Programme and Speakers

Our conference programme will include speakers highlighting the importance of building on what has gone before to make a better world including:

Martin Cosser, Charlie's Promise

Charlie’s Promise was created in memory of Charlie Cosser, a bright, kind and funny young man from Surrey whose life was tragically taken by knife violence in July 2023.

As Charlie lay fighting for his life, his dad Martin made him a promise — that he would spend the rest of his life educating young people about the dangers and immeasurable impacts of knife crime.

Robin Jowit OBE

Aged 88 and a member of Rotary Club of Kew Gardens, Robin has been to Ukraine three times visiting schools and children charities in Lviv, Kyiv, Kharkiv and Zaphorizhzhia.  

RC Kew Gardens have raised over £125,000 and, in all cases, Rotary in Ukraine purchase the items once the transfer of funds has been authorised.  Initially they supplied electrical storage batteries, laptops and basic educational items. however, with the benefit of further visits, they are now focusing on generators for small children’s charities, STEM items such as 3D printers, laser scanners and coding kits to educate a generation of engineers to rebuild Ukraine.

Yeoman Warden Scott Kelly 

Scott is the 409th Yeoman Warder, more commonly referred to as a Beefeater at HM Tower of London since records began. He joined in 2018 having served in the Army Air Corps as Squadron Sergeant Major for twenty four years.  In this time he served all over the world including tours to Afghanistan and Iraq. With vlogs and stories from HM Tower of London Beefy409/Scott has amassed a social media following of over 146,000 followers.

Famously introduced to the Tower of London by Henry VIII, today's Yeoman Warders must combine ancient traditions such as the Ceremony of the Keys with their modern duties as the public face of a World Heritage Attraction — including giving world-famous tours to millions of visitors each year.  The Yeoman Body of men and women are drawn from the Armed Forces. Each new recruit takes an oath of royal allegiance said to date back to 1337.

Scott is delighted to be able to share a thousand years of British history, his own experiences at The Tower of London and in the Military, his rugby career as well as his charitable work.

Dave King

Artificial Intelligence and our MASTER OF CEREMONIES

Dave has been editor of Rotary Magazine for Great Britain & Ireland for the past nine years. Besides editing the magazine, Dave also records a monthly podcast with Alicia Reade entitled Rotary Unscripted. Dave trained as a journalist, and has been editor of a number of regional newspapers across England. He is currently head of journalism, teaching at a London university. A member of Gosport Rotary Club in Hampshire, Dave has been a Rotarian since 2010.

Steve Martin QGM

From Broadwater Farm to Director

Steve was on duty in 1985 with Keith Blakelock in the notorious Tottenham riots when Keith was murdered by the mob. Only recently has Steve felt able to talk about that fateful night.  He will talk about that day and how Rotary helped his recovery; he will become a Rotary International Director on 1 July 2027.

Becky Thorn

Living the Dream

In additon we hope to hear from Rotary Global Scholars and a representative of the Jockey Club.  Not forgetting presentations by Clubs from the District introducing their Club projects.

Further information will be provided here as it becomes available.