Pages last updated: 8th June 2026

LEEDS ELMETE ROTARY CLUB

We meet  in person at the Bingley Arms, Bardsey,

Leeds LS17 9DR 

every THURSDAY at 12.30pm for a snack lunch.

We also meet by ZOOM on occasion, usually on the 1st TUESDAY of the month, at 7.00pm for a business meeting and possible speaker presentation.

Website: www.leeds-elmete.rotary1040.org

OUR CLUB

We are a very small Club of 10 Members (2 Honorary), and all are active Rotarians! Like many Rotary Clubs we are growing old together (our average age is about 80!). We are not in a position to do what we have done in the past, and are unlikely to attract new members. Our resolve is to continue for as long as we can, enjoying friendship, fellowship and helping others where and when we can  -  in the true spirit of Rotary: 

“Service above Self”. 

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Our President for 2025-26 is Rotarian Dr Bill Jones, PHF.

This will be Bill's third time as President, (previously 1995-96 and 2016-17). He joined the Club in September 1988. Bill was a Cancer Doctor at Cookridge Hospital - now demolished - until his retirement in 2002, after heart surgery. He was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship for Services to Rotary in 2010.

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The Rotary International Theme for this coming year is:

 
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THE LEEDS 7 GROUP OF ROTARY CLUBS

We are now participating/co-operating with the other 6 Clubs in the Leeds Area of Rotary District 1040. The Presidents meet from time to time, and can communicate easily via a 'WhatsApp' Group.

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SPONSORED WALK - SUNDAY 6th September 2026, 

IN AID OF ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH UK

As last year, our members, wives, and friends, plan to join the other 6 Rotary Clubs in the Leeds Area for this sponsored walk around the historic Temple Newsham Estate, Leeds. Hopefully he weather will be kind.

Last Year a total of £25,873.09 was raised through sponsorship.

In her letter of thanks, Fiona Burrell, Regional Fundraising Officer, Alzheimer's Research UK, said "What a fantastic achievement, and such a testament to the effort, enthusiasm and community spirit shown by all seven Rotary Clubs involved".

Rotary's Polio Plus:

Two of our members helped to Collect on World Polio Day - Friday October 24 - at Sainsbury’s Store, Moor Allerton - organised by Headingley Rotary Club. A sizable amount has been forwarded to the Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Fund.

Our members continue to make personal donations to this programme each year.

OUR ROTARY PEACE SCHOLAR 2025-26

Rotary District 1040 is proud to have a Rotary Peace Studies Centre, at Bradford University here in Yorkshire.

Our Club has been supportive since it's inception.

Rotarian Ken Garrett (seen here seated in his wheelchair) has, for many years, been hosting the Rotary Scholar allocated to our Club. This year the Scholar is Elize Nassif from the Lebanon, seen here on Ken's right (Mrs Garrett on Ken's left). Elize is a very excellent student (already having a number of University degrees), and has a delightful personality.

The picture was taken at the Bill Huntley Memorial Peace Seminar, entitled 'Culture, Conflict and the Possibilities of Peace', on Saturday 25th October 2025. 

Support for needy people locally with Food donations

We, sadly, live in an era in which Food Banks are needed, and poverty and need in our communities is only too real. Since June 2020, we have been supporting (with monetary and food donations) the Parish Larder at St Richards Church, Seacroft, Leeds, (and we provide gifts for children at Christmas and Easter). One of our Rotarians volunteers at the Tuesday food distribution each week.

 St Richard's Church in the Parish of Seacroft in Leeds

UPDATES  

JUNE 2026

Our support continues, and sadly more 'new faces' are being seen at the food distribution each week. We were able to contribute to a new water boiler for the centre recently - otherwise there would not be any hot drinks at the distribution!

As usual, Easter Eggs were provided and appreciated by the young ones this year.

JANUARY 2026

The first food distribution session of 2026 saw 70 individuals attend - which equates to approx. 300 people being fed. Business was brisk, and the 'toiletries' and 'other ' items available were eagerly gathered up.

STOP PRESS: 2nd December 2025

This time last year we were delighted to get a pallet-load of mince pies - that's about 6000+ - (FREE) from a charity based in Leicester called "Giving World".  Needless to say they were a great treat, and brought cheer to those using the "Parish Larder".

Well, we are already some way towards that target for this year, through the generosity of our Club members. 170 Boxes of mince pies - each box containing 6 to 8 pies - were delivered to St Richards today thanks to donations received from members.

Here's wishing a Happy Christmas to the recipients nearer to the big day.

CLICK HERE to go further back into the story so far.

(Click on the Aquabox logo to go to their website.) 

Our members used to fill a number of Aquaboxes each year with the useful items required, and deliver them to the Aquabox Depot in Derbyshire. Aquabox now prefers to receive monetary donations, filling the boxes themselves with goods they have sourced.

The Club's members buy a box every now and again.

Makes you feel good that the efforts of a few people can have such an impact on the lives of people in so far away! 

Our Webpages

Our Club is one of very many clubs in Great Britain and Ireland currently using the RIBI website template, each club being required to make an ANNUAL payment of £50. The donations go to support The Rotary Foundation each year!