Mike Tomlinson Chair of Trustees (AquaBox)

Mike brought a comprehensive display of an Aquabox with photographs of the assembly and deployment together with information boards about the history of the organisation.

Created over 20 years ago by the Rotary Club of Wirksworth in Derbyshire, Mike took us through the history of the now separate organisation, which was created to provide safe drinking water and basic welfare items to people affected by man made and natural disasters.

Our club has been well aware of the organisation having supported it by filling boxes virtually every year since its inception. Therefore it was rewarding to hear from Mike just what they have achieved and it amazed us all. Over 100,000 boxes have been filled and distributed affecting the lives of up to 1million people. They fill several thousand boxes each year in a warehouse in Derbyshire with the help of not only Rotarians but up to 80 volunteers from the local community. “Its like a social club” Mike says. They need a staggering £450,000 a year to maintain the production, which is raised by donation.

Currently boxes are being distributed to help Syrian refugees in Turkey and Lebanon as well as supporting those affected by the hurricane in Haiti. The organisation has been rightly honoured with a Queens Award for service to the community.

The evening was concluded with the President presenting Mike with a donation of £5,000 to Aquabox, which clearly surprised and delighted him.


Richard Sugdon