THE Rotary Club of Basingstoke Deane can certainly take pride in the funds it has raised for local and international good causes.

Club president Rod Clarke has reported that more than £45,000 has been raised.

Among the recipients were former Basingstoke and Deane Mayor, Cllr Roger Gardiner, for his Mayor’s Charity Appeal as well as the Riding for the Disabled Association and Whitchurch Silk Mill.

Mr Clarke presented the cheques at the club’s Charities Night, held at Test Valley Golf Club. He said: “Our donations have covered the whole spectrum from the one off replacement battery for a mobility scooter to larger donations to PolioPlus Fund, through Rotary’s own End Polio Now charity, and the purchase of three ShelterBoxes following the Nepal earthquake.

“I was particularly pleased we have been able to give to youth charities and organisations, such as Basingstoke Sports Trust, TeenTech, Peace Jam, the Rotary Young Leaders Award and Young Careers to name but a few.

“Being born and bred in Whitchurch, it gave me great pleasure to present Whitchurch Silk Mill with £1,000 towards their youth training programme and we hope this will be just the beginning of a relationship between the mill and Rotary.”

Accepting the cheque was apprentice weaver and weekend duty manager Hannah Futcher with Claire Isbester, who is a trustee at the mill.