Guest speaker David Monument on his life at Lotus

Rotary Club members and numerous guests were entertained by guest speaker David Monument as he spoke about his career, particularly the time he worked in the Formula One team at Lotus. He described his first meeting with the team principal, the legendary Colin Chapman, telling him he was 'Living the Dream'. However, when he joined the Company he had been told by his manager at the time that 'on no account' must he ever speak to Colin Chapman, or he would get the sack. However he survived that incident and went on to great things with Lotus.

He played a key part in developing the Lotus Formula One engine, before going on to other projects, such as the engine for the Corvette ZR1, among others.

David found himself very adept at organising Christmas parties for the Lotus workforce, and made a name for himself in doing this for a number of years. That experience led to another different career in Facilities Management.

The audience was kept smiling as he interspersed anecdotes about amusing incidents, interspersed with very technical information about such things as compressors, camshafts, cylinders, RPMs and brake horsepower for the benefit of the 'Petrolheads' among us.

At the end of David's talk, he was thanked by Rotarian Shaun Yeoman on behalf of all those present for the great knowledge and entertainment he  brought to the Rotary Club that evening.