Thursday 21st May. I make an official visit to
Ewell Rotary Club, the purpose of which was a secret from most Ewell members.
One of it’s members, John Brewer, was to
be presented with a coveted Paul Harris Award, the highest honour that a club
Rotarian can aspire to. In order to ensure that the recipient doesn’t find out
in advance, it is normal for as few people as possible to know about it.
Paul Harris medal
After the debacle in Mere, when Nigel Wilson missed out on
the honour of being presented with a Paul Harris Award by the Consort to the
District Governor, due to our Club President taking it upon herself to present
the award, I thought that at last I would have an opportunity of presenting a
Paul Harris Award to someone. John is a
worthy recipient of this award for many reasons, not least of which has been
his continuous involvement with the Rotary Youth Leaders Award, or RYLA. In a
pithy speech (not too long, about half an hour), I planned to recognise all
John’s hard work, after detailing my
plans for developing the role of Consort to the District Governor, something which I felt the club would be interested to
hear.
The Award to John Brewer was actually instigated by PDG
Betty McLure, Chair of Youth Services in our District. Besides being well aware
of John’s hard work with RYLA each year, Betty has been grateful for his
invaluable support with the District Youth Speaks competition. It was Betty who
suggested to the DG that the District awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship to John,
a recommendation which was acted upon, and so here we were at Cuddington Golf
Club, where Ewell club hold their weekly meetings.
Cuddington Golf Club
Tonight, coincidentally, was the night of Ewell’s Club
Assembly, so I thought it would be interesting to listen to the club’s plans
for the coming year. This year’s President, Mike Shone welcomed us as we
arrived and no doubt a few members were wondering why they were being blessed
with a second DG visit this year. Just to add to the intrigue, Betty and her
husband Harry were already there when we arrived, and we all looked suitably
surprised to see each other. I noticed that John Brewer’s wife Jackie was also
present. Apparently she hardly ever comes to Rotary meetings, but she had been
told what was happening beforehand, so she could make sure John actually turned
up tonight. She decided the best way to ensure he came tonight was to say that
she was going herself.
The DG is briefed for Club Assembly
John clearly had his suspicions, as he came up to me at one
point and asked why the DG and I were there tonight. I just responded breezily
that the DG likes to re-visit clubs that she particularly enjoyed visiting
earlier in the year, although I’m not sure he was convinced. I wouldn’t be
surprised if he asked the same question
to Betty McLure.
Betty McLure with the DG and John Brewer
Throughout dinner, I was getting ready for my speech, during
which I would make the presentation of the Paul Harris fellowship to John
Brewer. All that I needed was the actual medal and certificate, which I expected
the DG would hand to me at the appropriate time. Well that time came quite
quickly, because immediately following dinner, Mike Shone announced that there
was to be a special presentation this evening.
I have been usurped again
At last, I thought, my moment has arrived, and I started
getting up to my feet. Imagine my surprise then, when I saw that the DG had
already taken to the floor, with the medal and certificate firmly grasped in
her hand. Clearly she had decided that if there were any presentations to be
made tonight, she was going to be doing them. I wasn’t disappointed on my own
account of course, but I was sorry that John, like Nigel a few weeks ago, had
missed out on being presented with his award by the Consort to the District
Governor, a moment I’m sure he would have cherished.
Proud John
Anyway, the presentation went well, and John did a good job
of being surprised to receive it, although I suspect he had probably guessed
what was about to happen. The DG and
Betty both expressed how well deserved the award was, and a delighted John Brewer made a nice acceptance speech.
It should have been me - the DG is flanked by Betty and John
The meeting then moved on to the Club assembly, which was
led by President Elect Andrew Ford, who takes over on July 1st. Reports
were heard from the various committee chairmen, and I was struck with the
friendly and lively atmosphere throughout the meeting. I certainly approved of
the comment by one chap, whose name I didn’t get, who said that he was
introducing a new question to the 4-way test (essentially the Rotary Code of
Conduct). From now on, he said, there will be a five-way test, encompassing the
original 4 points, plus this one ‘Is it fun?’ Too right, I thought. We shouldn’t do anything
if it isn’t fun.
Andrew Ford (standing) leads the meeting
The meeting concluded with a Sergeant at Arms who fined
members for various misdemeanours, real or imagined. People were fined for
arriving late, for speaking too much, for poor dress sense, in fact whatever
occurred to the Sergeant at Arms. The fines were only about 20p, but it created
a lot of merriment. My own club used to have a Sergeant at Arms at the end of
each meeting, but some members were uncomfortable with it so it was stopped.
Perhaps I will bring it back when I’m President next year.
Powerful Team - Michael Shone, Andrew Ford, DG, ??
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