Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh

01/11/2026

One of our club’s social activities is a monthly walk followed by a pub meal.
Our October walk last week was a 3 mile walk around Charvil Country Park. The photo shows us resting in front of one of the many lakes in the park. After the walk we all enjoyed a delicious lunch at The Heron on the Ford.

19/09/2026

Our club is supporting both immediate emergency aid and long-term recovery work following the disaster in Nepal.
Members of club have personally donated more than £2,000 towards relief efforts following the Nepal disaster. With Gift Aid, this generous contribution has increased to £2,500. Together with a further £1,000 from the club’s charity account, the total amount to be donated now stands at £3,500.
The club has agreed to divide the donation between two organisations providing vital support at different stages of the emergency response and recovery effort.
• £2,000 will be donated to ShelterBox (shelterbox.org), which is one of Rotary's global partners in disaster response, and which is already on the ground in Kathmandu. Shelterbox is working with local Rotary clubs to meet immediate needs, including emergency shelter and essential tools for people who have lost their homes.
• £1,500 will be donated to The Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland Recovery Trust Appeal. This funding will be used by trustees for long-term regeneration projects and the rebuilding phase following the disaster. Working in conjunction with local Rotary clubs, the appeal will support projects such as rebuilding schools, providing flood defences and restoring other vital community resources.
Our club has responded swiftly to support people affected by this devastating disaster and thanks everyone who has contributed to the appeal.

14/08/2026

This charity event is being run by our friends in the Inner Wheel club

09/08/2026

We’re a very social Rotary club and as well as supporting our community we have a programme of social events to enjoy. Today a group of us with friends attended a performance of Northanger Abbey by the Moving Parts Theatre Company. Their adaption of Jane Austin’s book was performed in the unusual surroundings of Reading Abbey ruins (see the stage in the photo). The high walls of the ruins shaded us from the worst of the day’s high temperatures and we all enjoyed the production by a group of only 7 actors who all played multiple roles. Thanks to Colin for arranging this event.

02/08/2026

Each year a group of young people aged 18–25 from across the Thames Valley complete an inspiring Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) course, a week-long leadership development experience designed to challenge, support and develop the next generation of leaders – and it’s FREE.
Rotary clubs across the Thames Valley sponsor candidates and provide young people with the opportunity to take part in this valuable experience. This year’s course has just finished, and our club sponsored Jarod Robinson - who is shown in one of the photos setting up a zip wire.
Participants undertook a series of practical, team-based challenges focused on leadership, communication, resilience and personal development. Through activities including navigation, canoeing, camp craft, abseiling, problem-solving tasks and a 30-hour expedition challenge with an overnight stay, candidates were encouraged to step outside their comfort zones and discover what they could achieve. The images show just some of these activities.
The next RYLA Thames Valley course will take place in July 2027, offering another group of young adults the opportunity to develop their leadership potential and create memories that will last a lifetime. If you want more information or to apply see: https://tinyurl.com/RotaryLeadershipThamesValley

02/08/2026

01/08/2026

Today is Green Fair at Maiden Erlegh Nature Reserve off Beech Lane. It’s open 10:00 to 3:00 and there will be plant stalls, crafts, community groups and much more. There is also a wonderful refreshment stall run by our Rotary club!
The Green Fair takes place on the grassy area at the Beech Lane end of Maiden Erlegh Nature Reserve. There is no car parking available on-site.

10/07/2026

Yesterday we held our annual Charity Golf Day at Sonning Golf Club, and what a fantastic day it was!
Despite the intense heat, our golfers took to the course with great enthusiasm before enjoying a two-course meal. The evening was rounded off with plenty of laughs thanks to professional comedian Aaron James, who also did a brilliant job hosting our charity auction.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our players, sponsors and everyone who supported the event, we raised an amazing £8,500 for our local charities. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success.
We're already looking forward to doing it all again – next year's Charity Golf Day is booked for Thursday, 8 July 2027!
Pictured are the winners of the team competition, the Beaconsfield Buccaneers {two of the team had to leave early}, along with Sally Wright, winner of the Ladies' Nearest the Pin competition. Congratulations to all our winners!

01/07/2026

To mark the new Rotary year we had a special handover meeting yesterday at which outgoing President Mike Phillips passed the honour on to new president Jane Skeats for the coming Rotary year. As President, Jane is determined to build on the club’s achievements in recent years. Her priorities include attracting new members, finding fresh and innovative ways to raise awareness of Rotary’s work, strengthening the club’s relationship with the University of Reading, and continuing its strong support for local communities. Jane is a nurse specialising in occupational health and currently works at the University of Reading. She trained at St Mary’s Paddington and also studied social science at Leeds University.
The handover ceremony took place at Sonning Golf Club and the image shows Jane outside the club house.
Why not come along and find a bit more about us and the projects we undertake? For more information and to contact us visit our web site at https://www.readingmaidenerlegh.org/

21/06/2026

Our Rotary Club members enjoy a mix of community service and social activities, and yesterday was a perfect example of that spirit in action.
Around 50 members and friends came together to celebrate the end of a successful Rotary year under the leadership of our President, Mike. The gathering was held at The Horns in Crazies Hill, where we enjoyed delicious canapés followed by a lamb and chicken barbecue.
Because of the hot weather, we were fortunate to be seated in the covered outdoor dining area of this fantastic community-owned village pub, making for a very enjoyable afternoon.
The photos show President Mike with his wife Diana and sister-in-law Julia, along with some of the other members and guests who joined the celebration.
We’re a very social Rotary Club and, alongside our work supporting the local community, we enjoy a varied programme of events throughout the year that bring members together and strengthen friendships.
If you'd like to learn more about Rotary and what we do, we'd love to hear from you.
https://www.readingmaidenerlegh.org/