Llandudno Rotary is reeling from yet another blow

After the recent death of Bryan Davies we have now learned that we have lost another of our much-loved colleagues of longstanding - Neal Riley - ,who died earlier this week

Neal’s Rotary service with Llandudno began in 1998 when he moved to this area, after more than 20 prior years with Rotary in Bolton and a spell running a hotel in Capel Curig. He served as Llandudno’s President in 2001/02 and prior to that, in Bolton, had chaired every standing committee in Rotary and had been variously Vice President, organiser of Town Twinning and Group Scholarship Exchanges. He was awarded the coveted Paul Harris Fellowship medal for his Rotary service in 2001

It is not too fanciful to say that Neal was a man of his time. He personified the ability of an intelligent hard-working man to start from modest beginnings and, by dint of hard work, application – and yes, a sprinkling of luck – achieve a position of substance. In Neal’s case this meant rising from apprentice bricklayer, through to site foreman, to being Managing Director of his own Bolton firm with building contracts for private houses, industrial units, petrol stations and town centre developments.

Neal leaves a widow, Doreen; they married in 1951; he also leaves two children, Diane and Malcolm and their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren

Neal was active beyond Rotary, including his membership of Llandudno Ormeside Probus and the Masons, work with the National Federation of Building Employers. Bolton Wanderers (“The Trotters”) also lose a valued supporter. And we have lost a good friend and servant of Rotary.

Neal’s funeral is on Friday 4th January at 11am at St Hilary’s church, Llanrhos