Bob Chadwick's life and Machu Picchu for NSPCC
Life and times of Bob Chadwick newest Rochdale Rotarian and Senior Engineer, Highways in Rochdale
He was born in 1961 and spent the first 19 years of his life overlooking Hollingworth Lake. His first job was at the Rochdalians Rugby Club, stocking the shelves of the bar, graduating onto washing up and then to serving first soft drinks to the mini-rugby kids, and then beer to their parents! At the same time he ran the discos at the weekends!
In October 1980, he became a volunteer at Birch Radio, the hospital radio station serving Birch Hill Hospital and continued my involvement ever since currently Vice Chairman and Station Manager of Roch Valley Radio, whose service covers Fairfield General Hospital, Bury, Rochdale Infirmary and Springhill Hospice. So many patients have been entertained over the years during their stressful illnesses and it continues to be a great up to date service for local hospitals.
A month after he became a volunteer he also began working for Rochdale Council in the Borough Engineers Department and was initially responsible for obtaining the location drawings for the utility company’s apparatus prior to the highway being excavated. He then had a spell on car park maintenance before moving into Traffic Management closing streets, introduced waiting restrictions, installed pelican crossings, ran the road marking contract, wrote Committee reports and answered letters by the score.
In 1992 onto the Highway Maintenance division where he introduced the noticing system for the New Road and Streetworks Act. He is now responsible for the team that keeps an eye on the utility company works. His team’s other priority is identifying and arranging for the repair of all the potholes and trips in the borough to keep the highway safe and prevent compensation claims(an unenviable task after last winter’s ice and snow damage). It’s down to balancing the available financial resources against the expectations of the public and Council Members; with so many repairs to be done and limited resources it’s not possible to make everything look as new but safety and comfort for road users is paramount.
Away from work as well as his hospital radio duties, he joins his wife, Merrilyn to help in charity work for the NSPCC. He has signed up to a Charity Challenge in October 2011 to take the alternative Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru in aid of the NSPCC. He has to raise £3,000 to undertake the trek, half of which pays for the trip, while the other half goes to the NSPCC. His aim to try and raise £5,000, and then the NSPCC gets at least the whole £3,000 and hopefully more. Merrilyn is watching how he gets on so please donate generously!See event below to help him on his way.
He is looking forward to helping Rotary in its many projects bringing new team-working and communication skills into the club.Recently made leader of Rotary Shelter and Life Box initiative sending lifesaving provisions to commnities affected by natural disasters.Also did 3 peaks walk with 3 other members helping to raise over £400 for club Charities.A trip to Australia included a visit to Sydney Cove Rotary club
http://www.justgiving.com/bobsincachallenge/ for online donations
Bob’s Trek to Machu Picchu
In Aid of the NSPCC
Soul Night to raise funds for his trek on Friday 8th October 2010 passed the £1,200 mark. Future events -27th November running Teddy Tombola at the Littleborough Xmas lights switch-on event.
Towards the end of January 2011 a Race Night was held with more money raised
After 32 hour flight and climbing 15000 ft to Machu Picchu £5,800 made for the NSPCC
Well done Bob!