Smiles, laughs, surprises and happy tears

There were smiles, laughs, surprises and happy tears in the garden of new president of Bradgate Rotary, Andrea Wilkinson, when she and her spouse Fiona welcomed members and friends to see her receive the chain of office from outgoing president Nicki Little.

There were smiles, laughs and hugs as the two exchanged congratulations.

Immediate Past President Nicki and new President Andrea

This part of the Sunday afternoon was expected by everyone.

What followed was not…

Bradgate is the third Rotary club that Bill Watson has been a member of. For personal reasons he has decided it is time for him to step down from full membership. Although he has been a member of Bradgate for only two years, he has given more than a quarter of a century. For many of those years he has served on District 1070 – the group of 70 clubs with 1,600 members across the East Midlands of England. A retired solicitor, he was described by outgoing district governor Moira Penney as “a real cool dude” as she praised him for his wise counsel.

Bradgate Rotarians feel the same, so on their behalf past president Alan Rockey presented Bill with three framed documents. The first was a certificate recognising Bill’s 25 years as a Rotarian. The second shows that Bill will continue as an honorary member of the club, so members can continue to call on his expertise and wisdom. The third was a certificate signed on behalf of the president of Rotary International awarding his the status as a Multi Paul Harris Fellow. Paul Harris, also a solicitor, became the founder of what became Rotary International in Chicago in 1905. A Paul Harris Fellowship is regarded by many as the highest award that can be bestowed on a Rotary member. It now requires at least 1,000 US Dollars to be donated to the Rotary Foundation in the name of the recipient. About 150 Paul Harris Fellows have been created since its inception in 1957. A fraction of that number are MPHFs. So Bill is in a very limited, select, company.
 

Bill Watson with his wife and Past President Alan Rockey

For good reason, members often refer to Rotary as being like a family; its members relying on the support of friends, family and spouses.

Dorothy Watson had been a member of Inner Wheel for almost as long as her husband had been a Rotary member. She was there to be among friends and to see her husband honoured and thanked by them.

Bill Watson and his wife Dorothy

The next surprise was such a shock to Bradgate Rotary treasurer Lesley Trivett that the retired dentist shed tears for she, too, was made a Paul Harris Fellow. Dr Trivett is a founder member of Bradgate Rotary. In the 12 years since she has earned a reputation for coming up with unusual and innovative ideas on how Rotary can raise money and support the communities that the club exists to serve. She has been treasurer every year except for her two terms as president. Her husband Chris is a founder member of Leicester De Montfort Rotary club and was there to see his wife honoured.

Treasurer Lesley flanked by President Andrea and Immediate Past President Nicki

The last surprise of the afternoon came when president Andrea presented a certificate to Paul Sharratt, who is not a member, but who is the husband of Judith. Paul’s certificate recognizes the help and support that he has given to Bradgate Rotary in the years since Judith joined in 2021. Paul is best known in Rotary and to quiz fans as the brains behind the club’s regular quiz nights at The Linford club in Newtown Linford and in the ex-Servicemen’s Club in Groby.  Apart from being our go-to quizmaster, he is less widely recognised as one of the Rotary club’s Santas when our sleigh appears in our five villages each Christmas.
 

President Andrea and super supporter Paul Sharratt