Rotary on the Riviera

Over four hundred Rotarians from the Midlands are descending on Torquay 12th – 14th October for their Annual Conference. The delegates are from Rotary District 1210 which covers Staffordshire, Shropshire and parts of the West Midlands.

Their District Governor, Trevor Davies, and his Conference Chairman Lynne Deavin looked at several conference venues elsewhere before deciding on the Riviera International Conference Centre (RICC), Torquay.

Trevor Davies said, “We like the Rivera International Conference Centre for several reasons: the facilities are excellent and all under one roof; it will accommodate our numbers comfortably; and hotels are easily accessible.

We couldn’t have wished for more help, or better service, than we have had from the management and staff of the RICC, oh yes! And we are promised good weather!”

The Conference will be a mixture of Rotary business and leisure.

Speakers include Ann Widdicombe, a demonstration of working dogs by Canine Partners, the Starfish Project, Presenter Olly Mann who often appears reviewing the papers on Breakfast (BBC1), Lorraine (ITV1), Daybreak (ITV1), The Alan Titchmarsh Show (ITV1), Sky News and BBC News Channel, and Scientific Dr, BBC Wildlife Presenter Rhys Jones.

Entertainment will include local comedian Andy Oakley, Denise Leigh, who sang to three billion viewers at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics, and the 40 voice Hadley Orpheus Male Choir, performing a “Last Night of the Proms” concert.

The choir, directed by Robyn Davies, are pleased to have been invited to perform a community “Afternoon Tea Concert” at the Torquay Salvation Army Hall on Sunday 14th October at 4.00pm.

The RICC is a popular choice with Rotary Conferences from many districts, attracting on average 3 - 4 Rotary conferences per year. District 1210 are regular visitors to the RICC and were last in Torquay in 2010.