Pages last updated: 5th November 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 occasionally meet by ZOOM (usually on the 1st TUESDAY of the month) at 7.00pm for a speaker presentation and possible business meeting.

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 2026-27 is Rotarian Tony Vincent, PHF.

This will be Tony's third time as Club President, (Castleford 1996-97, and Leeds Elmete 2020-21). He transferred from Castleford to our Club in 2008.  Tony was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship for Services to Rotary (Polio Plus Campaign) in 2004. A retired Dentist, Tony is always busy, enjoying his family and a large circle of friends, as well as his passion for Golf. A serious cricketer in the past, he is a keen follower of many sports (esp. Rugby League). He has a fund of sporting stories and anecdotes.

Here is Past President Bill handing over the President's chain of Office to President Tony on 2nd July 2026.

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The Rotary International Theme for 2026-27 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.

SPONSORED WALK IN AID OF ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH UKSunday 6th September 2026

As last year, two of our members and their wives joined the walkers from the other 6 Rotary Clubs in the Leeds Area for this sponsored walk around the historic Temple Newsham Estate, Leeds. The weather was not kind - very damp in fact - but the enjoyment and enthusiasm of the walkers (and marshalls) was not deminished by the rain. 

Over £20,000 was raised by this event to aid the research into this distressing condition.

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This year £25,515.35 was raised.

FOR ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH UK

In her letter of thanks, Fiona Burrell, Regional Fundraising Officer, Alzheimer's Research UK, praised the effort, enthusiasm and community spirit shown by all seven Rotary Clubs involved.
 ROTARY'S POLIO PLUSPolio used to be a world-wide disease which affected the nervous system in various ways. People of our age (about 80) well remember people being struck down with Polio, suffering paralysis, needing to wear leg calipers etc, and sometimes needing to be in an "Iron Lung", which breathed for them, since the respiratory muscles were paralysed. The disease can be fatal!

Well thanks to vaccines, that is all in the past, and Polio is almost a thing of yesteryear. However, the virus persists, and currently there are only a handful for cases each year, mainly on the Indian sub-continent, but a few in Africa. In an effort to get rid of Polio, teams from various oniganisations - including Rotary - go to at risk areas to immunise vulnerable children with an oral vaccine. To make sure all the kids are 'done' (and no-one done twice), the child has it's little finger dipped in purple dye (gentian violet), which is why the colour purple is associated with this effort.  

Rotary began this work in 1985 under the banner of 'Polio Plus', and we continue today. Our members continue their support and make personal donations to this programme each year.

Rotary buys purple croccus corms and we plant them in public places to advertise the ongoing effort.

FOOD DONATIONS FOR THOSE IN NEED

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

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

UPDATES  

OCTOBER 2026

We continue to be involved, and Rotarian Neale attends the food distribution each Tuesday morning. Sadly there is no lessening of need and the work continues. We are contributing tins of ham for this coming Festive Season (about 300 tins!), but if you have any spare mince pie or the like - just let us know, and we will gladly take them off your hands!

JULY 2026

Our support continues, and sadly more 'new faces' are being seen at the food distribution each week. We were able to contribute money for a new water boiler for the centre recently - otherwise there would not have been any hot drinks at the food distribution. These are greatly appreciated by those waiting for their supplies. The number of inividuals using this service has gone up slightly, with about 350 people being helped each week.

In the last few weeks, the clients have benefitted from donations of surplus fresh fruit and vegetables, and also spare 'meat' (in the form of beefburgers), suplus to requirement, from St George's Crypt in the centre of Leeds.

Our Club provided Easter Eggs as usual this year, which were enjoyed by the young ones.

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.

CHARITABLE GIVING 2025-26

We can no longer raise money as we used to in the past, but we do benefit from the proceeds of our '100 Club' and members give quite generously at times, often 'rounding up' a sum that is due to the benefit of our coffers!

In 2025-26, we were able to give donations to the following, usually after a talk to the club by Zoom:

A Local Park :  £100   
Jaquie's Million (St James Hospital Cancer Charity): £200
Alzheimer's walk: £15  
Prickly Edge Hedgehog rescue , Methley: £100 
Joanna Project - Holbeck, Leeds.: £ 200

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[Click on Aquabox Logo above for information about this Organisation].

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.

Here is an extract of an email received by Aquabox with a quote from one of the recipients in Somalia of the boxes we sent in 2012: "When I was pregnant, I had worries to cloth(e) my babe. We don't afford food most times so monies for clothes is hard to get. I thought the box was just for water and was happy when I found the towels and the clothes. I cried and hided (sic.) them for after the delivery. This is the first time I ever had something new to wrap my baby in. My oldest son Ahmed will not leave the shelter without his new books and bag. He is too proud when he carries them with the other boys. Even me, I can share the cooking utensils with my neighbors. It feels like being home again. Truely these are blessings for all of us!"

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 making an ANNUAL payment of £50. The donations go to support The Rotary Foundation each year!