Paul Harris Fellowship Awards

IT IS not unknown for surprises to occur at Presidential Handovers, particularly when awards of Paul Harris awards are made as the award is kept secret from the recipient.

Past President Paul Vaesen and Immediate Past President Ann Reed with their Paul Harris Fellowship awards

Generally these awards are made by the President before handing over the Presidential Jewel to the Vice President.  At the Presidential Handover on 28th June, this protocol was however changed with President Mandy Davis making the award soon after receiving the Presidential Jewel.  This was because the recipient of an award was Immediate Past President Ann Reed.

President Mandy said “How can we thank President Ann enough for all her energy, compassion and good humour in the  various roles she has played in our Club?  On top of this we all greatly admire the really positive spirit she has shown in the face of severe adversity.  All of us are grateful for her bravery In becoming, not only the first female member of our Club but also it’s first female President.  She was also the first female to join and eventually lead her Rotary Club in Bangladesh.”

“In Rotary we have a way of recognising outstanding Rotarians and Ann is outstanding.  In view of her double achievement in encouraging the role of women in Rotary, Seaford Rotary is pleased to present Ann with it’s highest award - a ‘Paul Harris Fellowship’.”

“We are also grateful to her husband Rodney for all the support he has given to both her and the club. They are an excellent team.”

President Mandy then presented the award of a ‘Paul Harris Fellowship’ to Immediate Past President Ann Reed.

It is not unknown for ‘Paul Harris Fellowships’ to be like London buses, none occur and then two come along.  Last year no award was made, but this year President Mandy Davis presented a second award.

Mandy continued “As my first act as President, I also wanted to recognise the achievement of a particular Rotarian.  I was amazed to discover that he had not been presented with an award recognising his contribution to the Club.  I am talking of Paul Vaesen.”

Seated next to Mandy, Paul’s face was a study of surprise.

Mandy continued “Paul also deserves to be a Paul Harris Fellow.  He is a very modest member of our Club but his role in leading the Youth Service Committee, supported well by members of his team, has been exemplary.”

Paul is not happy unless we are running every youth competition of which I have heard, and even some I have not!  Even during COVID he did everything possible to keep the committee going.”

“Every youth event that he organises has detailed planning, professionalism and good levels of  participation by young people.  Consequently, Paul has done much to spread the good word of Rotary across the schools and as a result, our town.  The support given to reading and maths by Rotary is much appreciated by the schools.  On top of this Paul has developed good working relationships with a range of Youth Groups and the local council.”

“He led the development of the Phillip Moorey award for ‘Young Citizen of the Year’ and has become a trustee for the “Youth Counselling Project’ charity.”

“In spite of this enormous workload he also supports other Rotary activities fully and as with Ann, has been a superb role model to newer members such as myself.”

“For these reasons “President Mandy continued “It gives me great pleasure to award a Paul Harris Fellowship to Paul Vaesen.”

 

Mandy DavisContact Mandy Davis about this page:

(ALL fields required)

(If you are a Rotarian, please name your club.)

Related pages...

The Elite Group of Cyclists:  (from the left) Mike Roper, Daphne Vaesen, David Pattenden and Paul Vaesen

Inaugural Seaford Rotary Cycle Ride

more A small but elite(!) group of cyclists (Paul and Daphne Vaesen, Mike Roper and David Pattenden) enjoyed the first Seaford Rotary Cycle Ride on Thursday 12th September.

Enjoying the banana break!  From the left:  Mike Allen, Jim Anderson, David Pattenden, Paul Goodwin, janet Pattenden, Daphne Vaesen, Paul Vaesen and Geoff Lowles all bought to order by Megan!

Beachy Head ‘Blast’

more The walk on 10th September from Beachy Head tavern was a replacement for the intended walk from the Plough and Harrow, Littlington deferred due to several days of rain which made the Cuckmere river bank walk extremely muddy and slippery.

Members and their wives chatting whilst enjoying the food and drink

Sizzling BBQ

more On a very warm day at the end of July, President Clive Livingstone hosted a BBQ in his garden attended by 45 Rotarians, their wives, partners, family and friends, and three canine family members.

