WIDNES Rotary Club held its AGM recently at the Hillcrest Hotel, Widnes, to celebrate another successful year.

Club president Ted Barber stated that members had enjoyed a very full calendar of social, service and vocational events.

In addition to the annual Christmas float street collection, which raised £6,800 for local charities, a very successful charity dinner-dance was held at the Auto Quest Stadium.

John Parrot was the special guest, when £7,000 was raised for computer learning equipment for Chesnut Lodge School, and Widnes Rotary Club is hoping it has won a special prize for this event from Rotary International.

The annual pensioners bingo was so successful that an additional night is being arranged.

The Rotary Shoe Box Scheme has run for many years and this year more than 250 boxes were distributed to Eastern European Countries.

Tasmanian visitors were entertained at Albert Dock and International youth visitors were taken on a visit to Goodison Park.

Mr Barber also thanked the many sponsors who helped make this years Music for Youth event, one of the most successful.

Rotarians and their families enjoyed many social events throughout the year, including an annual dinner dance, a theatre trip to Chester, family weekends in Shrewsbury and Buxton, and bowling matches against Prescot, Rainhill and Runcorn.

Widnes Rotary Club meet every Monday, early evening, at the Hillcrest-Hotel, Widnes.