ROTARIAN Bill Reeve-Tucker prefixed his maiden talk to fellow Rotarians and guests at a recent meeting of Ross Rotary Club with the statement that "you don't necessarily have to believe everything I have to say". His amusing and sometimes outrageously funny talk took the form of a gallup through his life starting with his birth in Kingston Jamaica where he was one of eight children.

He was a boarder at Downside School in Bath where he admitted his prowess was more aligned with rugby and cricket rather than academic achievement. Leaving school in 1966 he travelled back to Hong Kong where his father was Colonel of the Hampshire Regiment, but returned to the UK by ship a year later spending five weeks painting its deck.

Back in London, Bill qualified as a chartered accountant but not before he made the most of life in late 60s and early 70s London meeting and becoming friends with some of the personalities and celebrities of that exciting and turbulent time.

In 1982 he married Christine and they opened Hunky Dory and Cafe Rouge in Ross before buying Glewstone Court in 1987 and successfully running it as an iconic country house hotel for 27 years. It proved to be very popular place to stay and eat for visiting celebrities many of whom became friends of Bill and Christine. They sold Glewstone Court in 2014 and now live in central Ross spending time with their family.

Ross Rotary meets every Monday evening 6.30pm for 7pm at the Chase Hotel. Guests and potential members are very welcome. Please visit the website at rossrotary.com.