins of The Town of Mold and its castle.

For further information contact:

David W. Pearse, Press & Publicity Officer E: davidpearse@icloud.com Tel:01352 758922

President 2020 to 2022 Gareth Owen handed over the reins to Rotarian Malcolm Mellor who duly presented PP jewel to Gareth and incoming President elect Andy Orhan and Nominee President Edward (Ed) Davies.

Malcom joined Rotary in July 1986 and served as President in 1994 to 1995

The Club were pleased to accept the Show Committee’s invitation to provide bar facilities at this years show – after a weather and pandemic break of 3 years. What a day!!! what a success !! Congratulations to all who were involved in the organisation pre and on the day of the show.

Twelve members (and a couple of partners) assisted in serving nearly 2000 pints of lager / bitter / cider in the course of one afternoon and reinforcement of stocks was evident at 3.30pm – an undoubted record unlikely to be beaten. The Club members are conscious of the tremendous efforts of our leader , Rotarian Any Orhan, in bringing this service to fruition and the gratification in working as a team and as a consequence providing funds for local and approved international charities – 50% of the profit is allocated to the Caerwys Agricultural Show.

Well done lads.

Traditionally at the annual CAS event the Club organises a Roll- a – Bale competion for youngsters and teenagers – under the guidance (and no appeals / objections) of Rotarian John Williams:

Members of the Club have enjoyed convivial times whilst embracing the mission of Keep Wales Tidy – two sessions to date for the hardy band of pilgrims setting out the clean up the foreshores at Flint and Greenfield. One item of interest thrown in the bushes at Greenfield was – a violin!!! We intend continuing the KWT initiative and our next port of call is the now defunct rail track from Greenfield Valley to Holywell Town Centre – come and join us.

Flint foreshore

Greenfield Coastal path

Rotary members were very pleased to be asked to take part again, and provide ‘Dragons’ with business experience to listen to presentations by school students.

These were Year 10 students who as part of their studies formed teams to design and market a unique product.  They then made a presentation to the Dragons outlining their research, costings  and  profit potential.

All presentations were excellent, demonstrating that teams had worked together well.

As ever, Dragons faced a difficult task in their assessments.  They took into account the uniqueness of the product, the quality of research, the design and marketability, and the presentation.

20 teams did presentations, and after much deliberation, 6 emerged as potential winners –

Team MATCHES (Lewis, Jacob, Shane, James and Nathan) demonstrated a board game that matched animals to the food they eat, using ethically sourced materials. A superb learning game and a massive help in understanding endangered species.

Team BREATHE (Ruby, Ellie, Alexi and Evie) are marketing a book about diet and well-being  directed especially as a positive help for young people with mental health issues.  Their research was impressive.

Team COSMOS (Emily, Grace and Lucy) demonstrated a geographical/ecological board game, ideal for families.  Really good to help understand about the world we live in.

Team DREGRIAU COCH (Maggie, Molli and Lucy) were superb.  They presented a great idea of leaning Welsh quickly and effectively through illustrated cards, and this could appeal to people of all ages.  The team gave a brilliant presentation.

Team SPORTS LAB (Josh, Jamie, Jack and Logan) demonstrated a great idea of producing an App as an aid to keeping fit over a range of sporting activities.  The App would be free to users and  cleverly funded through advertising.

But after considerable scrutiny, the winning team was

Team NATIVE NUTRITION (Gerda, Nathan, Sofia, Jess and Lucy).  The Dragons were hugely impressed with their idea of a recipe book based on the cultures and traditions of Lithuania and Ecuador. The business model was faultless, based on the nationality of two of the team members.  The concept was well researched, and very capable of publication, even extending the potential of matching other world countries.

Many congratulations NATIVE NUTRITION – well deserved.

Very often in presentations there is a memorable moment, and although not making the top 6, Ayanda from team Mr JAR GAMES gave an outstanding presentation for her team.  The Dragons decided to recognise this through a special achievement award.

The Dragons would just like to recognise the huge amount of work by Director of Learning Mark Seale in making the event happen

The pictures show Dragons Rob, Steve and Paul with Ayanda, and the Dragons with the winning team NATIVE NUTRITION (Gerda, Sofia, Jess and Lucy, but missing Nathan who was unavailable)

Once again the Rotary Club are touring the area – with a change in plans – no more touring avenues and villages – static stops at places within the area – nsee below for details and make every effort to take children to these venues.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Route 2021 11 16

Route 2021 11 16

Members are responding to environmentalists by planting bulbs at the Tesco Car park (480 crocuses and 600+ daffodils) and have recently approached Greenfield Valley with the proposal of a wishing well on the site.

Further plans include the planting of trees and bulbs at Pant y Wacco, Flint foreshore, flower planters at the Welcome to Holywell signs, Holway Community Centre and welcome any suggestions at other appropriate sites.

Pant y Wacco – proposed tree planting site

April 2022 –

March 2022 –

Despite the inclement weather over 70 hardy souls braved the elements and Rotary members were delighted to be offered the opportunity to marshall the event and in so doing £480 was raised toward our local charity causes – well done!!