2005

INTERNATIONAL ROTARY AWARD FOR JOHN ROBINSON

Retired Sale newsagent John Robinson has been honoured with the highest award given by the international network of Rotary Clubs.

John, a Rotarian for 26 years and twice President of the Sale club, has received the Paul Harris Fellowship. Little more than 20 have been awarded since the club was founded over 70 years ago.

The Fellowship, named in memory of one of the American founders of the movement recognises John's outstanding contribution to Rotary ideals and the Sale community.

"I can't think of a more deserving recipient," says Peter Munday, President of Sale Rotary Club. "The byword for Rotary is 'service above self' and John certainly exemplifies this in all he does."

It was John's newsagency at the top of Northenden Road that first offered him a place in local history. Even though he sold the business and leased the property to the Co-op six years ago the premises is still widely referred to as "Robinson's".

John, now 75, first bought the newsagency and post office after a serious illness had stalled a meteoric business career. During his 27-year ownership he added adjoining units, leased one as a video rental business, added a food hall, delicatessen, off-licence and increased the floor space by nearly six times the size of the original unit.

At a time of expanding national newsagency chains the business became a model independent success story