WITH the coming of the new Rotary year, the Hereford City Club, which was established 84 years ago, welcomed its new president, Judy Bolton.

Judy took over from the previous president Paul Morris on July 7 at the club's lunch-time meeting at the Bay Horse in Hereford.

"In the last year, the Hereford City club has raised over £25,000 for local, national and international charities". Commented Paul "and my thanks go out to all my Rotary colleagues for their help and support, and particularly Colin Hunt who has done a fantastic job as secretary and Heather Gorringe who won Rotarian of the year for her efforts in attracting new members to the club."

The first big event of this Rotary fundraising year is The Hereford River Festival which is at the Rowing Club on August Bank Holiday, August 25. The proceedings start at 10.30am with Dragon Boat Racing and culminates at 4pm with the Duck Race.

"Hereford City Rotary Club is a little different from the normal Rotary Club, for a start we have 46 members in our club aged from 28 – 92, we like to think that we are a friendly bunch, enjoying ourselves whilst raising tens of thousands of pounds for local charities and good causes whilst supporting national and international Rotary projects. It's all about fun and friendship whilst helping people less fortunate than ourselves."

Evening meetings include a speaker and members have been educated and entertained by a huge variety of people in the past 12 months. This year they have also visited their twin club in Tromso in Norway and they have also come across the pond and visited Hereford. A group of us also went to India to help immunise 100 million people against polio, one of the most incredible experiences in many members' lives. Evening meetings are from 6.30pm until 9pm and lunchtime 12.30pm until 2pm and all are held at the Bay Horse in Hereford.

If you want to have fun and make lasting friendships with an amazing bunch of local business people whilst helping people more fortunate than you then Hereford City Rotary Club is the place for you.

Why not find out more about our members and what we get up to by visiting www.HerefordRotary.co.uk and if you think you would be interested in joining, please contact membership chairman Heather Gorringe on 01981 500391 or e-mail heather@wigglywigglers.co.uk.