Marlow Thames Rotary

30/10/2026

We are delighted to let you know that Marlow Tastes has been shortlisted in the Best Event category in the annual Marlow FM 97.5 Hidden Gems Awards.

This is a real honour for the club, especially as Marlow Tastes only started in 2023.

But to win the award, we need as many email votes as possible.

To vote, simply go to
www.marlowfm.co.uk/gems

Fill in your name and email address
scroll to the Best Event, and vote for Marlow Tastes (organised by Marlow Thames Rotary Club).

Finally scroll down to the Submit your Votes button. You can of course vote in the other categories if you wish.

There is no time to lose: voting closes Friday 6 November - just a week to go. So please vote and pass on the voting link now! Thank you.

The website for the community radio station Marlow FM

24/10/2026

Today, 24 October is World Polio Day and a time for Rotary members, public health advocates, and all who want a world free from polio to come together, recognize our progress in the fight to end polio, and talk about the actions we need to take in order to end polio for good.

When we eradicate polio worldwide, it will join smallpox as the second human disease ever eradicated.

In 1985 Rotary International in conjunction with the World Health Organisation launched a campaign to eradicate Polio from the world . At that time, there were 350,000 cases a year across 125 countries. The last case of wild polio in the UK had been the previous year in1984, with the country being declared polio free in 2003.

Over the years, most countries have been declared polio free as a result of massive vaccination programmes which have immunised more than 3 billion children in over 120 countries. Rotary has supplied thousands of volunteers to deliver the vaccination programmes.

The current situation is that the disease is in just 2 countries: Eastern Afghanistan and North Pakistan. To the end of August 2026, there have been just 40 cases: 35 in Afghanistan which is a slippage from last year although the 5 in Pakistan is an improvement from 2025.

These 2 countries need to be at ZERO in 3 successive years for a country to be declared polio free. If that doesn’t happen for every country and we slacken off the current vaccination programmes this highly contagious, fatal and disabling disease will again become prevalent across the world with a prediction of 200,000 new cases within 10 years.

So, all donations to Rotary International’s Polio eradication programme help towards avoiding that horrifying thought.

If you would like to know more about how you can help visit:

www.endpolio.org

17/10/2026

A reminder if you are still thinking about entering the Marlow Santa's Fun Run.

The current prices increase to £30 per adult in just a month's time at midnight on November 17th - assuming there are any spaces left by that date. So to secure a place we strongly recommend getting your teams entered well before then - we would hate to see you missing out!

Go to the website to start planning www.santasfunrun.org

Instagram: www.instagram.com/marlowsanta
Facebook: www.facebook.com/marlowsanta

15/10/2026

It’s what we do regularly – raise money for charity. And this mainly through our big events Marlow Tastes and the Marlow Santa’s Fun Run. Thank you for supporting us in our fundraising drive. But where does it go?

Last night was a superb evening, where we welcomed guests representing charities to whom donations have been made this year.

It was great to hear all about the operations of just some of the charities to whom we donate funds. So much is done by them it would take too many words to express their passion and commitment. Suffice to say, whether they are local, national or international, hearing their stories proves that working hard, as well as playing hard has rewards. And we have been able to fund many in the community who do such a great job at supporting charities close to our hearts.

If you would like to know more about the Rotary Club of Marlow Thames visit our website at www.marlowthamesrotary.org.uk or contact us if you would like to join us on a Wednesday evening at the Grouse & Ale in Lane End.

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08/10/2026

Last night we had our regular Business Meeting. An opportunity to catch up on what we’ve achieved, what’s being planned and what we still need to do. We discussed in particular, what we have achieved Internationally.

We have been able to provide funds for the repair of a minibus which transports children with severe and profound special needs to a day care centre in South Africa that helps them become as independent as they possibly can.

This video illustrates the great work that goes on and we are so pleased that we have been able to ensure the children get the help they need.

https://vimeo.com/reviews/f4f81879-b2f5-4219-94f3-13e0490b23d3/videos/1214556210

In another part of the world – Ukraine, we were able to provide funding via the Rotary Club of Poltava. The project was to install solar panels, batteries and an inverter to provide light and power in Mikhailivka Special Needs boarding school over the winter when power is frequently lost as a result of attacks on the electricity grid.

With support from other Rotary Clubs in Sweden, Vienna and USA the project was completed and the system handed over to the school at the beginning of October. What a difference we have been able to make.

If you would like to find out more about what we do, visit our website at www.marlowthamesrotary.org.uk

07/10/2026

For those were at All Saints Church on Saturday for the Marlow Festival of Voices -what a great night it was. Each seat had a program for the concert together with a flyer for the Marlow Santa’s Fun Run. For many it was perhaps the first time the word Christmas had been mentioned since December last year.

Good reason to remember that although it's only October, we are now less than 2 months away from the annual Marlow Santa's Fun Run. Entries so far this year have been very strong indeed - in fact the fastest take up ever seen.
If the level of interest is maintained we expect to have sold all 3000 tickets at some point mid-November. There are plenty of charities being supported - and hopefully we will raise another 6 figure sum for good causes.

Put 6th December 2026 in your diary and start planning.

For entry form and everything you need to know visit https://santasfunrun.org/

Follow on
https://instagram.com/marlowsanta
https://facebook.com/marlowsanta

05/10/2026

The inaugural Marlow Festival of Voices - organised by the Rotary Club of Marlow Thames - was played out to a "sold out" All Saints Church on Saturday 3rd October.

The Pontarddulais Male Choir led by musical director Clive Phillips was in magnificent voice - and internationally acclaimed soloist Ellen Williams wowed the audience with her powerful performances.

The programme was varied and included some of the iconic tunes that have echoed from the Welsh valleys, including Cwm Rhondda, You’ll Never Walk Alone and Llanfair. Ellen Williams included her versions of Cohen’s Hallelujah and Angels originally performed by Robbie Williams.

A truly special night that will have raised substantial sums for charity and once the final figure has been determined we expect that well over £2000 will be presented to Meals from Marlow.

Thanks to all attending - plus sponsors and advertisers - and we hope to be able to do it all again next year!

If you would like to know more about The Rotary Club of Marlow Thames visit our website at www.marlowthamesrotary.org.uk

14/09/2026

Many thanks to Marlow Rowing Club for helping us to promote the 2026 Santas Fun Run. We are pleased to report only a week ago nearly 25% of the available 3000 places have already been purchased. An amazing and record start - the fastest take up ever in what is our 22nd year of staging the event!

Don’t miss out. Check out all the details on our Santa Fun Run website and page here.

www.santasfunrun.org
facebook.com/marlowsanta

Open to all ages, a long Tradition with up to 3,000 entrants on the first Sunday of December. A community event attracting entrants from many parts of the country

08/09/2026

Not long now. Only a few tickets left. Don't miss this.

Over the weekend this banner went up on the church railings and we released our final spare tickets. We are now VERY close to selling out. If you want to get a ticket you need to hurry - please Click on this URL to the ticket website:
https://buytickets.at/rotaryclubofmarlowthames/2327288
Please follow this page for additional details

01/09/2026

We have been amazed at the response to the inaugural Marlow Festival of Voices Event (on Saturday 3rd October). As of Monday 1st September just 40 places remain available - quite amazing for a first time event. If you want to get a ticket you need to hurry - please go directly to:

https://buytickets.at/rotaryclubofmarlowthames/2327288

Check out our dedicated Festival of Voices page:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592882949070

Marlow Festival of Voices – All Saints Church, Marlow, Sat 3 Oct 2026 -