Beccles Rotarian Nick Rudge has been presented with the Paul Harris fellowship award.

It reflects the contribution Mr Rudge had made over more than twenty years to the life of the club and its fundraising, and was presented by president Neil Peek at the club’s latest meeting.

Paul Harris Fellowships, named after the Chicago lawyer who founded Rotary in 1905, can be made to members who meet high professional and personal standards set by the founder.

Mr Rudge is well known in the town as a surveyor and auctioneer at Durrants.

The club had two special guests at the meeting. One was Jennifer Langeskov, who recounted the tale of a famous bank robbery in 1921, after which her grandfather apprehended the suspects despite being shot.

The other was Alan Hill of the Salvation Army, who thanked the club for a £400 donation that enabled his church to replace a bain marie for catering.