Astounded by generosity, says Rotary

The Rotary Club of Middleton has had a tremendous public response to the report on Rochdale Online last week of the theft of their Christmas Float from land near Hansons Close, Middleton.

The float had been used through the streets of Middleton for the past 40 years helping the Rotary Club of Middleton to raise thousands of pounds to help local charities and community groups.

Lee Wolf, Rotary’s Community Service Committee chairman said: “Last week there was a great deal of concern in Middleton that our town had lost a treasured tradition, a tradition that most have grown up with. My hope was that the original float would have been handed over and we could have continued our planning unabated. This has not happened, so we are tasked with recreating the float in a very short amount of time.

“I have been astounded by the generosity shown in recent days by business, community leaders and concerned Middletonians. We have all the materials required to recreate the float, we have received generous offers of time and expertise from companies in and around Middleton. I would like to offer my thanks to the many companies and individuals who have contacted the Rotary Club of Middleton with their offers of support we could not do this without them.”

The companies and individuals who have come forward include:

• Dave McCarthy, Branch Manager of Travis Perkins of Green Lane in Heywood has offered to supply the wood to build a new Christmas Float for the children of Middleton
• Nicholas from Ash Timber of Grimshaw Lane has also offered to supply ply to build the float
• Baron Stationers maybe able to help with the construction
• Lucy of Howdens Joinery has kindly offered some financial support
• Ron Tinker of Welding Engineers of Middleton has offered to make the metal framework for the sleigh and float
• Fred from Manchester Printworks has offered the use of their sleigh, if required
• Alan Blakely of Illuminated Imagery has offered assistance in lighting and labour
• The Rotary Club of Hazel Grove has offered the use of their float on certain days if needed

The Rotary Club of Middleton is only weeks away from starting their Father Christmas local fund raising appeal and the float is a key ingredient to making the holiday collection so enjoyable. The schedule for this year’s 2013 Father Christmas float has been set. The Rotary Club of Middleton is hoping that they will be able to meet this ambitious schedule and get a new float built in time to start their annual collection for local causes.

In addition, the float and Father Christmas will be collecting for local charities at Sainsbury, Heaton Park on Friday, 13 and 20 December.

The Rotary Club of Middleton’s Father Christmas float has been a source of excitement and joy to the children of Middleton for four decades. Adults and children look forward to seeing Father Christmas in his sleigh travel down their street.

Lee Wolf continued: “We still need skilled professionals who can spare some time to help build and paint /decorate the float. We also need a location to build the new float, preferable somewhere dry and warm with good lighting. If anyone can help we would urge them to get in touch with us straight away.”

If you can help contact Lee Wolf:

middletonrotarycs@yahoo.co.uk

07785 786 926

 

Download