Welcome to Simon Baines ROTARY CLUB • A past mayor of Newport Pagnell, Simon Baines, was recently welcomed as a new member into the Rotary Club by President Nigel Benson. We now have a healthy twenty five members and are still on the lookout for more to further strengthen our membership base. In his induction speech, Simon said that he was delighted to be given the opportunity of joining the Rotary movement, and he was looking forward to continuing his involvement, not only within the local community, but also in the wider avenues of Rotary service. Narrow Boat - John Bunyan Members and friends, and the past and present Newport Pagnell town mayors, all assembled at the Priory Park Marina in Bedford for a three hour cruise on the Great Ouse river. Everyone then boarded the John Bunyan boat at the Sovereign's Quay. The John Bunyan is a specially commissioned craft fully fitted for up to 60 people. It has snack catering and toilet facilities on board and is suitable of Newport Pagne for wheel chairs. Regular summer trips sta from the Embankment near the Swan Hotel and go to Kempston, or Cardington Lock or even Great Bariord weir. The boat can be chartered for private parties and normally leaves from the Priory Marina. The vessel is the result of two years planning and fund raising by Bedford and Milton Keynes waterways trust. It is 72 feet long, 1 0 feet wide and was launched on the 3rd of July 2013. The windows reach almost to water level, which gives an excellent view of the surroundings. More details are available on the website www.b.mkwaterwy.org.uk T h e Bedford and M ilton Keynes Waterway Trust was formed to activate the idea of a canal between these two towns which was first explored over 1 00 years ago. It is planned to join the Grand Union Canal near Willen Lake with the River Ouse in Kempston. A Date r Your Diary The Rotary Club of Newport Pagnell is holding its 18th Jaipur Charity Dinner at The Jaipur Restaurant, Central Milton Keynes on Monday 1 7th February, 201 4. Tickets are £27, the same price as last year, and can be purchased from any Rotary Club member, or by getting in touch with the Rotarians - contact details fu her down this page. We'd Be Delighted To See You If you'd like to find out more about us and want to make a difference having fun and at the same time helping those less fo unate than yourself, come along and meet us. As a result of our regular feature in the Phonebox, we now have a healthy membership of 25, with others in the pipeline. The Rotary Club of Newport Pagnell meets every Wednesday at the Swan Revived Hotel, Newport Pagnell. Wearea dual gender dining club but having a meal is optional. If a meal is required then this takes place in the restaurant from 6.45 onwards. Non-diners can arrive in time for the start of the meeting at 8pm. For more information, have a look at our website www.newportpagnelI.rotaryweb.org or contact the following Nigel Benson (President) Te l : 0 1 9 0 8 6 1 5 1 4 0 nigel.benson@daredevildata.co.uk John Belcher. Tel: 01908 210028 jh.belcher@btinternet.com Neil Seeton (PR and Communications): Tel 01 908 61 7735. neilbeeton@sky.com Phonebox Magazine 83