Another blow for Wigan Rotary

The Club loses another stalwart


  Derek Burney – April 1927 – January 2021

 It is with great sadness that Wigan Rotary Club President Rosemary announced the death of Rotarian Derek Burney aged 93 on the 10th January 2021.  He joined Wigan Rotary Club in 1967 and received his certificate commemorating 50 years of membership in 2017.  He had also been awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship after 40 years of service.  He achieved 53 years of membership at his death. 

Derek was also a member of Wigan Round Table, Wigan Music Society of which he was a trustee, Probus of which he had been a Chair and was also a very keen member of the local RSPB.  He enjoyed other hobbies like photography, and he was musical, playing both the piano and the organ.  He embraced new technology and used his iPad and his computer simultaneously.  He was a very capable, likeable character who was quite the raconteur, enjoying recounting tales of his life at boarding school. 

He was sent as a boarder to Holmwood Preparatory School in Formby followed by Oundle School.  He then joined the family leather business, making handbags, gloves and purses. When his father sold the business and retired to Wales,  Derek re-started the business selling to some prestigious retailers including Boots Salisbury’s handbags and Marks and Spencer and even had a contract to supply purses and glasses-cases to Concorde for them to give to their passengers. His father was a former Captain of Arley Golf Club in 1957.

Derek was a very kind and generous man, always putting others before himself.  He regularly supported a number of charities including Médecins Sans Frontières, RSPB, Redwings, WWF, IFAW and Sightsavers. He was someone you could rely on to lift your spirits with his quiet sense of humour especially when things were a little difficult.  He always seemed to be able to see the bright side of any situation.

He married Audrey, who was a member of Inner Wheel, Ladies Circle and Tangent, who, sadly, died thirty years ago.  He was also a great family man and had two daughters who he enjoyed visiting.  They are married and both live 200 miles or so from Wigan, one in the north east and the other in the south east of England, and he also had two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  As a family they were very keen caravanners, travelling all over England and he loved exchanging stories about their adventures with members of the club.

In recent times, before lockdown, health issues meant he could no longer drive making it difficult for him to attend Rotary meetings and several members took it in turns to bring him.  His sense of humour never waned and he kept cheerful under great duress.  He will be greatly missed and will not be forgotten by those who had the privilege to know him.

'What We Do' Main Pages:

An invitation to speak to Wigan Rotary members at Community Day

more  

Long service certificates

more  

The Wigan Club announces sad news

more  

Quiz winners and answers

more  

This is the second year the Rotary Clubs of Leigh and Wigan have combined to collect unwanted hospital equipment

more  
Picture of Barbara Nettleton receiving a cheque from Wigan Rotary Club.

Wigan Rotary thanked Sunshine House for their support in helping to collect unwanted hospital equipment

more  

The winners of this year's competition join Rotary at their weekly meeting

more  

A new initiative from Wigan Rotary

more  

Images from Wigan Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations.

more  

A Community Circle is a way to support someone through bringing together friends, family and neighbours with a facilitator, supporting conversations that lead to action and help people to live better, happier lives.

more  
Rotary tree planters

Rotary tree planting in Standish

more  

If you feel you can contribute please follow the link to our JustGiving page. Any problems just search JustGiving.com and type Wigan Rotary Club Trust Fund. Thank you for your continued support

more  

What has been happening at Wigan Rotary

more  

23rd February is the 'birthday ' of Rotary International

more  
Photograph shows Mervyn with his chain of office thanking retiring President John Wright​

Wigan Rotary Club Presidential Handover

more  
Rtn John Coupe has been a member for 45 years

Wigan Rotary recognises service

more  

The Rotary Club provides details of helplines for anyone affected

more  

The annual event just got bigger

more  

High School speaking competition

more  

Wigan Rotary gives a helping hand to playgroups

more  

The generous giving by the people of Wigan meant Rotary could help many groups of people

more  
Three new Associate Members with President Mervyn Reeves

Three associate members join the Club

more  

Rosemary Charles becomes the 96th President of the Club

more  
Jo Yates receiving the Wigan Friends of Rotary Certificate to acknowledge the work that Metro Rod do in supporting the work of Wigan Rotary Club in the Community.

Friends of Rotary Certificates presented to acknowledge the work that Metro Rod, Local Life and Westwood Motors do in supporting the work of Wigan Rotary Club in the Community.

more  
  The Winning Team Standish St. Wilfred's Academy PS Kieran, Annika, Alex and Grace

This year's winners attend the Club's meeting

more  
Where is Mother Christmas?

