Presidential Handover at Cullins Yard on 8th July 2026

Presidential Handover at Cullins Yard on Wednesday 8^th July.

This lunchtime handover from outgoing President Peter Sherred to incoming president Jim Gleeson was well supported with members, partners and guests from the Rotary Club of South Foreland as well as from the Rotary Club of Dover.

After an excellent lunch Peter began proceedings by referring to his year in office when much had been achieved as a result of members working together; examples were the environmental work with Guston School, the Christmas Celebration and the Club’s 40th Anniversary Dinner. Many charities had been supported throughout the year and some of their representatives had attended a Presentation Evening recently. Peter had enjoyed his time as President and wished Jim all the best for a successful year ahead.

Having received his chain of office, Jim told us that a year ago he had not considered joining Rotary again but was encouraged to rejoin the Rotary Club of South Foreland by his old friend Peter Sherred, whom he supported and later agreed to become President Elect.

Gaining three new members in the 2025/26 Rotary year was a success. While the Rotary Club of South Foreland’s membership is quite small and elderly it has an enjoyable fellowship which it wants to continue.  The club has been very active in the past and will continue to be so according to our means, balancing what we can do with our active membership, and everyone doing what they can manage. We will continue with established events such as the Shuffleboard Evening and the Christmas Celebration.

In the coming year we hope to develop our links with the Rotary Club of Dover.  As both clubs have a mix of lunchtime and evening meetings and both have good programmes for the year, we can consider attending each other’s meetings when possible. Jim also encouraged members to bring family and friends to club meetings.

After thanking members of Dover Rotary Club for attending, he also thanked those from our club who are continuing with leading roles:  Mike Taylor as Treasurer and Pauline Goldsack as Secretary.  We now need a President Elect.

There followed entertainment from the Kellet Gut Shantymen, a group of male singers from the Walmer and Deal area.  Their leader explained that their name is nothing to do with anatomy but refers to a deep gulley between two sandbanks on the Goodwin Sands. One of Jim’s old friends from his mining days used to be in this group.  They gave a lively performance including one song that referred to ‘fishing off South Foreland light’. The phrase from another song ‘when the wind blows we all pull together’ was quite apt and could apply to many situations, while the folk song ’Sloop John B’ went down well.  Audience participation was encouraged for several songs.

At the end of the performance John Toomey gave a vote of thanks and said that the club had made a donation to the group’s charity: the Walmer Lifeboat.

Everyone departed in good spirits after this handover of food, fellowship and fun, a good beginning to Jim’s year as President.