Charles Miller receives his PHF

Robert Eardley proposing Charles Miller for a Paul Harris Fellowship.

I have never been asked to perform this pleasant duty within the Club before but when asked by both our President and President elect how could I refuse. We have within our Club many long-standing members who, in the past, have supported all club activities including with enthusiasm accepting the role as president in this instance back in 1982 -83, a member who has served on all committees and has never shied away from finding an interesting topic to talk to the members about, he has always been in regular attendance and supported all club and social events alike.

A Paul Harris Fellowship, in our Club, has never been given out lightly and has certainly not been ever given out as a long service award but only given out by merit and whilst there are other members who I am confident will shortly follow on, today we are here to present a Paul Harris Award to someone who joined our Club in 1971 the year when I finished my apprenticeship at Rolls Royce, the year when Rolls Royce also went bankrupt maybe because the recipient was too tight to treat himself and the driving force behind him, his long suffering wife to a new car that wasn’t a Ford.

When I opened my Renault garage in 1985 I soon became aware of Charles, for those of you who have not guessed who I am talking about, when he rang one day, he had taken in part exchange a Renault 25 with quite a sophisticated, in those days, radio which had stopped working, can we get it fixed under warranty he asked, the car was well out of warranty but we did find a suitable solution and we have had a mutual business respect for each other ever since, however whatever he tells you, he has purchased a few cars off me since but believe me I was never allowed to make any money out of the deals. His wife Jean left the office in embarrassment rather than listen to us negotiate, she was always a strong-minded lady, in all senses of the word, and certainly kept him in check.

Us members who have joined this club in more recent times are unaware of what has gone on before and the effort and commitment of everyone who made our club what it is today. I accept that times change, it is not too long ago that I would never have dreamt of standing hear without wearing a shirt and tie but our rotary values shouldn’t. Our president elect last week said that the main purpose of our club was to raise money and that we should relax our attendance rule, I can see where he is coming from but in my view I enjoy my rotary first and foremost due to the fun and fellowship and getting to know everyone by regular attendance certainly enhances my enjoyment of Rotary.

Charles is a member who we all know well, often outspoken and perhaps a little grumpy but his heart is in the club a stalwart, with strong rotary and personal values. Charles all the members of the club have got behind you and I have great pleasure on behalf of President Chris to present you with this well deserved, long awaited and often hinted at Paul Harris Fellowship.