The Rotary Club of Reading Abbey

A ‘New Year’ in mid-Summer!

Report by Jim Walker

Another year, another President. .Each Rotary Year ends in June and immediately starts again in July.  This happens worldwide in all Rotary clubs – all 34,000 of them. And with the change, the old President bows out and the new one takes control.  So with the Rotary Club of Reading Abbey, with Past President Steve Rolls handing over the Presidential chain of office to incoming President Janet Sartorel.  The lunch-time ceremony took place at The Crowne Plaza, Caversham in front of a gathering of 50 Rotarians, spouses, partners and friends.  They heard President Steve Rolls recount the fundraising successes of his year, including the AmAm golf tournament, the 10k Englefield Run and a dinner to commemorate St Georges Day, all of which raised enough funds to allow Reading Abbey to donate £19,000 to charitable causes over the year.

 

The highlight of the lunch was the presentation of the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF) – in honour of the man who founded Rotary over 100 years ago - to two outstanding personalities.  The first off was to Christine Smith who, apart from being the wife of Secretary Tony, has been the undercover Treasurer of the Club for some time, as well as devoting herself to various charities including the Friends of Royal Berkshire Hospital.   A second Fellowship was awarded to Rotarian  Fred McCrindle , a long standing stalwart of the Club and a Past President, who works tirelessly for the fund raising and Community Service aspects of the Club’s work.

Janet Sartorel is the first lady President of Reading Abbey and is looking forward to a productive year.  Although Reading Abbey has a well earned reputation for being a bit “off the wall”, discipline this year will be no problem as the new President has significant experience in Policing.

 

All six Rotary Clubs in Reading are always on the lookout for new members not only to help them increase their service to the community, but also to offer fellowship and fun in a professional and business environment. They include breakfast, lunch and evening clubs. Anyone interested should, in the first instance, make contact at secretary@readingabbeyrc.org.uk.