RIP Patrick Glenn, dedicated Rotarian

Patrick joined Aireborough Rotary in December 1997 only to find himself surrounded by fellow pupils from Aireborough Grammar School as well as several opponents from local football and cricket teams. By now however, golf was his abiding sporting passion. He even ensured he managed a round before one of his recent spells in hospital.

On joining the Club Patrick's vocation of Headmaster - Secondary Education gave a clue to his future Rotary interests. Within a year he was Chair of the Vocational Committee, soon to be re-named Education and Youth and began a yearly round of visits to our four local secondary schools Benton Park, Guiseley, Horsforth and St Mary's, Menston donating Speech Day prizes from the Club. He was soon interviewing candidates for the Rotary Youth Leadership (RYLA) weeks, selecting three young people on the first occasion. Other ideas he championed included giving chess sets to Primary Schools and distributing C D Roms on Bullying Prevention.

With Mavis he volunteered to counsel Azusa Tanaka, an Ambassadorial Scholar with whom they maintained regular contact through the years. At the year end he advised the Board that looking after a scholar in the future should not simply be left to the named counsellor.

He accepted the Club Presidency for 2003/4 but did not waste the two years leading up to it. Having taken the opportunity to visit a RYLA course he found it a great success and volunteered to act as a mentor. Hearing about Kids Out in 2002 he set about learning more before actually getting the Club involved. In his Presidential year he obtained a District matching grant of £1860 for a Club project, saw a welcoming Aireborough Rotary Club plaque installed at Leeds Bradford Airport and organised a Yorkshire Night raising £750 for Club charities.

Well ahead of his time he suggested to the Board that a separate evening group should be formed to encourage younger working individuals to become members. Nomads as they were initially named arrived eight years later driven by Philip Livesey. Patrick brought the good news to the Club Board of Mary Jowett's initial donation of £10,000 for young people aged over 16. Together with a District grant this was eventually translated into the enterprising 'Mary's Room', a computer suite at Mnyakanya High School, Kwa Zulu Natal. The ability to study Computer Science has enabled their pupils to lift Matriculation successes up from 24%, 72%, 86% to last year's 90%+ result.

Returning as Youth Activities Chair in July 2006 Patrick joined the Technology Tournament Committee later becoming a judge. The Youth portfolio expanded under his leadership adding Young Chef, Young Musician, Youth Speaks and the Ocean Trust scheme. School prizes became sought after Service above Self Awards. Standing down as Chair because of deteriorating eyesight he signed off in inimitable fashion, ending his year's report 'Youth are our future, there is no alternative'.

Patrick remained a voluntary Board meeting attender for several years, was a weekly meeting devotee, and supported events whenever he could. He was never silent in Business and Open meetings and was always great company an attribute which continued to flourish on the fairways of Horsforth Golf Club.