V o B Charter Celebrations

22nd May 2025- 35^th Vale of Belvoir Charter –– President Gerry Short

35 years and going strong with a current membership of 35. Our Charter night celebration was attended by 71, with representation throughout District 1220.  President Gerry did a warm welcome to all and an excellent meal followed.

Steve Lawes did the traditional Roll call and President Elect Gail delivered the toast to Rotary International, beginning with her own introduction to Rotary by friend Mary. She mentioned Shelter Box, Water Aid, the eradication of Polio project. Immediate PDG Richard Vergette of the Isle of Axholme RC, although not formally introduced, gave a heart-warming toast to the V o B Club, suggesting that whilst accepting we have a task to try and spread the membership to new members, we should also recognise the value of retaining members and in particular acknowledging the contribution that Founder members give.  8 of our 10 Founders were present this evening. Our new venture of Swimathon was highlighted as a real exercise in making Rotary clearly visible in the local community. Richard received a warm round of applause and President Gerry thanked him and asked our members to stand and toast our guests. He also made a special presentation of a Sapphire Paul Harris Award to a very deserving recipient of Jane Hart, who although somewhat dumbfounded, surprisingly lost for words, her contribution to our club over the years, with her enthusiasm and many contacts, with the culmination this year in organising the successful Swimathon event, with her daughter’s help, was well received.

He the introduced “Gary from Cotgrave”, the Honourable Gary Bell KC, who entertained us for 25 minutes beginning with his education, or ‘lack of’ in Cotgrave and Bingham, pointing out his school day hero in Keith Hart, who was good looking and better than Gary at sport and everything else!

He outlined his varied and amazing career starting with 3 days as a miner, followed by a further 3 days at Henson and Chattell (Lawnmowers). He progressed to a fork lift truck driver at Pedigree, then testing fruit machines at Bell Fruit, which led to his first arrest when Mr Plod caught him and he tried to run off with £128 worth of coinage in his pockets! He enquired of the audience their places outside Nottinghamshire and made the point that a Yorkshire airport called ‘Robin Hood’ was scandalous and ‘Peter Sutcliffe airport’ would have been more suitable.

After a little escapade in the south of France, he decided it was time to start his education properly, signing up to college to acquire his ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels before progressing to Bristol; University, feeling that as he had some experience on the wrong side of the law, a Criminal Barrister would be his destiny. He was advised to join the debating Society and was quite successful, winning a scholarship to debate in America.  There he was offered a well-paid lawyer post in Los Angeles, requiring him to pass his driving test.

He returned to the UK and decided to become a ‘stand up Comedian’ and won the competition in 2008, followed by a TV show called ‘The Legislator’, but finally getting down to the serious business to become a Queen’s Counsel, which he did for 12 years.

President Gerry wrapped up the evening, thanking Gary, Steve, Duncan and Rob. He mentioned how he had enjoyed his year of office with 20+ causes we had supported, as well as the continued success of The Memory Café and our new Swimathon event and wished Gail every success in the coming Rotary year starting in July.           AR