FRED FINN SPEAKER
Thu, Feb 12th 2026 at 6:45 pm - 8:45 pm
Fred Flynn will be the speaker this evening. Oh by the way he holds the Guinness World Record for the World's Most Travelled Man.
Duty member: Paul Westcott
Born under the Battle of Britain in Canterbury, Kent in June 1940, Fred is now adding the miles travelling around the UK detailing a large part of his travelling life. He has visited nearly every country in the world and a few that are not there anymore with a passport that is an inch thick with extra paperwork.
Fred was born with aviation fuel in his blood, growing up a stone’s through from the historic Lympne Airport in Kent and took his first flight at the age of 13. He holds the Guinness World Record for being the World’s Most Travelled Man and took more flights on Concorde 718 than anyone else; in fact, he even had his own seat on Concorde (seat 9A). His story is one of excitement, glamour, royalty, and celebrity. He’s landed with the wheels up, flew with a bomb on board and on a plane which was stormed by hijackers.
At a time when flying was the “preserve of the rich and famous”, Fred met them all. As an executive at a major American corporation, Fred crisscrossed the globe signing deals. Throughout his career, he also made an amazing number of personal connections: international cricket stars like Sir Geoffrey Boycott, entrepreneurial giants such as Sir Richard Branson and royalty including Princess Diana and the Duchess of Kent among them.
Recently releasing his autobiography, ‘Sonic Boom’ tells the story of a dashing, successful businessman travelling the world in the years before budget airlines revolutionised air travel. He has visited nearly every country in the world (and a few that are not there anymore) with a passport that is an inch thick with extra paperwork and the easy storytelling of the natural raconteur. Fred’s first of more than 1,000 transatlantic flights was in a DC4B from Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire. He recounts “it took 19 hours and four stops before landing into Idlewild, known today as New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport. On the reverse of that, on Concorde I once did America in two hours 55 minutes, non-stop. By contrast, Concorde is not flying anymore yet the DC4’s are!”
Fred’s career also takes in an extensive range of charitable work, including his most recent support for Ukraine, a country he knows well and first visited in 1992.
His book is promoted with a foreword by Sir Geoffrey Boycott, who Fred met in 1968 he says “Sir Geoffrey Boycott has written a wonderful foreword for me, I met him in 1968, and we’ve been friends ever since. Cricket has been my absolute passion throughout my life, but flying is the main theme of the book”
Reflecting on a life at 30,000 feet Fred says “I have been so lucky to have been a part of some incredible experiences and it is still on going. I think I am just about to clock up 16 million miles. If you want a bit of trivia, that is 31,000 hours in the air which is one hour for every day of my life.”
'What We Do' Main Pages:
President Guy Wiltshear presented a Book Vending Machine to Daniel Pettitt, the Headteacher and Hannah Flory, the Deputy Head of Abbot's Hall Community Primary School.
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The concert was held on 22nd June 2024. Raised £1300 net to the Hospice. We are very grateful to the St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir and soloist Jess Hughes. A magnificent performance was enjoyed by all who attended.
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Peter Andrews who leads our Smoke Alarm project presented a cheque for £7000 to Jon Lacey, Chief Fire Officer.
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The Rotary Club of Stowmarket Gipping Valley continues to support Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service.
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At the Mendlesham Street Fayre barrow of booze a hamper was raffled and the winning ticket was drawn by the May Day Queen. This raised £460. Thanks are due to resident Val Remington-Hobbs for loan of the gazebo and other support.
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The Club held a street collection in Stowmarket to support shelterbox in supporting those effected by the earthquake in Morocco.
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Member Rod Curtis organised on behalf of the club some warm clothing and a bench for the Stowmarket Town Youth under 11 team who come under the auspices of the Stowmarket Town Football Club.
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A litter pick was organised by the Stowmarket Town Council in which Rotary gave a helping hand. The photo shows the Rotary volunteers waiting for the ‘off’.
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We organised a stand at the recent (March 2024) Business Exhibition run by the Stowmarket Chamber of Commerce. Many useful contacts were made, and possible businesses being made ‘Friends of Rotary’. The photo shows club president Guy Wiltshear in front
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Stowmarket Gipping Valley Rotary Club makes an annual donation of dictionaries to local schools. The photograph shows this years President delivering books to Gt Finborough school.
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Some of the club’s previous activities. The photo shows the recent presentation to Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service - see below. Note the Rotary emblem on the fire truck.
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