Handover Meeting with partners. 6.45 for 7pm

Due to the resignation of our Senior Vice-President 6 months ago, President Steve Davison had no-one to handover to at “Handover Meeting” 2025.

He was able however to install Colin Hornsby as Senior Vice President 2025/26 (Pictured)

As for President role, some of the previous holders of the post have stepped into the breach and will act as stand-in Presidents for 2 months each.  Steve Davison will continue until August and Colin Hornsby will start as President in May 2026, 2 months early.  The intervening months will be covered by Terry Williams, Mike Helyer, John Goodearl and Robin Elliott.

Past President Peter Hinton honoured for his remarkable service to Rotary and the local community

The Paul Harris Award is one of the most prestigious recognitions awarded by Rotary International.   It’s named after Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, and symbolises a commitment to Rotary’s ideals of service, peace, and global understanding. 

Our Club uses this recognition to honour members or community leaders who exemplify Rotary’s values.

Peter Hinton came to our area in 1972 when his Reading-based employer, Dunster Morton, asked him to open an office in Swindon.  This led to Peter and his wife Anne buying a lovely cottage in Eastrop, Highworth.

Peter's professional career as a commercial valuer and surveyor flourished and later he established his own business, Hinton Newport, with his colleague David Newport. 

Beyond his business achievements, Peter was deeply involved in community service. He joined Highworth and Cricklade Round Table, served as Chairman and later, on having to leave Round Table at the age of 41, he was introduced to the Rotary Club of North Wiltshire (as we were then) by Peter Clifford. 

Inducted by President Norman Freegard on 25th November 1985 (pictured), Peter served as the Club's President from 1993 to 1994.   A keen gardener, he likened the Club to a garden and said he would nurture existing ideas and plant new ones.

In Peter's year, the Club organised four charity plant sales, raising £4,109, and the Family Fun Run, contributing £3,800.  A successful first was a Charity Golf Day, organised jointly with Thamesdown Rotary Club (the Club we've since merged with) which raised £2,621 for the Prospect Foundation. Those Golf Days continued every year until the Covid lockdown put an end to them.

A second vote was taken on the issue of women joining Rotary.  It was rejected by 25 to ll.  

In accordance with Peter's wish the Prospect Foundation received major support and at the conclusion of his year he  presented £5,000 to the Foundation's new Hospice Appeal fund. 

Peter's contributions to Rotary and Highworth have been outstanding. He drove the Highworth Lion's minibus for many years and, as church warden, managed the million-pound update to St. Michaels and All Angels church. 

During his presidential year, the Club presented a Paul Harris Award to Mrs Freida Cox of Highworth for her work with St. John's Ambulance.

Now it was our honour to present such an award to Peter.  (Pictured with President Steve and Peter's wife Anne).