Richard Backwell awarded Paul Harris Fellow

Richard Backwell – Paul Harris Fellow

Rotary founded in Chicago by the late Paul P Harris a Chicago lawyer.Lonely in the city he wished to form a club for business men who had some use for each other beyond making money out of each other. On 23 February 1905 the first club was formed based on fellowship and meeting at individuals houses – hence Rotary

The Paul Harris Fellow was established in his honour in 1957 to express appreciation for the contribution to the humanitarian and educational programmes of The Rotary Foundation. 

Foundation programmes provide educational opportunities, food, water, health care, immunisations and shelter for millions of people.  These activities are funded, implemented and managed by Rotarians and Rotary Clubs around the globe. 

A Paul Harris Fellow is to recognise a person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives and mission of The Rotary Foundation

Therefore it can be made to a Rotarian or a non-Rotarian.  In this case it is someone from the community who clearly shares our values and has worked very closely with us.

There are three emblems of a Paul Harris Fellow: the certificate, a lapel pin and medallion. 

The Certificate states that a person is named a Paul Harris Fellow “in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations between the peoples of the world.” 

This person awarded is Richard Backwell.

Nearly 50 years ago he moved with his new wife to Zambia and whilst working at an outward bound school set up and ran a junior football team

Later whilst in Bovington he took Junior Leaders abroad on outward bound courses, again in his own time, to places such as Borneo and Belize.

For many years whilst at Weymouth College he took groups of Special Needs children on adventure trips to Dartmoor, Snowdon and the Alps

Later with Wey Valley School he became involved with the DES and took groups trekking and climbing in the Uk and the Alps and Pyrenees.

For several years, he has been a volunteer every week at Munstys to help children with special needs

He has been to Kenya with Martin Hastings to help with the school there

And of course, he set up the Okhle Village Trust in Nepal and has linked up with Wey Valley School, the DES and of course has worked very closely with Rotary especially the clubs represented here tonight.

The water projects comprised 12 Gravity feed operations, 3 Water Harvesting schemes and 3 projects where electric pumps were installed to pump water uphill.

Following the earthquake of 2015, we funded the rebuilding and re-roofing of 15 houses and 1 school at Samjur damaged in the disaster at a cost of £25,000.

The building of 2 Community Centres (£6,000),

Construction of village toilets (£2000)

Village Mothers Committees (£5,000) with Health and Welfare problems.

Far in excess of £100 000

A truly earned and deserved award