2025 District 1 Rally -Forfar
Around 100 members and guests arrived in Forfar to celebrate the annual Rally for District 1. Meeting up with friends is the key to a successful Rally and the 2025 Rally was no exception. District Chairman Jean Hale presided over the day’s proceedings, welcoming guests from around District 1 and Districts around GB&I. Invited guests were made very welcome on the top table and at tables throughout the function room. Association President Heather Sheerin was unable to attend but Julie Ramsay (District 2) the Association International Services Chairman attended and gave Heather’s address. The 2025 Rally was a really special event in Inner Wheel calendar. Here are a few photos to see what happens in a Rally.
Donations for Ukraine
Forfar President Susan Oliphant & Lesley Ducat (above) delivered a huge amount of women’s sanitary items to TASH – ready for shipment to Ukraine – in their 100th lorry. The ladies also donated cash (collected in Smartie tubes) which will go towards transport costs. This is part of the Forfar Club’s commitment to this important international charity.
International Convention Manchester May 2024
Members from District 1 attended the 2024 International Convention in Manchester to mark the Centenary of Inner Wheel.
Donations to Charities
Below are a fraction of the number of photos from Clubs donating to charities.
Posters using Toolkit
The Toolkit from Association Membership & Development has been adapted by Forfar Club and Laurencekirk & District Club to produce promotional flyers. Other Clubs have also used the toolkit and information is available under member login on Association Website (innerwheel.co.uk)
RNLI Fundraising 2024-25
An amazing £1,725 was raised at Forfar’s Fashion show in September 2024 for RNLI and other charities and £1050 at DC Jean’s coffee morning in March 2025 for RNLI. Forfar Club members all helped to make these events a success. Clubs held a variety of fundraising events – Aberdeen held a Bingo night in March and a BBQ in June raising a total of £1,000 for RNLI. Flags and bunting were used at Fairs (Pitlochry), shop (Nairn), Quiz night (Inverness) and many outings to RNLI stations.
Centenary Celebration & 72nd District Rally
The Centenary and District 1 Rally was held in Carnoustie in May 2024. DC Annetta Anderson welcomed members from around District 1, visiting DC’s from link Districts in GB&I and distinguished guests.
International Inner Wheel Day – 10th January
Members in Clubs do a variety of projects for International Inner Wheel Day on 10th January each year. Donating to food banks or homeless shelters are the most popular. However Ellon Inner Wheel display Inner Wheel coloured flowers in their member windows each year.
Jean’s Journeys
Jean’s Journeys is DC Jean’s Blog over a certain time period such as a month. Jean’s Journeys started in July and latest Journeys are for May and June. All members in District 1 have been circulated Jean’s Journeys via their Club Secretary. Also these journeys are available on District 1 Facebook. In the absence of a District Editor Jean has captured her Club visits and other events attended and shared photos and news.
Click on the link to read Journeys no 10 & 11
2024 District 1 Assembly
RNLI is the chosen charity for DC Jean for 2024-25. Four members led by Spencer Harris (on right of photo) gave a presentation to D1 Assembly in Dundee on 28th August. Members enjoyed hearing about all the different types of fundraising RNLI use to support all the lifeboats in UK. Saving lives is the priority of RNLI. A celebration of 200 years of RNLI was provided with a video that is available online on their website. Also Spencer is the contact for group visits to RNLI stations and also providing speakers for Club meetings. DC Jean and members of IW Forfar Club received long serving medals for volunteering and fundraising over the past 20 years as well as a garden party at Buckingham Palace in July to celebrate 200 years of RNLI.
Morag Sandler (Forfar) received her Golden Girl Certificate for 50 years volunteering. The Taylor Brown Millennium Quaich (former District Golf Trophy) has been awarded to the Stirling Club for introducing 8 new members in 2023-24. Teresa Hill received the trophy for one year on behalf of Stirling members.
Contact
For more information on Forfar Inner Wheel or any of the clubs in District 1 please contact