Christmas Message

MORPETH ROTARY CHRISTMAS MESSAGE AND AWARD OF FELLOWSHIPS At the Morpeth Rotary annual Christmas Message event, fellowship awards were made to three long serving Rotary members. The awards are the highest honour Rotary can bestow and are for outstanding service to the community. They were presented by Morpeth Rotary President Arif Shahab and went to: Michael Duffy who has given 42 years of service to Morpeth Rotary; Peter Scott, twice President of Morpeth Rotary; and Kevin Dunlop Past President. Each had a citation read by Professor Andrew Hamnett.

Michael Duffy, originally from Manchester, went to King’s College Cambridge. He became a teacher and later Head of Evesham High School and Head at King Edward VI High School, Morpeth. He was President of the Secondary Heads Association 1986-1987 and awarded the OBE. He is a noted author of historical texts and writes articles for the Times Educational Supplement. Always a keen sportsman, he is now a keen gardener. Since retirement he has supported a number of charities including a sponsored bike ride to Rome for ‘Save the Children’.

Peter Scott, from Newcastle, completed a civil engineering degree at Sunderland University and became a chartered civil engineer. He worked in construction and consulting with English and Scottish local authorities and in Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. He oversaw construction projects for the Metro stations at Haymarket and Jesmond and Tyne Dock Car Terminal. A member of Morpeth Rotary for 30 years, he was President in 2002-2003 and 2017-2018. He is a senior member of the Methodist Church at Morpeth and an Area Steward for SE Northumberland. He was Chairman and Stage Manager of Morpeth Operatic and is a volunteer with various charities, including the Scouts, Age Concern and Wansbeck Food Bank.

Kevin Dunlop from Durham City attended Houghall College of Agriculture before becoming a lecturer at Lincolnshire College of Agriculture and then at Berkshire College of Agriculture. He returned to the north east as Senior Lecturer at Kirkley Hall College. A Rotary member for 20 years, he was President in 2009-2010. He is interested in photography and local history, has been a mentor in high schools and supports local charities. The Paul Harris Fellowships are named after the man who founded Rotary in 1905.

A lively and thought provoking Christmas message was given by Methodist Minister Emma Satchwell. She talked about light and hope. People wish to seek the light and there are many festivals of light throughout the world, such as the Jewish festival of Hannukah, also around this time. God sent the light of Jesus to the world so Christmas is a festival of light for all. The period before Christmas is called Advent. It is a preparation and anticipation of the great day when Christians prepare their hearts for the coming of Jesus. We want people to have a better Christmas but know that many won’t. The Christmas story shows poverty rejection and isolation but also points to hope for families and is a wonderful celebration. In spite of the increased cost of living and the darkness of winter, Christmas is all about seeing the love that is all around. Even the innkeeper found some space for a family of strangers.

Christmas dinners were eaten, carols sung and everyone had a safe journey home.