President Clive Livingstone wearing the new jewel placed on his shoulders by Immediate Past President Mandy Davis

President’s Evening and Handover

more THE LAST meeting of the 2023/24 Rotary year was held on Friday 28th June 2024. As annually at the end of June Seaford Rotary Club changes its Club President, the Presidential handover also took place.

Rotarians with their wives and family alongside guide Pete Fellows

A Flying Visit!

more Last February, we were entertained at a lunchtime meeting by Pete Fellows with his talk ‘A Life of Flying at Shoreham Airport’. Following this some members expressed an interest in a guided tour of the facility.

Both teams line up for the camera after a pleasant evening

Seaford ‘B’ Skittles Cuckfield, Lindfield and Haywards Heath

more SEAFORD ROTARY’S new ‘player’ David Pattenden (signed from Uckfield Concert Brass band) hit all the right notes as he starred in the Seaford ‘B’ team’s brilliant skittles win against District Championship opponents Cuckfield, Lindfield and Haywards Heath.

Rear row from the left:  Paul Goodwin, Mike Allen, John Windsor and Geoff Lowles
Front row from the left:  Janice Vince, Mike Barker, Janet Pattenden and David Pattenden

Hot Rodmell Walk

more Unfortunately, for various reasons many of our “regulars” were unable to join us on our walk starting from the Abergavenny Arms in Rodmell, but nine members, partners and friends met in the car park as arranged.

Members watching and discussing the skittles being knocked over

Skittles at the Crouch Bowling Club

more A group of Seaford Rotarians and their partners met at the Crouch Bowling Club to try out the skittles alley in the club house.

Members of Angmering South Downs and Seaford B skittles teams

Skittles: End of the Road for Seaford B

more Seaford Rotary B met their nadir in the third round of the District 1145 Championships on Friday March 8th when they were knocked out of the competition by Angmering South Downs R.C.

The hardy walkers together with the two dogs ready for the walk

New Year's Day Walk 2024

more TAKING ADVANTAGE of a rare break in the stormy and very wet weather that we have been experiencing so far this winter, 17 hardy walkers together with two dogs duly assembled at the Martello Tower for our annual New Year’s Day walk.

President Mandy Davis presenting Keith Carlisle with a unique framed certificate to commemorate his uninterrupted 50 years of service, and a framed congratulatory letter from Gordon McInally, President Rotary International 2023/24.

Keith Carlisle 50 Years Service Celebration

more ON WEDNESDAY 19th July, members and guests attended a lunch held to celebrate 50 years membership of the Rotary Club of Seaford by Past President Keith Carlisle, PHF.

Vice President Clive Livingstone presenting Tony Lees with certificate to commemorate his long uninterrupted 50 years of service, and a framed congratulatory letter from Gordon McInally, President Rotary International 2023/24

Tony Lees 50 Years Service Celebration

more ON WEDNESDAY 18th October, members and guests attended a lunch held in celebration of 50 years membership of Seaford Rotary by Past President Anthony George Lees (Tony) BEM, PHF.

Nine of the ten walkers and the three dogs

Walk at Whitbread Hollow, Eastbourne

more ON TUESDAY 26th September, ten walkers comprising members and partners and accompanied by three dogs assembled on the seafront near St Bede’s junior school near Beachy Head, Eastbourne on what started as a cloudy but dry morning.

Janice Vince at the BBQ

Annual BBQ

more IN THE early evening on Friday 18th August a group of 37 Rotarians including Seaford Martello President Jackie Arkwell and 4 other Martello Rotarians, Partners and friends gathered in the rear garden of Janice Vince’s house for the annual Rotary BBQ.

From the left (standing):  Andrea Welland, John Windsor, Janice Vince, Tricia Allen, Paul Tuley, Geoff Lowles, Mike Logan, Daphne Vaesen and Mike Allen;  (seated) Maggie Posgate, Ann Hemmings, Bill Pierce, Pippa Logan and Ivy Thompson

Walk at Berwick

more ONCE AGAIN the weather gods looked kindly on us when 16 members and partners together with two dogs assembled outside The Cricketers pub in Berwick for the start of our summer walk.

