PASSING OF ROTARIAN ALF MATTHEWS PHF.

Rotary Liverpool South is very saddened to report the passing of our friend and fellow Rotarian Alf Matthews, PHF.

Alf joined the then Rotary Club of Garston in July 1977 and stayed with the club as it changed names to Rotary Liverpool Garston and eventually Rotary Liverpool South. Although Alf was never interested in being President’ as not great on his feet, he was always there fully supportive of everyone who was. He was instrumental in the club moving to Childwall Golf Club in 2002 following the closure of Woolton Hall, our previous meeting venue. 

In January 2012 Alf was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in acknowledgment of his support for the Club. He visited our Rotary Friendship Link, Rotary Eisenach a couple of times and hosted a couple here from Eisenach in the early days of our Friendship Link. In November 2017, it was a great pleasure and honour to have Alf and his wife May attend a club meeting to be given his Rotary 40 Year Award Certificate.

Due to sight and hearing problems, in September 2018 Alf was unable to continue as an Active Member and was given Honorary Membership of Rotary Liverpool South, which he held until his passing.

Alf was born in 1927 and in his personal life worked in the Chemical Industry before retiring in 1992. He was married to May who we sadly lost a couple of years ago. They did not have any children but had support from a well extended family. He was quite a private person who always counted his blessings as having had pancreatic cancer in his 40’s and being given only 10 year to live. He well outlasted that although it did impact his diet and how much he could eat.   However, he enjoyed socialising and his red wine, particularly in his later years. May always tried to keep an eye on him and used to warn members not to give him too much. He always found a way around that!

Alf was a very keen photographer and enjoyed his football, being a keen fan of Liverpool Football Club. He was a tidy golfer back in the day and a long-standing member at Childwall Golf Club. He had a couple of golf playing nephews of whom he was very supportive. A keen swimmer in the past he always rounded up a team of swimmers for the Club’s past Swimarathon Fund Raising Events. 

As well as supporting Rotary he was financially, but very quietly, supportive of many organisations he and May thought worthy of help.  He was a very generous supporter of Alder Hey Children’s Charity. May and Alf gave a cheque each Christmas to Alder Hey, always receiving a thank you letter from the hospital. Alder Hey Hospital also sent him special greetings on his 90^th birthday as a thank you for his and May’s support over the years. Alf was also a staunch supporter of one of our Rotary Projects - Shelterbox.

Alf Matthews died aged 92 years old having become increasingly isolated due to his sight and hearing problems. Having lost his wife May he lived alone but with the support of an extended family. A staunch Rotarian he will be sadly missed by his family, friend and fellow Rotarians.