Despite the wettest February, the purple crocuses planted by the Oswestry Cambrian Rotary on the roundabout outside of the main entrance to the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital (RJAH) have popped up to give a wonderful display. A welcome spring sight in these difficult times. For a few years now Oswestry Rotary clubs, along with other clubs across the UK have been planting purple crocuses in October in preparation for March flowering.
The purple crocus is a symbol of Rotary International’s fight to eradicate polio throughout the world. To show children have taken part in the immunisation programme, they have their little finger dipped in purple dye.
Many of us of a “certain age” will remember when we had Polio in this country and how many had to spend their lives in “Iron Lungs”. This included patients at the RJAH! It wasn’t until the UK and the western world embarked on its own immunisation programme that it was eradicated for us.
Rotary, working with the United Nations and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for nearly 30 years, has succeeded in making the world more than 99.9% polio free but, sadly we still have the odd cases reported by the World Health each year. This shows the need to redouble efforts to help Pakistan, Afghanista, and Nigeria to retain strong immunisation coverage and hopefully, to rid the world of this highly infectious and disabling disease which can be fatal. The world must be free of Polio for three clear years before the work is done.
The Oswestry Cambrian Rotary is ready to welcome individuals and couples of 18+ from the local community who want to be “people of action”. We normally meet face-to-face, if restrictions allow, at The Wynnstay Hotel, Church Street, Oswestry on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm and meet in the bar. Alternatively, people can join the meeting from wherever they are via our Zoom account connection.
For more information on what their new style of Rotary has to offer contact Mike Lade on 01691 570917, info@oswestrycambrianrc.co.uk or see ww.oswestrycambrianrc.co.uk. Also you can find us on Face Book @oswestrycambrianrc.
