Chinnor Rotary

19/10/2026

please read our latest update below and in the article published by Thame Hub
Rotary in the Thames Valley Area, UK (D1090)Rotary Youth Leadership Award Thames Valley

💜 Chinnor Rotary: Making a Difference in the Community

Chinnor Rotary members have been busy supporting local projects and good causes!

🌟 Inspiring young people: Sophie Kench shared her experiences of the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA), encouraging young people to push themselves beyond their comfort zones. If you’ll be aged 18–25 in July 2027, you can apply by emailing [email protected].

🌷 Fighting polio: Members planted 3,000 Purple4Polio crocus corms around Oakley Road near the Wheatsheaf, with more donated to Mill Lane Community Garden. The initiative raises awareness of Rotary’s work to eradicate polio worldwide.

🗑️ Keeping Chinnor clean: Members also supported Friends of the Earth’s Village Chinnor litter pick.

🎄 Coming up: The club will join the community for Remembrance Sunday and support the Chinnor Village Centre Santa Sleigh fundraiser in December.

🤝 Want to get involved? Chinnor Rotary welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to help make a difference, meet others and enjoy community activities.

18/10/2026

🌷 Chinnor is set to bloom purple! On Sunday 11 October, we planted 3,000 Purple4Polio crocus corms in the green spaces around Oakley Road, near The Wheatsheaf. Most of the remaining 1,000 corms have been donated to Mill Lane Community Garden, where volunteers will plant them during the week commencing 19 October.
The purple crocuses symbolise the ink used to mark the little finger of a child who has received the polio vaccine in an at-risk country. Rotary International is proud to support the global effort to eradicate polio.
Help us make polio history—donations to End Polio Now are always welcome. 💜 End Polio Now

13/10/2026

Every year we chose a different area of Chinnor where we plant Purple4Polio crocus corms. This year we planted in the green areas around the Wheatsheaf pub.
Purple crocuses symbolize the purple ink used to mark the little finger of children who receive the vaccine in at-risk countries. Rotary International is an important contributor to the eradication campaign, and this is one of the initiatives which drew many of us to Rotary in the first place.

09/10/2026

🌷 Help Chinnor bloom purple! 🌷
Can you spare two hours – this Sunday 11 October 2026 - to help brighten Chinnor and support the global campaign to end polio?
Join Chinnor Rotary to plant thousands of Purple4Polio crocus corms on the green areas around the Wheatsheaf Pub. Come along for the full two-hour session and help create a colourful reminder of the worldwide effort to end polio.
📅 Sunday 11 October 2026
🕙 10:00 am–12:00 noon
📍 The Wheatsheaf Pub, Oakley Road, Chinnor OX39 4HX
Wear wellington boots or sturdy walking shoes, bring garden gloves and, if possible, your own dibber. A dozen dibbers will be available to borrow. Please note that planting involves bending and working outdoors, so volunteers should be in good physical condition.
💜 Purple crocuses symbolise the purple ink used to mark the little finger of children vaccinated against polio in at-risk countries. Together, we can help make polio history.
Join us and help Chinnor bloom purple for a polio-free world!

07/10/2026

Hello people of Chinnor, let’s support our wonderful Chinnor & Thame Friends of the Earth and Chinnor Wombles this Saturday!

04/10/2026

🌟 Inspiring young leaders through RYLA!
Former Lord Williams’s School Sixth Form student Sophie Kench successfully completed the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) programme in Snowdonia, Wales, in July 2026. On 1 October, she shared a truly inspiring account of her experience at Chinnor Village Centre and received her certificate from Chinnor Rotary Club President Marius Ciortan.
Sophie spoke about learning to lead and trust a team, pushing beyond her comfort zone, and discovering that the toughest challenges can become the most rewarding experiences. She also recalled overcoming blisters, rashes, heat, steep hills and unstable ground during the programme’s big hike.
Her message to other young people? Go above and beyond—RYLA is an experience worth taking on!
📣 We especially encourage 18–25-year-olds to apply for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards in July 2027.
Sophie’s participation was supported by Chinnor Rotary, with grants from Chinnor B**r Festival and the Clare Foundation, together with funds raised through Bipul’s Kitchen’s Bollywood Dinner Dance. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this opportunity possible.
Snowdonia Thame Chinnor

