The event was organised to raise money to buy school desks and footballs for children in Tanzania. The Rotary Club of Newham is working with the Rotary Club of Arusha, Tanzania.

The venue was the Docklands Equestrian Centre where about 70 people had a fantastic evening of music, food, wine and laughter.

The event kicked off with an amazing drumming and dance display led by Rotarian Alex (www.irokotheatre.org.uk).

 

Next came the ‘Food from around the World’, supplied by club members, ranging from Penang lamb, moimoi, pie and mash, ten different ways of cooking chicken, right through to trifle, cakes and lockshen pudding.

Whilst everyone was eating Rotarian Ken Wood (www.bosspromo.com) played a medley of music from ‘around the world’.

 

It was then Alex’s turn to teach fifteen members of the audience to play drum rhythms and create music to make the whole building reverberate.

 

 Alex then brought the rest of the room into the performance by involving them in clapping rhythms.

 

This was followed by a drumming session for the children present where Alex showed what he can motivate school pupils to achieve.

Before being allowed to collapse with exhaustion we were taught African dancing. Even DG elect (2009/10) Martin Gudde had a go.

 

Ken Wood then resumed his DJ role with more dance music.

Whilst most used their energy drumming and dancing some club members were energetically working in the kitchen.

President Graham reminded everyone that the evening was to raise money to buy school desks and football in Tanzania.

He then conducted the raffle of a flat-screen TV (donated by the Recorder Newspaper Group), a Return Flight for Two to Geneva (donated by City Airport), a Picnic Hamper (donated by Martin and Estelle Gudde) and a Glamour Goddess Set. All of the advance buyers had written their names and telephone numbers on the back of the raffle tickets. Great fun was had by all listening to Graham trying to convince someone on the phone that they had just won the flights to Geneva – it was a comedy act one had to witness to believe.

President Graham ended the evening thanking everyone for their support, Ken and Alex for the entertainment, everyone who provided the food, those who worked in the kitchen and Rotarian Lucia (Chair of the Club International Committee) for her organisation.

.