5,000 purple crocuses form bright tribute to Rotary past president

FIVE thousand crocuses will bloom bright in Tandle Hill Park as a lasting tribute to Crompton and Royton Rotary Club’s Past President David Holt.

David died s

Rotary members ready to plant the crocuses

uddenly while in office last year and the Club came together for two days this January to plant the purple flowers in his memory.

The bulbs, which will flower each spring, have been planted around the perimeter of the Rotary Wheel at the top of Tandle Hill.

They serve a dual purpose as they also support Rotary’s eradication of polio worldwide.

Andy Czakow, president of Crompton and Royton Rotary, explained: “We planted a bed of 5,000 purple crocuses around the perimeter of the wheel in memory of David.

“The crocuses will flower every year in the spring and increase year by year to provide a carpet of purple.

“By buying these bulbs we are also supporting the Rotary eradication of polio project that is a whisker away from getting rid of Polio.

“There have only been 21 cases in the world in 2017, from over 1,000 a day in the mid 1980s when this project was started.

Rotary members ready to plant the crocuses

“Why purple? Because when a child is vaccinated against polio they have their finger dipped in purple ink to signify that they have had the vaccine.

“Although polio has not been seen in Great Britain and Ireland for many years, it is vital we continue our efforts to eliminate the disease worldwide in order that it can never return.

“Rotary clubs in Great Britain and Ireland have so far donated over £20 million to End Polio Now.

“Our efforts have been described as one of the finest humanitarian projects the world has ever known, and Rotary has even been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.”

The Rotary Wheel is the largest in Europe and was completed as part of the celebration of 100 years of Rotary International in 2005

It is 29 meters in diameter, with a 2-ton stone globe at its centre inscribed ‘Rotary the World Over’, and the aim was to plant around it a memorial forest with trees from Rotarians and local people.

The Rotary sign on Tandle Hill

And there is a time capsule with all the names of those who have planted trees, and the history of the project, buried at the centre which will be opened at the bicentenary of Rotary International.

Meanwhile, if any local groups/organisations or schools wish to help plant some crocus bulbs in November 2018, get in touch with Rotary.

For more information about the End Polio campaign go online: www.endpolio.org

The Rotary Club of Crompton and Royton carry out community work and also support a range of local and international charities and projects.

They meet at the Puckersley Inn every Wednesday lunchtime from 12.30-2pm, and their meetings include a range of interesting speakers.

For more information about the Club, visit their Facebook page /CromptonandRoytonRotary or call president Andy Czakow: 01706 840266.

 

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