On each of the twelve days we are asking Where is Mother Christmas?

more  

Many, many, thanks for the generosity of the people of Wigan in helping Rotary Club raise over £15000 for good causes. Wishing you a successful 2017

more  

Images from the Day

more  
Young musician at the concert

Another successful music Concert

more  
Signing the Poppies

Wigan Rotary salutes the Fallen

more  

Saturday 1st February 2020

more  
Ready to get wet

Wigan Rotary Club and Golborne-Lightshaw Rotary Clubs jointly supported a group of young carers

more  
Thank you

Once again the generous people of Wigan have supported the Rotary Christmas Collection

more  

Wigan Rotary gives useful numbers in emergency

more  

If you feel you can donate please click on the link

more  

Rtn Philip Sudworth received a lifetime achievement award for his voluntary work

more  

The annual event to raise awareness of prostate cancer

more  

Wigan Rotary were represented in the parade to mark Remembrance Sunday

more  

Virtual tour of Victoria Hall in Bolton

more  
Stroke Awareness Day 2019

Rotary Club of Wigan – Dr. Venk Mani Stroke Awareness Day

more  

Dr Ananda Mukherjee clocks up 30 years in Rotary

more  
Wigan Rotary President Gwyneth Millard along with distinguished guests

Celebrating 93 years of Rotary in Wigan

more  

The organisations that benefitted from your generosity

more  
The winning Team  -Aspull Our Lady’s RC Primary School

The annual competition for Primary Schools The winning Team -Aspull Our Lady’s RC Primary School

more  
Winners of the 'Senior' section - St. Peter's RC High School with their Speech on the subject of 'A Work of Art'.

District heat of Youth Speaks held at St John Rigby College

more  

If you wish to donate please click on More detail to go to JustGiving page

more  

Over the years the hospital has loaned equipment to patients to aid their recovery and maybe now is surplus to their requirements

more  

Rotary's campaign against polio

more  

Delight at award of a Paul Harris Sapphire Medal to Rtn Stan Cooper

more  
The Holocaust flame

The World remembers the horrors of the Holocaust and Genocide

more  
The winners with the 'seated Dragons'  Aukje Clegg. Peter Cheetham and the President Gwyneth Millard

Success in the 'The Den' for local groups

more  

Wigan Rotary Club and Golborne -Lightshaw Rotary Club combine to give a group of Young Carers a day out

more  

Rotary gets Wigan singing

more  

Donation from 'Dragons' helps

more  
President John Wright presenting a cheque to Derian House

Money collected by Rotary is distributed to good causes

more  
Volunteers distribute well being bags

Wigan Rotary continue their support for Young Carers

more  
The marathon challenge

Why the challenge was important

more  

Local runners are thankful for help

more  

Long service certificate presented

more  

The Club loses another stalwart

more  
Mayor and Mayoress with the two teams, girls making up the Intermediate team, boys the senior team.

Youth Speaks Regional Final

more  

In a joint venture with Inspiring Healthy Lifestyle cyclists took to the track for Cancer Research

more  

The winning teams pictured receiving their certificates from Peter McGhee, Principal of St John Rigby College

more  

Rotary Club of Wigan–SANTA’S COMING DOWN YOUR WAY

more  
Whitley Methodist Pre-school

Wigan Rotary are able to help the small charities continue their valuable work

more  
President Gwyneth presents Peter with his certificate

Peter Ratcliffe received his 50 years Long Service Certificate from President Gwyneth Millard

more  

Help for Care Homes and Hospices in our area

more  

Annual concert by invited local young musicians

more  

Welcome Santa into your home.

more  

The 'soon to be' officially launched satellite group meet in the Park

more  

Rotary warns against online scam

more  

A look back at last year's successful competition and a look forward to this year's challenge

more  

Rtn John Coupe receives Honorary Membership of the Club

more  
Left to right  Rtn Phil Hirst, Cllr and Rtn Eunice Smethurst, Norman Woosey a member of the cricket and bowling club and Rtn Terry Hogan

Wigan Rotary meets RI President's tree planting challenge

more  
The winners St Peter's High School

Competition for local High Schools

more  
Rise Against Hunger

Rotarian join forces with Kraft Heinz workers to fill food bags

more  

24th October 2019 is World Polio Day

more  

Santa will be down Rectory Lane tonight

more  
The Choir in full voice

Christmas cheer for the shoppers

more  

Again Rotary and the Soroptimists join forces to help

more  

Wigan Rotary helps community groups after lockdown

more  

Members of Wigan Rotary joined with people across the world in remembering the victims of Holocaust and Genocide."‹

more  

Making Standish and Shevington dementia Friendly Communities

more  
Members of staff from Go Outdoors with Rotary President Jim Rawson, Soroptimist President Cynthia Horrocks and Trish Green, Manager of the Brick receiving the sleeping bags.

Rotary and Soroptimists help the homeless

more  

Photographic record of visits and presentations in January and early February

more  

Wigan Rotary Club helped to collect donations towards the Appeal

more