85th Charter Anniversary 2015

85th Charter Anniversary

 On the morning of the 19^th January, snow and ice covered the ground, it was also cold, and therefore it must be the Rotary Club of Oldham's Birthday party.  Our founding fathers have a lot to answer for, perhaps in those far of day's there was little difference in the seasons, or being Rotarians didn't notice the difference.

  President John first welcomed everyone by challenging them to have a good time, before an invitation to stand and incant the Rotary Grace.

  After the nice hot food, and pleasant conversation, Toast Master Neil brought us back to the mundane by announcing a ten minute break.  Forty seven or so traipsed down the stairs to exercise their fingers on strategically placed zips.

  As usual the reading of the club's original Charter by Past President Jimmy Clegg, he last performed the same task in 1979 for President Arthur Bailey.  Then it was a more formal introduction of Club guests, distinguished and otherwise.  The guests of Club members were then introduced, in turn by an Oldham member.

  District Governor Stuart Sawle brought greetings from people in high places that few of u s were aware of, before introducing the main theme, he told a story that proved he was not a comedian. Even so some laughed

  Paul Percy Harris was born in Racine, Wisconsin, April 29^th, 1868.  Age 3, his family fell on hard times, they moved to Vermont to live with Harris' paternal grandparents. He attended Princeton University, the University of Vermont, and the University of Iowa. For the next five years, he    worked odd jobs for a newspaper as a salesman and a reporter.  On fruit farms, as an actor and cowboy, and on cattle ships that traveled to Europe. Harris settled in the Beverly neighbourhood of Chicago, where he lived until his death in 1947.

  He began his law practice in 1896 in Chicago. In 1905, Harris organized the first Rotary Club "in fellowship and friendship" with three clients. His initial goal was to create a club of professional and business men for friendship and fellowship. Early on, Harris realized that Rotary needed a greater purpose. While Harris served as president of the Chicago Rotary Club in 1907, the club initiated its first public service project, the construction of public toilets in Chicago. This step transformed Rotary into the world's first Service Club.

He ended by quoting two lines of a poem by an unknown author

One smile, can start a friendship.

 One word, can end a fight.

One look, can save a relationship.

One person, can change your life.

    That evening's main speaker, Rtn Rob Sproston P H F, had visited the Club during Past President Derek's reign.

  He hated school academic work.  Sport was a different matter, but he wasnt as good enough to make a living at it, and left school, aged 17, without any recognised qualifications.

   After working at a number of unsuitable jobs, he started taking pictures at various sporting events, eventually becoming one of the worlds leading Sports photographers.

  Over the years he attended 982 Football games on 72 of the 92 UK professional Football grounds, including F A, European and World Cup finals.   He travelled abroad on the team coach with both the Liverpool and Manchester teams, staying at the same hotel, becoming close friends with Sir Matt Busby, Sir Bobby Charlton and Bill Shankly.

  With the available equipment and technology pictures taken on the continent couldn't be processed for next day's publication.  They would be used in the special week end sports supplements.  Today with digital cameras pictures are sent immediately to the newsroom and can be around the world in seconds.

  Working conditions are often grim.  On his first outing to Aintree for the Grand National, he was sent to the far end of the course, over 2 miles, through mud, dodging cars and stewards and expected to return, again on foot, with useable pictures.

  Other events included the T T Races, International Swimming at the Derby Baths and the Embassy Darts Championships with film sent back to the Manchester base via dispatch rider.  Snooker at The Crucible had its own problems, to eliminate shutter noise you were stationed behind a glass screen, you tried to get action shots of everyone so that the eventual winner was already on film.

    Bob once appeared on the BBCs Question of Sport.  Sitting at home one evening watching that programme, they showed a clip from a match between Aston Villa and Liverpool, the Reds were attacking and Jimmy Casey took a shot 25 yards out.  The film stopped, What Happened Next? Nobody had any idea, apart from Bob.  The ball was 6 yards off target, hitting our hero square in the face.

  Working conditions for a sports photographer aren't ideal, lying on the ground in the rain with only the crossbar for shelter.  Enduring pies thrown by supporters, ball bearings, coins and on one occasion a dirty nappy.  Fed up with this reception a new career loamed, Robert set up a sports agency, and advised on security at the London Olympics.