Club President Peter Martin contributes his thoughts as the year draws to a close
Where did those months go since I last provided some “ President’s Notes” ! Certainly a busy time with, as you will understand, both highs and lows, but the overall feeling that I am left with is that we are, undoubtedly, a thriving and healthy club.
What are the memories that remain with me ? On the one hand attending, with many members of the club the funerals of Edna Rice and Kim Wardle – times of sadness but, at the same time, appreciation of the work that they had done for others and for the community in which we live. On the other hand the pleasure in inducting three more new members –Graeme Keay, John Bradley and Maurice Lamb….and, I am informed by Tom Farmer, that there are more in the pipeline.
In addition there have been some interesting meetings both at Zone and District level and, more importantly, there have been some really interesting trips and social events. In this category I must mention the trip to Ditherington Flax Mill which was organised by Paul Rhodes and the trip to Loughborough to visit the Carillon and Taylors’s Bell Foundry. This latter trip was organised by Chris Yates and he, and the other bell ringers in the party had the unusual experience of ringing a peal in the bell foundry itself.
I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting a diversity of young people that we have helped – our Bursary Winners, our RYLA candidates, and the Young Innovator winners at Charlton School. This has been complemented by a range of other Rotary events; the annual church service and lunch was enjoyable, and I must thank both Jim Udale and Margaret Seaward for their input into this event. On a completely different plane has been the involvement with the Tree of Light firstly with the “ Blue Peter Club “ where there has been much support from Club members and also the “switch-on “ where I had the pleasure of meeting some of the Young Carers whose work we are supporting. Again, my thanks to Peter Seaward and the other club members who are involved.
Finally, it has been my honour and privilege to make Colin Richardson and David Ball Paul Harris Fellows; both of these awards were thoroughly deserved. What will the remaining months of my Presidency bring ?