Latest News and Press - 2026 3rd.Quarter

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V    Reported 24.7.26

Oswestry Borderland Rotary’s annual canal walk - a great success 

The tradition of an annual Borderland canal walk and dinner goes way back into the mists of Borderland Rotary Club history and is always well attended, this year being held at the Boathouse on the Mere in Ellesmere with a circular walk along the canal and through the tunnel.
Chris Bryan-Smith, who organised the event said, “It was a really pleasant outing with some people walking and others joining us for dinner - and what a great way to welcome two new members and a few old friends. The company, the food and service were all spot on and although I realise the drought is a problem for many people, it was very nice to walk along the canal in the sunshine. The tradition was the brainchild of one of the founder members of Borderland, the late, Brian Gray. Unfortunately, I didn’t meet him but I’m very happy to continue in his absence.”
Borderland Rotary Club was founded in the early nineteen nineties and is still thriving, but the club would welcome people and organisations to help with major events such as the Oswestry Christmas Parade and the Borderland Mountain Bike Challenge, which is held each May.
Chris continued, “I’d like to thank Nicci at the Boathouse for making the event such a great success”.

V    Reported 9.7.26

Borderland Rotary present local Hotel owner with prestigious Award 

Sean Evans, proprietor of the Sweeney Hotel, received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award for his long service to the Rotary movement. As well as hosting Borderland over the decades, he has also provided, and helped sell, delicious muffins at the MacMillan Coffee mornings in Oswestry, organised by Borderland Rotary. 

Sean said as he received the award, “it’s a great surprise and an honour to get this award but it does make me realise that I’ve been serving Rotary members their Wednesday night dinner for more than thirty years now and I can but hope that it continues long into the future. I’ve also really enjoyed joining the team for their MacMillan Coffee mornings, and I’m told, last year’s raised around £900 for the cause. All in all, it’s been a fun ride.”
The Paul Harris Fellowship Award is one of the highest honours bestowed by Rotary, acknowledging individuals who have made significant contributions.
Brian Ashton, the recently elected President of Borderland said, “I’m so pleased that my first duty as President is to present this award to such a great friend of our club. He has always gone out of his way to help us in anyway he can and I think the unity of the club has benefitted no-end from his actions. I also rather hope that Sean will join us again at this year’s MacMillan coffee morning on Friday 25th September”.

V    Reported 1.7.26

Borderland Rotary Club hand over presidency in record temperatures

It was a hot but delightful evening and a lavish BBQ at the Sweeney Hotel as the new President of Borderland Rotary Club, Brian Ashton, took over the reins of for the next Rotary year from Steve Jerman, the outgoing supremo.

Steve Jerman, an IT developer, only joined the Club a few years ago having spent the last quarter of a century the other side of the pond, in Boise, Idaho, inventing innovative ways to use technology.  He said, “Although I was somewhat nervous about becoming President, I was very flattered to be asked and have found it much less daunting than I expected as I’ve received so much support from all the members. We’ve had a great year with the Christmas Parade returning and the revamped Borderland Mountain Bike Challenge raising lots of money for Air Ambulance and other local charities.  I’m also thrilled that my last duty as President, is to present, not one, but three, Paul Harris Awards – the highest Rotary award earned for work above and beyond the norm. One is to a Club member, Andy Boroughs, for his international endeavours to help the civilians of Ukraine live under extremely perilous conditions, and one each to Mila and Alex who run Shropshire Supports Ukraine. The group collect and supply donated equipment to Ukraine with a truck travelling there once a month. Borderland have given, amongst other things, six petrol generators. What a great end to a presidency!”

The new President, Brian Ashton, thanked the Club for appointing him for a second time as he served not long ago in 2020 – and we all know what happened then – Covid.  Brian said, “I certainly learnt how to use Zoom during covid, but the Club was unable to do very much at all, so I was honoured to be asked again, and I intend to do lots more in this term.  We have a good and stable membership, great events and activities to be proud of so; I look forward to making a difference in the local community - with the help of all associated with Borderland Rotary.

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