Rochdale Rotary's new President is serenaded in

Rochdale Rotary Club President Neil Helliwell with Ailsa Mainwaring and Ben Fisher

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A handover meeting at Rochdale Rotary Club saw the clubs new President Neil Helliwell being presented with his chain of office by outgoing President David Smithard.

Neil commented how Rotary was such a worthwhile service organisation worldwide and joining it had helped him overcome his nerves when public speaking.

He is looking forward to his year and his charities will be Mesothelioma UK (helps sufferers with a form of lung cancer due to asbestos exposure) together with Sand Dams, which is a water conservation scheme based in Africa.

Mr Helliwell said: “Rochdale Rotary Club has such a friendly atmosphere and I'm pleased to have the chance to carry the club forward over the next 12 months.”

The new President had a musical start to his campaign. Ailsa Mainwaring, who is a mezzo soprano opera singer from Littleborough, attended the handover meeting and in front of 40 Rotarians and friends she gave a stunning after dinner recital singing a varied programme ranging from Lloyd Webber to Schubert. She was accompanied expertly on the keyboard by Ben Fisher (a student at Salford University music department).

Ailsa has recently been awarded a prestigious scholarship on the opera course at the Guildhall School of Music in London and to help her on her way President Neil gave her a cheque for £250 from the club as a thank you for such a great opening to the new Rotary year.