The Department of Sports was able to increase its equipment inventory due to the donation of ten footballs and one pump by Rotary Anguilla on Thursday 17th March. The handover occurred at the James Ronald Webster Park.
Rotarian Seymour Hodge gave a brief overview of how the donation came into being. He said: “In March 2015, a Vocational Training Team (VTT) from Rotary District 7090, Canada, visited St. Maarten/St. Martin and Anguilla Rotary, District 7020, where they provided educational training in sports to students, teachers, coaches as well as policy makers.” He added that following the Rotary Foundation -sponsored VTT trip, “a wish list of sporting equipment and other supplies were presented to the members of the Vocational Training Team” who responded positively to the list.
The balls were transported to Anguilla by Rotarian Peter Pearce of the Rotary Club of Cohasset Massachusetts. He was accompanied by his father-in-law, who was a Rotarian for over 40 years: Rotarian Jack Wilkins of Rotary Club of Peoria-North in Peoria, Illinois.
Director of Sports, Mr. Rollins Richardson, thanked Rotary on behalf of the Department of Sports and the government for their timely contribution to football in Anguilla. He observed: “We find ourselves always in need of several pieces of equipment to help advance the cause of sports here in Anguilla”. He noted that football was introduced in the primary schools over 25 years ago and the sport has now become one of the feature events on Anguilla’s sporting calendar as it is played at the secondary level and national level. “We now want to take it to the communities. As you know, presently we have the inter-department sports activities going on, and we want to have the Inter-Department Football Tournament shortly following the Wind Ball Tournament” Mr. Richardson added.
Rotary, comprising business and professional leaders worldwide, is noted for providing humanitarian and other services. They also encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotarian Jacquie Ruan used the opportunity to highlight ongoing projects by Rotary Anguilla. She said: “Sport is the key to health, and now we are working on the blood bank which is important to so many people from all walks of life – sportsmen, drivers, schoolchildren, old and young”. Rotary Anguilla is currently raffling a half acre of land, donated by Mr. Albert Lake, in order to raise funds for the blood bank.
