President visit for Rochdale Rotary

Colin Ince District 1280 Governer, President of Rochdale Rotary David Smithard, RIBI President John Minhinnick and Mayor Jim Gartside

Rotary top brass visited Rochdale last month, receiving a tour of the town and learning more about charity work in the area.

John Minhinnick, President of Rotary for Great Britain and Ireland, was welcomed to the town as a guest of Rochdale Rotary Club.

Members of the club described his landmark visit as an honour as he was given a tour of the Rochdale Pioneers Museum.

A spokesman for the club explained: “This is the first time in living memory that the Rochdale Club has had the honour of a visit from such a senior member of Rotary.”

Mr Minhinnick, of Scotland, braved the snowy conditions for his visit and also received a tour of the Town Hall as the guest of the Mayor, Councillor James Gartside.

Over 80 Rotary members and friends were greeted at the Town Hall, where displays of the club’s projects were on show - including the Water Conservation scheme, hanging grow bags and Friends in Mind.

A special dinner was also prepared, using only ingredients available when the Cooperative Movement started in 1844 including roast lamb and a ‘Pauper’s Pudding’.

Mr Minhinnick delivered a speech to the guests, urging Rotary as a whole to invigorate its service and adapt to new means of encouraging members such as breakfast clubs and internet clubs.

The Mayor was presented with a £500 cheque for his charities at the end of the evening.