Handover and Club Awards 2024

  Handover & Club Awards

As the night began, the spotlight shone on Adrian Scadding as he was honoured with the prestigious President's Cup for his exceptional contributions to the club. His unwavering support and assistance to the president throughout the year did not go unnoticed, and he was personally thanked by the president for his dedication.

The evening continued with the president delivering a report, starting with a touching short film showcasing John's remarkable cataract eye project in Ukraine. The film, available to view on the club's website and Facebook page, highlighted the incredible work John led. Following this, John shared a comprehensive overview of the club's achievements over the past year.

In a heartfelt moment, John then singled out a deserving club member for special recognition, presenting them with a prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship award. The club members united in support of this decision, leading to a surprised Adrian Scadding receiving the award. In his acceptance speech, Adrian humbly expressed, "I didn't think I was doing anything different than all the other members; I was just carrying out my duties." He then graciously thanked the club and the president, acknowledging the honour bestowed upon him.

Following the Paul Harris Fellowship award, it was time for the Partners Award, presented by last year's recipient, Mary Ibbotson. In a brief speech, Mary highlighted the recipient's consistent support for the club, from driving the Santa Float to transporting equipment to Rotary functions. The award was presented to Cliff Luxton, who expressed gratitude to Mary and accepted the trophy with appreciation.

The highlight of the night was the official handover ceremony. Outgoing President John Clegg passed the symbolic chain of office to the incoming President, John Riley. Graciously accepting his new role, John Riley expressed his gratitude to John Clegg for his dedication and hard work during his term. In a gesture of appreciation, John Riley presented John Clegg with a thoughtful gift—a beautifully engraved wine glass along with a bottle of his favourite Portuguese wine.

Additionally, Adrian Scadding was appointed as the President-elect and Club Secretary, while Ian Ibbotson assumed the role of Club Treasurer. The evening concluded with a sense of camaraderie and anticipation for the upcoming year under the leadership of the new President and his team.