District Governor 2025 to 2026

District Governor John Edwards PHF

John took early retirement after thirty five years service in the Midland Bank and then HSBC UK which included six years as a Corporate Banking Manager.  He then spent ten years working as an adviser for Business Link specialising in the Food & Drink sector assisting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) clients to identify areas for improvement and implement growth strategies.

This was followed by almost nine years working on a part-time basis for The Charity Bank, an ethical bank that uses its savers’ deposits to lend to charities and social enterprises.

Each of these roles was spent working in Cumbria and Lancashire which provides John with a good understanding of the District.

He joined Rotary in Lytham in 2013, chairing the Youth committee and serving on other committees before becoming President in 2018-2019.   John became an Assistant Governor in early 2022 until June 2024, a role he enjoyed immensely as it involved close contact and involvement with the Clubs on the Fylde Coast where he still lives.

John says “membership retention and growth will be an imperative in 2025/2026 thus ensuring Rotary’s future in Cumbria and Lancashire. The District team will be available to support Clubs’ efforts in this regard”. 

Very much a ‘Club man’, John is mindful that Club visits and involvement with members remains at the heart of what we do in the name of Rotary.