A message from our President Phil Frier:

I joined Bristol and West Building Society in 1968 and I saw many changes during which the Society installed a modern computing system, took over several smaller Building Societies and expanded its Branch network. I worked with stockbrokers as the Society offered new and exciting investment products until the merger with The Bank of Ireland. Sadly, recent events in the financial world have seen the original branch network sold and the once famous local Building Society is now no more.

I have chosen to support ‘Macmillan Cancer Support’ during the coming year as I am already involved with a small fund-raising group – The North Somerset Macpack – which has raised over £50,000 in the last ten years.  Macmillan Cancer Support celebrates it’s 100^th birthday in 2011 – and the need for support has never been greater.  It is an ideal time for Bristol Rotary to do something special as there are plenty of publicity opportunities surrounding all the ‘100 years’ activities and events.  Macmillan’s patron is HRH Prince of Wales.  

During the coming year I hope to encourage the club  to be an even more successful Club and to have FUN while remembering the serious side of the work we support with our FUNdraising for lives less fortunate than our own."