Rotarians honoured with award for dedication to success of club and charity events
Bill James receiving his Paul Harris Fellowship award from John Warburton. Picture: John Swanbury. - Credit: Archant
Two Rotarians were presented with special awards for their dedication at the Rotary Club of Beccles’ 69th charter night celebrations.
John Warburton presenting the Paul Harris Fellowship award to Paul Randle. Picture: John Swanbury. - Credit: Archant
The Paul Harris Fellowships, named after the man who founded Rotary in Chicago in 1905, can be made by their colleagues to individuals who meet high professional and personal standards set forth by Paul Harris.
Retired veterinarian Bill James, a former president of the club and retired packaging company joint founder Paul Randle, its vice president, had both made massive contributions over the years to the success of the club and its charitable ventures.
They both expressed gratitude to the club for recognising their contributions, with president John Warburton presenting the awards and introducing the guests.
Club president John Warburton and the dinner guests at his table, who include Dame Lin Homer, Michael Taylor and Judith Taylor. Picture: John Swanbury. - Credit: Archant
The club runs the Beccles Cycle for Life charity ride, the Beccles Hospital Fete and the Beccles Young Musician and Young Vocalist competitions.
Beccles Rotary Club’s principal guest at the dinner was Dame Lin Homer, who was until the year before last the chief executive of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and had been a pupil at the Sir John Leman High School.
She and one of her old school friends, Sarah Harvey, a partner in an accountancy firm in Acle, who is the daughter of club member Ken Savage, gave speeches at the dinner.
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Both speakers, in a double act, charted and contrasted their respective careers, to which Rotarian Gordon Knights duly responded on behalf of the club.
The present Sir John Leman headteacher, Michael Taylor, was one of the other guests, as was the mayor of Beccles, Richard Stubbings. Another guest, Judith Taylor, the Beccles Inner Wheel Club president, spoke for all of them.
The charter night celebrations are held annually to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Beccles club, part of the international Rotary movement, which has the motto “service above self.”
The event was enjoyed by members at the Waveney House Hotel.
