Index

Fairy Nuff

Wishing Well

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-15

East Kilbride Rotary Club

142,656

Is the total number of coins that you have dropped into the Wishing Well since it opened just over seven years ago.

This fantastic generosity has helped us raise £8,700, which has been used to make fifty six donations to East Kilbride charities and youth organisations. Many thanks for your support; and please continue donating.

Rotary International works and provides help within many communities in over 200 countries, and East Kilbride Rotarians are committed to this service within this town.

WISHING WELL 2014-2015

Donations to the Well during the Rotary Year 2014-15 totalled £1,367.87, which was 15% up on the previous year, and the largest total since its opening year of 2007-08. This also took the total raised to 30th June to £10,055.22, or 164,519 coins. Two thirds of this total number were 1p and 2p coins, a testament to the number of boys and girls who regularly donate their "pennies"

A £10,000 target was reached on 19 June, just eight years and one day since its official opening. The coins that took the total past the £10,000 mark were donated by two and half year old Ollie Freeman Ferguson, a regular Well contributor, and he, along with his Gran, were given presentation gifts to celebrate the occasion.

A total of £1,300 was disbursed during the year to seven groups working in East Kilbride, and one resident of the town. (See photos of some of the recipients being presented with their cheques at the Well.)

MICKLES TO MUCKLES

To celebrate the centenary of the founding of Rotary International in 1905 the members of East Kilbride Rotary Club decided in 2005 to build a Wishing Well to raise funds to support local charities and organisations.

It took a while to find a location for the Well in East Kilbride which allowed a relatively simple design to be adopted, but in 2006 South Lanarkshire Council gave permission for it to be built at the eastern end of the James Hamilton Heritage Park Heritage Park, and construction started in early March 2007. Rotarians Roddy Shanks and George McGraw were involved in building the foundations and setting the main timber posts, but were assisted by local tradesman, Bill Hodge in building the walls and roof structure. At the same time Rotarian Frank McLuskey organised the fabrication of the stainless steel security grille, which was made in the shape of the Rotary Wheel logo, and the security fixings. The work was completed in May and the Well was officially opened by Provost Russell Clearie on 18 June.

During the next two years there were a few attempts to break in to the Well which resulted in some minor damage and small amounts being stolen. However in 5 October 2009 considerable damage was done when thieves demolished some of the brickwork, removed the security grille and stole all the donations. Following this the Well remained open for four weeks while the security measures were considerably improved, and this action meant that the security grille has remained intact, apart from minor vandalism which caused cosmetic damage, and one or two attempts to cut through the mesh.

Visitors, including many children have donated generously every year since the opening, and on 19 August 2015 two and a half year old Oliver Freeman Ferguson dropped in the coins which took the total raised to £10,000. Just under two years later in June this year the total number of coins dropped into the Well reached 200,000 not including a wide variety of foreign coinage which whenever possible is converted into Sterling by Rotary Club members who buy the euros and a few other currencies. There also have been small pieces of jewellery, medallions and supermarket trolley tokens donated. The tokens are converted into £1 coins, but unfortunately gravel, weeds, grass and pieces of plants are also "donated" which means the Well has to be cleaned out at least once a month - not such a nice task in mid-January!

Most recently the Well reached its 10th birthday at which time the amazing total of £12,582.26 had been donated, of which £12,240 has been passed on to help East Kilbride charities, youth and support organisations - a total of 73 donations. On behalf of all these organisations the members of East Kilbride Rotary Club would like to thank all the donors' young and old for their fantastic support, and ask you to continue giving your support by "dropping in" at the Well.

Statistically over the ten years since its opening 65% of the coins dropped in are 1p and 2p coins. Truly a case of many a mickle makes a muckle!