Seaford B skittles team. From the left: Val Percival, Brian Percival, Lizzie Holt, Ken Holt, Bill Pierce, John Windsor, Frank Thompson, Paul Vaesen, and John Lockyer plus Keith Ross behind the camera

District Sports: Skittles, Darts and Quiz

more AFTER AN enforced break of three years, the Rotary District Sports have returned. Seaford entered teams into the Darts, Skittles and Quiz competitions.

Mandy Davis and John Windsor with the initial selection of curries

Curry Evening

more On 31st May, a group of members with their wives, husbands, and partners made their way to the home of Janice Vince for a Curry Evening.

The Valiant Nine excluding the Photographer

Upper Dicker Walk

more The weather gods were kind to us for our walk starting from The Plough Public House, Upper Dicker where on 23rd May nine valiant members and partners congregated to explore the local countryside.

Seaford B skittles team pinned down and out by big freeze at The Fountain

more Seaford Rotary’s B team ‘skittlers’ literally froze at the Fountain Inn, Ashurst on a cold, damp evening on January 25th and were removed from the District competition by Godalming Woolsack C who scored a resounding 207-191 victory.

Visit to Newhaven West Coast Rotary Club

more At the invitation of our neighbours and ‘daughter’ club, Newhaven Coast West Rotary Club, ten Seaford Rotarians enjoyed a lunchtime talk from The Keep’s Peter and Caroline Holt on 28th March at their headquarters, the 3rd Newhaven Scout Troup Scout Hut.

Spring Walk at Rodmell

more AFTER SOME and indifferent recent weather, we were treated to a dry but rather windy morning to commence our first walk of 2023 (New Years Day walk excepted).

President Ann Reed with invited guests at the Charter 75th anniversary dinner

Charter 75th Anniversary Dinner

more THE ROTARY Club of Seaford received the approval of R.I.B.I., and its Charter dated 21st July 1947 was presented to the new Club at a dinner in the Queens Hall on 3rd October 1947.

Mandy’s Big Barbeque Night with Partners

more On the last Wednesday of August, a fifth Wednesday of the month, Rotarians, partners and guests gathered at the home of Vice President Mandy Davis for a barbeque in her garden.

The group of walkers at Charleston Farmhouse

Selmeston Walk

more On 26th July the conditions were perfect, another dry day, but rather cloudy with a refreshing breeze rather than a hot wind off the Sahara! desert! We met at the Barley Mow in Selmeston; our group comprising 12 human walkers and 2 dogs.

President Ann Reed with Vice President Mandy Davis

President’s Evening and Handover

more WEDNESDAY 29th June was the fifth Wednesday in the month, and therefore in accordance with the recent change, this meeting was one in which wives, partners and guest were invited.

Tuesday Coffee Club at The View

more DESPITE COVID infection numbers being quite high when we started our Rotary Coffee Mornings at The View, they have proved quite popular. They are a simple pleasure, uncomplicated: turn up from 10.30 onwards.

Walk from Litlington

more AFTER THE recent bright and sunny mornings it was disappointing that Tuesday 10th May dawned cloudy. This, however, did not deter 14 Rotarians and friends plus two dogs from assembling in the car park of the Plough and Harrow pub in Litlilington.

PDG John Preddy PHF 50 Years Seaford Rotary Membership and Service

more A CONVIVIAL evening was facilitated by John Preddy’s generosity in having an open bar to commence the celebration of his 50 years Membership and Service to Seaford Rotary.

Fellowship being enjoyed after the tea and coffee

Evening meeting with Partners

more Wednesday 30th March was the fifth Wednesday of the month. The meeting held on that date was advertised as a Rotary Special Meeting with Partners at Seaford Golf Club.

Beachy Head Walk

more AFTER the recent horrendous storms it was great to wake up on 8th March to sunshine and with the certainty that our planned walk could definitely go ahead.

New Year’s Day Walk

more New Year’s’ Day dawned bright and even sunny whilst being extremely mild for the time of year.

Rotary Walk - Arlington

more OUR WALK starting from the Yew Tree in Arlington had been hastily arranged in place of the previously scheduled walk starting at the Plough and Harrow in Litlington.

