Into the New Era..................................

Alan, freshly back from a relaxing holiday in France, summed up his year and the successes during his time in office, particularly the success of our popular and ever-expanding Santa Sleigh visits, our golf tournaments, our success in being able to recruit some enthusiastic new members and, of course, the phenomenal success of Jackie Wellman’s ReCycle unwanted bicycle collection which has now exceeded well over 1000 bicycles.

Alan then had the pleasant duty of awarding the traditional awards of Rotarian of the Year and the Derek Chardin Friendship Salver.

This year the Rotarian of the Year award went to jointly to Jackie Wellman and Bob Taylor for their unstinting efforts in collecting the amazing number of bicycles, over two container loads, to ship to Africa where they make a huge difference to the people who receive them in areas where there is no other form of transport.

Alan awarded the Friendship Salver to Alan Bowers for his work in fostering fellowship in the club and in the local schools and community through the Purple Crocus planting scheme.

Besides the two annual awards, Alan also recognised outstanding work by two of our members. Paul Harris Fellowships are granted on merit for outstanding work within Rotary. There are additional levels of this award for sustained levels of outstanding work. On this occasion Alan was delighted to award Jackie Wellman a Paul Harris Fellowship with two sapphires for her tremendous achievements with her bike collection and awarded John Cuthbertson a Paul Harris Fellowship with a sapphire for his contributions to Rotary Foundation, his hard work in inaugurating the Rayleigh 10k Run, organising it over the last 4 years and, when the club was no longer able to sustain the run, its successful handover to a running club. The award was also made in recognition of his stepping up to the role of Club Treasurer following the untimely death of the previous Treasurer, John Culwick.