Pages last updated: 

 2nd July 2025

LEEDS ELMETE ROTARY CLUB

We meet  in person at the Bingley Arms, Bardsey, Leeds LS17 9DR every Thursday at 12.30pm 

for a snack lunch.

We also meet on occassions on the 1st TUESDAY of the month by ZOOM at 7.00pm for a business meeting and possible speaker presentation.

Please email for details of the next meeting venue/time/day etc. if required:

email: leedselmeterotary@btinternet.com  

Website address: www.leeds-elmete.rotary1040.org

Registered Charity Number 1033420

OUR CLUB

We are a very small Club of 10 Members, 2 of whom are Honorary, and all active Rotarians! Like many Rotary Clubs we are growing old together (our average age is about 80!). We are not in a position to do what we have done in the past, and unlikely to attract new members. Our resolve is to continue for as long as we can, enjoying fellowship and helping others where and when we can in the true spirit of Rotary: 

“Service above Self”. 

CLUB PRESIDENT 2025-26

Our President for 2025-26 is Rotarian Dr Bill Jones, PHF.

This will be Bill's third time as President, having previously held Office in 1995-96 and 2016-17. He joined the Club in September 1988 when he was working as a Senior Lecturer in the University of Leeds and Consultant Radiotherapist and Oncologist (Cancer Specialist) in the NHS at the Regional Cencer Centre, Cookridge Hospital, Leeds (now demolished! and the service transfered to St James's Hospital, Leeds). Bill retired in 2002 after by-pass heart surgery but has been an active Rotarian since, and has held most offices in the Club apart from Treasurer. He was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by the Club for Services to Rotary in 2010.

Here he is receiving the President's 'Jewel' from Past-President Martyn Phillips on 29th May 2025. 

The Rotary International Theme for this comming year is:

 

Support for needy people locally with Food donations

How it all started, June 2020:

We, sadly, live in an era in which Food Banks are needed, and poverty and need in our communities is only too real, worsened by the effects of Covid-19 and more recently with financial and political uncertainties, many people now find themselves in real difficulty. Since June 2020, we have continued to support (with monetary and food donations) the Parish Larder at St Richards Church Seacroft, Leeds, We also provide gifts for children at Christmas and Easter. One of our Rotarians volunters to help at the Tuesday food distribution each week, and other Rotarians when they can etc..

 St Richard's Church is in the Parish of Seacroft in Leeds

UPDATES  2022-25 

Support goes on - May 2025
The Club continues to support the Parish Larder, and, particularly, Rotarian Neale Lucas our Treasurer, attends each week to help with the distribution of food (and advice where needed).

The Trussell Trust is no longer involved in the St Richards efforts.

We were able to obtain some Mince Pies at Christmas time - thanks to our friends at "Giving World" - only 6356 pies!!! Christmas cheer and (healthy?) nutrition all at once - oh, and some "Selection Boxes" of chocolates for the kids, which we know they found enjoyable.

"Business" continues to be brisk each Tuesday, and the Larder now feeds about 300-350 people each week. The types of supplies vary each week from the various donating bodies (such as Supermarkets). 

We gave a donation of about 400 Easter Eggs for the kids at Easter (and are thankful for the generosity of Sainsbury's Supermarkets for the discount, and freebies!). Donated items such as toilet rolls, 'ladies' products. deodorants, etc are also most welcomed by the clients, and of late the Club Members have been donating tins of 'Baby Milk' and 'Follow-on Milk', which are well receieved.

Support continues - June 2024

The Club has continued to support the Food Bank - now called the Parish Larder - following the withdrawl of input from the Trussell Trust. One of our members attends every Tuesday to help with the distribution of food etc. We gave Easter Eggs for the Children again this year and sweets at Christmas. We give donations of milk, food, and monetarey support when needed. Our input has not been needed so much of late. We did receive a shipment of 'fruit biscuits' from "Giving World" in the spring, and these were gratefully appreciated by the Parish Larder clientele.

We plan to continue this support in the new Rotary Year.

CLICK HERE to go further into the story so far.

AQUABOX

    (Click on the Aquabox logo to go to their website.) Our members used to try to fill  Aquaboxes each year and deliver them to the Aquabox Depot in Derbyshire. However, because of Covid we were unable to do this in 2020 - 22.  
Now, Aquabox prefers to receive monetary donations, and to fill the boxes themselves with goods they have sourced (for quality and completeness of the items in the box). Our members buy a box every now and again.

WE DID FILL ONE BOX IN 2024, AND DELIVERED IT TO THEM.

Makes you feel good that the efforts of a few people in Yorkshire can have such an impact on the lives of people in need so far away! 

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