Paul Harris Fellowships

Paul Harris

Paul Harris Fellowships have been awarded to Brian Bristoll and Judy Bristoll;  Paul Crosby,  Brian Gray,  Eric Evans,  Roy Kempster,  Harry Richardson,  George Miah,  Jonathan Jones,  John Cranwell,  Linda Butler,  Martin Davies,  Peter Martin,  Ronan O'Brien,  Alan Poole, Paul Evison, David Kendall, Sherie Soper, and Justin Soper.

Awards have also been made to Gwyn and Mary Evans in recognition of their voluntary contributions to medical provision in India and Malawi.

Paul Crosby and Chris Bushnell were awarded a Sapphire to their Paul Harris Awards in recognition of their contribution to RYLA with Borderland Rotary.

Jonathan Jones was awarded a Sapphire to his Paul Harris award recognising many years work with Borderland Rotary for the benefit of millions of people around Oswestry.

Borderland Rotary present prestigious award to member

Justin Soper & Andy Boroughs

Borderland Rotary are immensely proud to announce that Justin Soper, a hard-working member of the club, has been granted the Paul Harris Fellowship Award for his continued contribution to the club and for demonstrating the Rotary moto, “Service above self”.

Justin has tirelessly developed the club’s Environment, Youth and Rotakids groups introducing Operation Pollination to the club as well as helping set up Rotakids Clubs at ten local schools including The Marches and Oswestry School. Operation Pollination is an international project which aims to boost awareness of the vital part bees and other pollinating insects play in our ecosystem and create and protect their habitats and better understand how we must interact with our little friends while Rotakids is a junior version of the Rotary Club that introduces young people to the concept of community engagement and voluntary work.

Justin said, “I was stunned when it was announced that I was to receive this award, but I am so proud that I’ve been able to serve the Rotary project in general and Borderland Rotary Club in particular. I must thank my wife Sherie – without her, none of this would have been possible”. 

Sherie Soper was made a member of the Paul Harris Fellowship some years ago.

Borderland Rotarian with prestigious award.

The Mayor, Cllr Jay Moore joined Borderland members and guests at their Christmas Party as they celebrated another successful Rotary year and the fact that one of their own, Jonathan Jones was receiving an extremely prestigious award, made it that bit more special. 

Borderland president, Chris Bryan-Smith said, “Jonathan has been with Borderland since the early 1990s and has arranged just about every major event that the club has ever been involved with. The Borderland Mountain Bike Challenge started in 1994, the Christmas Parade for most of this century and the Oswestry Fireworks, which this year was held at The Venue due to unforeseen circumstances. He not only runs these events but still finds time to arrange the Pantomime at Rhydycroesau (January 2023) as well as being a husband, father and grandfather, working full time and tending to sheep and horses in his ‘spare time’. As Jonathan already received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award way back in 2005, the only thing we can do is award him the very rare, Paul Harris Fellowship Sapphire Award. The first ever to be awarded by Borderland”.

The mayor, when presenting the award said, “You have brightened the lives of so many people in the wider community around Oswestry and I was thrilled to be asked to present this award, it is richly deserved”.

Jonathan replied, “This award is not for me but for everyone at Borderland and in the community that help make these events possible – don’t forget the old saying, there’s no I in team”.

To which the mayor retorted, “I don’t think there’d be much of a team without you, Jonathan!”.

The Paul Harris Fellowship Award is named after the founder of Rotary.  It was awarded for service that is way above and beyond what is normally expected of a Rotarian and to receive it once is very special, but to get it twice is both unusual and quite remarkable – as is the work that Jonathan has done for this community over the years.

A Paul Harris Fellowship is a top Rotary accolade, recognising distinguished service.  Such is the quality of Borderland Rotary that a third of their number are ranked so high.

Most Paul Harris Fellows are humble and modest with it.  None the less, it is worthy of shouting about.  Borderland Rotary had the Town Crier with the presentation of two awards in December 2021.

Paul Harris founded Rotary over a hundred years ago.  Since then it has become the largest organisation of service, with a huge impact worldwide.  Despite the massive international connections, the main benefits everywhere are for local communities.  Most people join with a simple idea, to enjoy doing their little bit when they have the time.  All those "little bits" build up to create achievements, and a reputation to be proud of.

Sherie Soper (left) receives her award from Cathy Osselton, President of Borderland Rotary.

David Kendall (left) receives his award from Chris Bryan-Smith, President Elect of Borderland Rotary