David Greensmith 10 December 1952 - 22 July 2020

It's with great sadness that Stainborough Rotary has lost one of its greatest characters that has been a member of the club. He leaves behind his wife Sandra, of more than 40 years.

David joined Stainborough Rotary in 2000 and was President for a year between 2009-10 and was a full participating member from the day he joined to when he left to move to Cyprus in 2015. 

He was born in Leeds on the 10th December 1952. He went to Temple Moor High School in Leeds before studying at the University of Sheffield reading History. 

He was a civil servant and worked for the Department of Work and Pensions as a Procurement and Contracts Specialist.

He had so many interests from history to being an excellent accomplished Chess player, a keen hiker, an interesting speaker, an excellent quizzer, a wearer of flamboyant shirts and a lover of Curry (Madras) and fine wines.

The club has many happy and positive memories of him: 

He organised a couple of school events where he took on 20 young chess players all at the same time!! He walked from one chess board to the next until he had beaten them all. This was a fantastic opportunity for young players to learn from one of the best.

He was the Editor for Stainborough Rotary's monthly newsletter The 'Castle Hassle' and also Secretary for the club for many years.

He loved organising walks for us all and keeping us fit and healthy. These included guided tours of both Leeds and Sheffield as well as hikes across the lovely Yorkshire countryside. We understand that he has left a bequest in his Will to provide a bench on Stanage Edge.

He gave a number of talks to the club covering such subjects as the Battle of Marston Moor and the battle of Bosworth Field. He was due to give the club a 'zoom' talk in September about the history of Cyprus. Even though he lived in Cyprus he was still very keen to keep in touch with us.

He loved entering quizzes and helped Stainborough Rotary win many a competition.

He and Sandra were very passionate about the Rotary Peace Fellowship which is a post graduate degree course at Bradford University (one of 3 Universities in the world that offer this) and they both visited the annual conference regularly.

He and Sandra had a full social life and enjoyed good food, wine and friendship. 

He will be very much missed by all who have had the pleasure to have known him