Birstall Luddites Rotaran Jim Pilkington RIP

Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites
Rotarian Jim Pilkington RIP


Mavis and Jim

Jim was a very respected and popular member of Birstall Luddites Rotary Club.
Jim was born in Edinburgh on 10th January 1946 his mother was Scottish.
He went to Leeds University to study law and graduated in 1973. Jim and Mavis were married in 1974.
 He worked as a Solicitor and was a partner in Redfearns Solicitors in Heckmondwike.
He was one of the founder members of the Rotary club in 1988 and his favourite Rotary job was organising Saturday morning outings to Oakwell Hall in his role as the lead in Environment. He liaised with the head gardener at Oakwell Country Park to organise the jobs to be done and this could be cutting and burning, hedge layering, or cutting hedgerows. He brought flasks and biscuits for all for the breaks.

Picture on the left is Jim with his famous pipe.
During Rotary meetings in a comfort break after the meal Jim would nip out and light his pipe.

Jim loved quizzes where he excelled. He loved his Nov 5th bonfire night.
He loved talking about football, especially about Preston North End his hometown team.
He helped to do decorating, as at Howden Clough Community Centre where Mavis joined
Jim with the decorating project.
Jim and Mavis holidayed in Sark for many years.
Jim's funeral was very well attended at St Marys Church Mirfield Tuesday 18 February 2025
and then onto the Old Colonial for a wake afternoon tea.
Joining the attendees were a group from his time at Leeds University, the group annually held reunions . 

 Jim at a Charter.    Jim at Oakwell 2011



Jim above leading Luddites at an Oakwell Environment morning 2014.


above left Jim enjoying a pint on a club outing to Ossett Brewery.
above right Jim at a Charter.


Above Jim at a Seat of Knowledge quiz. Jim was very good at quizzing.


Above Jim and Mavis at the Black Bull for a Pie and Peas super on a Nov 5th evening,
watching fireworks and the bonfire in St Peters church yard.



Above Jim leading another Oakwell environment outing to Oakwell Country Park.

 
An early Oakwell cutting and burning in 2011 !!


Oakwell outing doing hedge layering 2015

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