Charter Night at Rochdale Rotary Club

District Governer Ged Etherington, President Neil Helliwell and guest speaker Julia Lee

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Over 80 Rotarians and guests attended a dinner to celebrate the founding of Rochdale Rotary Club in 1926, when the then President of Rotary International, Harry Rogers, signed the Charter.

It is traditional for the Charter document to be read out by the newest club member but in a break with tradition the oldest member, 96-year-old Rotarian Stan Fielding, was given the honour.

President Neil Helliwell commented that the last time Stan read the Charter at the club in 1967 was the same year that Neil was born.

Ex Rugby League referee Julia Lee, now a rugby league administrator, girl guide leader and street games charity worker, was the after dinner speaker.

Julia described her origins in Hull where she became keen on Hull KR and rugby league from a young age. From the age of 11 she went to matches, eventually taking up the game and went on to run a women’s team in the London area.

Her refereeing became more serious when she was in Australia where she got her refereeing 'ticket' and earned the respect of male players.

Her career was described with amusing anecdotes of players and games she supervised, ranging from her first game with an under 11s match through to international refereeing when Great Britain Women toured Australia and New Zealand

Her refereeing career ended with an ankle injury, sustained when a player ran into her on the field of play.

She still has a keen interest in the game and said she is pleased that there is much more interest in league rugby after so long playing second fiddle to rugby union.

Over £500 was raised on the night towards the Rotary International Philippines Disaster Shelter Box Appeal, allowing temporary accommodation and provisions to be sent to help homeless victims of the disaster.