Bishopstone church - start of the tour

Tour of Bishopstone Church

more THE AFTERNOON of Saturday 14th August saw a group of Rotarians, wives and partners and members of Inner Wheel assembling at the lynch gate entrance to St Andrew’s church, Bishopstone for a tour of the Saxon and Norman house of worship.

Bowled over at Denton

more On 14th October, a group of Rotarians, 1 honorary Rotarian, members of Inner Wheel and one member of Newhaven South Coast Rotary Club were at Denton Island Indoor Bowls Club (DIIBC) for an evening of bowls.

September Walk at Rodmell

more After all the dry and warm weather we had been enjoying this September, when viewing the weather forecast on Sunday 26th September, I seriously wondered if our luck was about to run out.

‘Pic’ and mix again at The Salts

more IT WAS nice to ‘pic’ and mix again at The Salts. And yet despite a certain amount of shivering and even a little full-size cowering from a brisk sea-breeze , the Seaford Rotary Picnic there on Friday 28th May was undoubtedly an outstanding success.

ON 7th JULY, we were joined at our Zoom meeting by Rotarian Simon Edmandes.

Fighting Motor Neurone Disease

more Volunteers from MND Association East Surrey branch fundraising by taking part in the Walk to D'Feet

Second East Dean walk

more Following our successful walk in May where we enjoyed a pleasant outing in somewhat uncertain weather followed by a picnic, we followed up on this with a different walk starting from the same location.

The walkers

East Dean Walk

more After such a long period of enforced separation, it was really great to be able to organise a walk when we could all get together in real time rather than meeting on ZOOM.

Phil Godfrey

Railway journeys Around Britain to Raise Awareness of Antiphospholipid Syndrome

more ON 14th OCTOBER, we were joined at our Zoom meeting by Rotarian Phil Godfrey a former railwayman from Solihull who has travelled the country by train to raise awareness of antiphospholipid syndrome, which caused the premature death of his wife.

Geoff joined at this socially distanced celebration by President Martin McGill and Past Presidents Tony Lees, Tony Osborne, Keith Carlisle and John Preddy, who with Geoff have given 237 years of valuable service to Rotary and the Seaford community.

Geoff Lowles celebrates 50 year Rotary membership

more ON 11th September 2020, Geoff Lowles, Paul Harris Fellow, celebrated 50 years membership of Seaford Rotary Club.

Some of the 33 attendees at the virtual handover meeting

End of a Unique Year with a Virtual Presidential Handover

more Keith Ross experienced a unique year in his role as President for 2019-20 and although he was robbed of hosting the traditional gala dinner at the end of his reign he still managed to make the annual handover ceremony memorable – even on ZOOM!

Pippa Logan with her award certificate

Pippa Logan becomes Life Honorary member

more Pippa Logan has become a Lifetime Honorary member of Seaford Rotary Club for her work in organising the catering at the Bluebell Walk, Arlington for the Club. She becomes the first and only Lifetime Honorary member of the Club.

Attendees at the meeting on 28th June

Five Country ZOOM Meeting

more Eight members of Seaford Rotary demonstrated the Rotary International Theme for the 2019/2020 Rotary Year - ‘Rotary Connects the World’ by having a ZOOM meeting with the Rotary Club of Baridhara, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

2019-06-22 President's Evening and Handover

more 2019-06-22 President's Evening and Handover

Spring Walk at Rodmell

more Once again, we were favoured with wonderful weather when setting out on our latest trek into the local countryside around Rodmell and Southease.

Bowls evening

more A select group of Rotarians organised by Bill Pierce arrived at the Denton Island Indoor Bowls Club to try their hand at this genteel sport. Bill Pierce had organised an evening with not only Seaford Rotary Club, but also Newhaven Rotary Club and Inner W

Jevington Walk

more 26th February 2019

Mark Forrester inducted

more 6th February 2019

Autumn Walk 2018

more 20th November 2018

back to page above this...

Past President Paul Vaesen and Immediate Past President Ann Reed with their Paul Harris Fellowship awards

Club Activities

back Reports of Meetings, Social Events and Vocational Visits