SIR — On Sunday June 15 the Rotary Club of the Quantocks manned the feed station at Haddon Hill for well over 1200 athletes on the two-lap leg of the cycle section of the Ironman Triathlon around Wimbleball Lake.

To our somewhat dismay at 6.30am in the morning, whilst setting up the station, we discovered that during the night it appeared someone had opened the taps to the water containers which were needed to fill the 2,000 or more drinks bottles.

However, with some brilliant response from the organisers who rapidly sent a replacement delivery of water, we were still able to get prepared in time for the cyclists as they came through on their first lap two hours later.

For manning this station last year, £2,500 was given to our club by the organisers and athletes taking part for charities of our choice.

We donated £1,500 to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and £1,000 will be given to the Williton Community Hospital for restoration of the gardens for the recovering stroke patients.

Ours is just one of the many Rotary clubs in the area helping the organisers of this event every year.

Perhaps those individuals who wanted to cause some disruption to the event for whatever reason could possibly consider that should they, their family members or friends, ever be unfortunate enough to need air lifting to hospital or suffer from the effects of a stroke, there will be services in this area available to help at their time of need.

These services are financially assisted by the actions of the volunteers, athletes and organisers at events such as the Ironman Triathlon.

Thanks also to the members of Watchet Sea Scouts and Minehead Cycling Club who also turned out in awful weather to help us on the day.

Bernie Mitchell,

Secretary,

Rotary Club of the Quantocks.