It is a tradition at the RC of Bradford West for the incoming President to host a handover party at their home in the early part of their year.

This year we had two handovers to celebrate. Allison taking over as Club President and Robert taking over as District Governor of 1040 – Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. A new chapter in both their lives.

For Robert and his wife, Jo, it was also the end of a chapter, having all but completed work on the redevelopment of their house after almost 7 years hard labour! So they invited all the club members to a joint celebration in their beautiful home.

At almost 1000 feet above sea level, with a magnificent view across Bradford and beyond, ever changing with the weather conditions we really did feel to be          “on top of the world”.

Let’s hope that feeling continues throughout the Rotary year ahead!

Personal ethos and insight I have been proud to be associated with Rotary since Oct. 1986, the old saying goes ‘that you don’t know what you are missing until it’s gone’ was certainly true of my experience during the five years I was unable to be a part it. I have many interests and hobbies but none so deep as my involvement with Rotary. Rotarians are often critical of the fact that ‘Rotary doesn’t mean anything’ to outsiders and that ‘it’s difficult to get our message across’ because we are such a diverse organisation. For me personally, it is that diversity that continues to make it interesting and simulating. Even after all this time there are aspects of Rotary that I never knew and I am constantly learning. Rotary, the organisation, is so diverse it attracts members of equal diversity, who have no other common interest. I am constantly surprised even in my club with the people who manage to get together, laugh and share a common goal, who would never normally meet or speak. Throughout my Rotary life I have been content to work at the ‘grass roots’, whether it was taking up office in my own club, stood in a supermarket with collection box or organising event for local people; making a difference in my own small way. In 2005/2006 I was proud to President of my own club and for the first and I got an insight into District activities as well as those of other clubs. I am the only member currently in our club to go through a full second full term in 2014/2015 and again I got involved with Rotary outside my own club. Everything that Rotary is, what Rotary stands for and what Rotary achieves is as a result of individual members making a difference and giving ‘Service above Self’. Recruiting new members both to replace existing ones and ultimately to increase our numbers, is in my opinion the most important objective we should have.

One thought on “On Top of the World”

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