September 2024 - In Conversation with our President Elect Tony Wood

September’s conversation with President-Elect Tony Wood

Q. When and why did you join Rotary?

A. Around October 2016. I was having to re-evaluate my plans after the death of my wife; I had been to a couple of Rotary social events and felt that I might have something to offer.

Q. What roles/positions have you held in the club?

A. Treasurer for three years

Q. Next year will see you taking the Presidential reins. What are the main challenges that you expect to face?

A. Big ones! Membership obviously and the expectations of the North Star Project, but retaining and enthusing the current membership is equally important. We need to decide what kind of club we want to be - fundraising or community focused. Whatever we decide we need to be more proactive than we have been post covid.

Q. Can you share your favourite Rotary moment to date?

A. Coming second in the Northallerton Pancake race – community-based silliness and the fastest I have moved for a very long time!

Q. What sort of charities do you prefer to support and will you be having a nominated Presidential charity during your year?

A. I’m a great believer in charity begins at home so local ones. As to the Presidential charity I haven’t decided, I’m open to suggestions.

Q. What occupies your time when not involved in Rotary?

A. I’m Chair of the Bedale Community Minibus which provides affordable transport to community groups in the Bedale area. I look after our two buses and drive on a fairly regular basis, though that will end in a few months time when I reach 75. I’m chairman of the MG Car Club Tyne Tees Centre and involved with the organisation of national MGCC events such as our recent John o Groats to Lands End (JOGLE) event which involved over 1000 cars and people passing the baton (a cardboard cut-out of Cecil Kimber, the founder of MG) through the various UK centres of the Club, celebrating 100 years of MG and raising money for Lupus and Alzheimer’s charities. I’m fairly involved with history and give talks (most of which the Club has been subjected to!). In the summer I work two days a week as a guide at Rokeby Hall just outside Barnard Castle, and I’m a member of the award winning Wensleydale Railway education team based at Scruton Station where I take the role of the Rev. Thomas Rigby and do the geography-based activities.

PS. I also do a neat line in dog sitting and DIY in Cambridge!

Q. We know about your love of motor vehicles. If you could own any car, past or present, what would it be?

A. Couldn’t possibly pin it down to one! Alpine A110 and a 1933 MG K3. My Mille Miglia winning K3 is for sale if you feel like having a whip round!

Q. If you could change one thing in the world, what would that be?

A. A large helping of tolerance and a bit of understanding spread around wouldn’t go amiss; we all need to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.

Thank you