From Strength to Strength

Four New members in one Year

This has been a growth year for the Rotary Club of Billericay, with four new members joining us. In president Michael’s year the first was David Holroyd who joined us in 2022, and he was followed by Stephen King who joined in February and Bob Godfrey who joined in March.  This month, in president Roger’s year, saw the investiture of another new member, Nick Street, who was introduced to the club by Bob Godfrey.

David Holroyd

Roger Kettle introduced David by saying “David has had an interesting and varied career. He joined Social Services, qualified as a Social Worker and ended up as Director of Social Services in Basildon and London. In 1989 he set up and remains Managing Director of HCS Management Consultants.  Apart from business commitments he is also very pro-active socially.   A Member of Basildon Probus Club where he is currently Speaker Finder and the organiser of social events such as walks, lunches and visits to Jazz Clubs for like-minded friends.

David isn’t new to Rotary. He was a Member of Basildon Rotary Club for 35 years, was a Past President, and was involved in introducing Sand Dams to areas in India and Africa.  He has been awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship for his work.  Basildon Rotary Club’s move to an evening meeting schedule did not suit him,  and it was a sad wrench to leave.

He looks forward to being involved with our lunchtime Rotary Club of Billericay.
David will be an excellent addition to our Club.  It is with great pleasure that I introduce my friend David Holroyd to our Club and see him being so warmly welcomed as a new Member.”

Stephen King

Next to join us was Stephen.  Stephen is an “Essex Boy” born in Rochford and a member of Basildon PROBUS, where as he puts it “I spent a very enjoyable year as Chairman.”  He was also introduced by Roger, who said  “Steve enjoyed his career as an in-demand accountant working for local Government in Essex and London and was also a NHS Vice Chairman for South West Essex Primary Care establishment. Indeed he was so in demand he retired seven times but was always lured back.

However Steve eventually managed it, and was able to pursue an interest in history and in particular family history. He wrote and published a book “Humbugs and Doodlebugs”.  Steve is still enjoying his time at Basildon Probus and had a very successful year as President of that Club. We are very pleased that Steve has also now joined our Rotary Club and is already taking an active part.

Bob Godfrey

A month later and we welcomed Robert (Bob) Godfrey.  Bob was introduced to the club by David Holroyd who said “Bob is also not new to Rotary.  I have known Bob throughout my own Rotary career of nearly 40 years. Bob’s Rotary time has been even longer”, he said.  “At one point he was the youngest member of the Rotary Club of Basildon. Later he was, and remains, the youngest ever president.  He was also a Founder Member of Basildon Round Table (Chairman in 1973/74), when it equipped and started Basildon Hospital Radio.”

He and his wife Rose moved to live in Spain in 2000, where he was a founder member of the Rotary Club of Costa del Sol, and subsequently formed a PROBUS club there.  Now returned to the UK, David said of Bob, “I am proud to introduce a new member to the Club and I know from our long friendship that Robert and Rose will both be welcome and valuable members of the Club. I know they will be keen participants in our social and other calendar events.

Many members of the club already know Bob, both from times our two Rotary Clubs worked together, and from twinning trips to our continental Rotary Club friends such as Beausoleil in France.

Nick Street

In president Roger’s year, just as new member (2022) David Holroyd had sponsored Bob Godfrey for our club, on October 16, Bob Godfrey sponsored Nick Street.  In a brief summary of why he was recommending Nick to the club, he said “I am very pleased to introduce Nick to be a Member of our Club. I am certain he will be a great asset.”

“I first met Nick in about 1980 when he came to the Rotary Club of Basildon, having been selected to be part of the Rotary District Group Exchange team visiting Brazil. I was able to lend him a ciné camera to record the visit. He has probably visited more Rotary Clubs than most of us and is well aware of what Rotary stands for.”  “More recently Nick was invited to join the Probus Club of Basildon, where he has become an enthusiastic Member, is on the Executive Committee and produces ‘Trippers’, the monthly Newsletter.

Nick is a very good public speaker and has given several excellent talks to PROBUS.  Please welcome Nick to our Rotary Club”.
Nick was then invited by president Roger to say a few words.  He spoke briefly about his career in Town planning both as part of the local Council and subsequently in private practice.

We look forward to hearing more about his life and career at a future club meeting when he follows in other members’ footsteps in making a presentation to the club.

Bob then stepped forward and presented Nick with his Rotary Badge, and a copy of the new club Directory, containing all members, including Nick, was presented to all members.