30/09/2026

🌟 Discover RYLA: a leadership opportunity for young people aged 18–25!
Join us to hear Sophie Kench, a sixth-form student at Lord Williams’s School, share her experience of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) programme in Snowdonia—and find out how RYLA could be a fantastic development opportunity for you in 2027.
📅 Thursday 1 October 2026
🕕 Arrive from 6.15 pm for a prompt 6.30 pm start
📍 Chinnor Village Centre, Chiltern Room, OX39 4DH
🎟️ Free entry—everyone is welcome!
☕ Free refreshments will be available
We especially encourage 18–25-year-olds to attend. Sophie’s participation was supported by Chinnor Rotary, with grants from Chinnor B**r Festival and the Clare Foundation, together with funds raised through Bipul’s Kitchen’s Bollywood Dinner Dance.
Come along, be inspired and learn where RYLA could take you. Find out more at www.chinnorrotary.org.uk or send Chinnor Rotary a private message on Facebook.
LeadershipDevelopment YoungLeaders Chinnor Oxfordshire Community PersonalDevelopment RYLA2027

27/09/2026

🌟 Discover RYLA: a leadership opportunity for young people aged 18–25!

Join us to hear Sophie Kench, a sixth-form student at Lord Williams’s School, share her experience of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) programme in Snowdonia—and find out how RYLA could be a fantastic development opportunity for you in 2027.

📅 Thursday 1 October 2026
🕕 Arrive from 6.15 pm for a prompt 6.30 pm start
📍 Chinnor Village Centre, Chiltern Room, OX39 4DH
🎟️ Free entry—everyone is welcome!
☕ Free refreshments will be available

We especially encourage 18–25-year-olds to attend. Sophie’s participation was supported by Chinnor Rotary, with grants from Chinnor B**r Festival and the Clare Foundation, together with funds raised through Bipul’s Kitchen’s Bollywood Dinner Dance.

Come along, be inspired and learn where RYLA could take you. Find out more at www.chinnorrotary.org.uk or send Chinnor Rotary a private message on Facebook.

26/09/2026

🌷 Help Chinnor bloom purple! 🌷
Can you spare two hours to help brighten Chinnor and support the global campaign to end polio?
Join Chinnor Rotary to plant thousands of Purple4Polio crocus corms on the green areas around the Wheatsheaf Pub. Come along for the full two-hour session and help create a colourful reminder of the worldwide effort to end polio.
📅 Sunday 11 October 2026
🕙 10:00 am–12:00 noon
📍 The Wheatsheaf Pub, Oakley Road, Chinnor OX39 4HX
Wear wellington boots or sturdy walking shoes, bring garden gloves and, if possible, your own dibber. A dozen dibbers will be available to borrow. Please note that planting involves bending and working outdoors, so volunteers should be in good physical condition.
💜 Purple crocuses symbolise the purple ink used to mark the little finger of children vaccinated against polio in at-risk countries. Together, we can help make polio history.
Join us and help Chinnor bloom purple for a polio-free world!

25/04/2026

Chinnor Rotary is delighted to share the news that Bipul’s Kitchen, a Chinnor Rotary Corporate member, will host our first charity fundraising Dinner & Bollywood Dance at Bipul’s Kitchen, Lower Road on Wednesday, 13th May 2026, at 6:30PM.
- Ticket price: £25, which includes a three-course dinner and entertainment by traditional Indian dancers.
- Tickets can be purchased directly from Bipul’s Kitchen.
- All profits from ticket sales will go towards St Andrew’s School Association (SASA) and Chinnor Rotary community projects.
- Bipul’s Kitchen has generously sponsored the food costs in full, enabling us to donate more funds towards good causes.
- There will be exciting raffle prizes to be won during the evening.
- Drinks will be available for purchase from the bar.
- Desserts will also be available to order from the restaurant.
We look forward to welcoming you for an enjoyable evening in aid of local charities and community initiatives. Please join us and help make a difference!
Bipul’s Kitchen