Rotary Club of Stockport Lamplighter
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Home | Tony Ashurst PHF
Tony joined the Rotary Club of Stockport Lamplighter in 1989 and has been chair of nearly every committee in the club, but is best remembered as a long-serving chairman of both the Community Service and Social Committees.
Along with Miles Leach, Tony was a major figure behind the setting up and running of the Adopt-a-Child visits to Granada Studios.
He has organised OAP's trips to Blackpool, taken OAPs Christmas shopping in Stockport and arranged a trip for them to visit Toft Church at Harvest Festival to see the flowers.
At the annual bonfire he was always there during the setting up, and also generously provided generators for the event.
He was one of many members who helped to organise and plant a garden at Cheddle Lodge care home.
He is well known as being an organiser and volunteer of the sometimes onerous task of manning the Christmas float. He is always there to prepare the float prior to its first outing and on call in emergencies.
He has often been an organiser of the annual senior citizens Carol Service which he always attends.
One event that he organised was the creation of wheelchair-friendly garden and play area for a family with two severely handicapped children in Reddish.
Tony was President of the Club from 1998-99. During his Presidential year he hosted a canal trip for OAPs at Whaley Bridge, supported the life education caravan, the It's a Knockout contest and the community action day in support of the Friends of Heaton Moor Park.
Graham personally owes a great debt of gratitude to Tony. During his presidential year, the Christmas party was at St Winifred's Hall. When Graham, who was organising it, went there at lunchtime he found that the hall was being decorated. There was paint all over the floor, painter's equipment everywhere and the place was filthy. The ladies toilet doors were off their hinges - it was chaos! Who arrived and spent the next 4 hours helping to scrub floors, clean toilets and replace the doors? Tony of course, and he wasn't even a member of the organising social committee.
More recently Tony has organised an eleven and five mile charity walk with other local Rotary Clubs and Stockport Sports Trust. He was also involved in providing a bench and lighting in the small garden at the junction of Wellington Road North and Heaton Road.
Tony was Lamplighter of the Year in 2002 and 2008, and was awarded the Attendance Shield for best Club meeting attendance in 1994, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
Outside of Rotary Tony has been a staunch supporter of the Scout movement for many years.
Tony's efforts in supporting the Rotary Club of Stockport Lamplighter over the years has made an outstanding contribution to the Club's charitable work both at home and abroad.
Tony's quiet manner and instant availability to assist, particularly when the Club or President is in urgent need of support is, and always has been, an inspiration to the rest of the members. Therefore there was no hesitation in proposing Tony as a Paul Harris Fellow in appreciation of the tangible and significant assistance given by him for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.