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John Batty, a former president of Farnborough Rotary Club received a Paul Harris Fellowship award last Thursday 26th August 2010.

The award is given to members of Rotary and sometimes to members of the wider community who have given extraordinary service back to community.

I had the pleasure of presenting this award to John and there is a not a finer member in the club who deserves it more. although many members of the club work extremely hard for the community.

His hard work and dedication in the organisation of our local bi-annual concert Picnic To Music In the Park in aid of the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice and he is the main organiser of the forthcoming amateur boxing tournament in October..(Click Here for more details). He is also the current chairman of the annual Farnborough Donkey Derby.

But John has been involved in many fund raising events and is a valued member of the club. He dedicated his award to the other members of the club who are helping him on various projects.

In the 52 year history of our club, only 24 people have recieved this award.

The Paul Harris Fellowship award is given in honour of the founder of Rotary, which was started by Paul Harris and 4 other business aquaintences in Chicago 1905. Rotary membership now exceeds 1.2million and there are 33,000 clubs world wide.

About 15 members of the Farnborough Rotary Club met at the Farnborough Airshow to have breakfast with fellow Rotarians from America.

One of our hosts was Mel Crosier from Arlington Texas, who gave a very warm welcome.

In the picture from left to right…Thomas Kallman (our main host) Rotary Club Ridgewood New Jersey, Sean Usher Farnborough Rotary club, Mel Crosier Sunrise rotary club Arlington Texas, Kevin Holmes from Rushmoor rotary club and Kevin Flannagan from Glastonbury Connecticut.

We had an American style  breakfast, which was a little unusual for us Brits, with chocolate brownies, hot dogs, smoothies and other delicacies.

We plan to meet again in two years when the Airshow comes back in 2012

(Picture Graham Thomas)

On Saturday 23rd January  Farnborough Rotary Club held a Burns Night.

It was a great success with nearly 80 people attending.

I made a video of some of the “dancing” but dare not show it for fear of being sued by members worried about their image.

Oh alright then!!!

Also I took some photos too…

A great night and we raised over £1600

Thanks to all who came, especially Sue Evans, Liz Howarth and Pam Minnet for all the cooking of the Neaps, tatties and other delicacies too

Thanks to Gerald Howard MP for addressing the haggis and to Andrew Clarke of Clarke’s Catering for donating the meats and John Grenham for his generous supply of breads.

The MC and main organiser was Jim Thompson