A Paul Harris Fellow is a prestigious Rotary award, the highest accolade that Rotary can present to an individual. After an extremely challenging year, Rotary Newton Aycliffe wished to honour, with a Paul Harris Fellowship, those local people it deems to have given outstanding service to the community. Although the award is for individual service, Rotary Newton Aycliffe also wished to honour two organisations it considers have gone above and beyond the call of duty within their communities. Therefore, both organisations will be awarded a Certificate of Appreciation.
For exceptional dedication to Newton Aycliffe and the wider area, the list as per the photograph bottom left and clockwise, of recipients of the Paul Harris Fellow and Certificates of Appreciation are as follows:
Rtn Jean Thompson presenting to Rtn Pat Pickersgill.
President Trish presenting awards to:- Alison Firby and Kathleen Pinner of the Play Café and Rtn Geoff Batchelor.
Noel Scanlon, Executive Director of Nursing.
Allison White from Great Aycliffe Cancer Support.
Rtn Brian Winwood.
Pastoral Assistant Pam Lovelass.
Tesco Manager Darren Pickering and their Community Champion Shirley Cormack.
A book on the History of Rotary was also gifted to the individuals.
Alison from Play Café was overwhelmed and with her interpretation of a quotation from the Rotary book said “The children of Newton Aycliffe, and the adults who are also at risk, belong to all of us. Their problems are our problems, and we must work together to solve them. And because I cannot do everything, I will do what I can. It really does not matter who said those things or how long ago, it is true for me, and obviously for Rotarians.” Alison’s colleague, Kath told us “I love what we do at Play Café and it is so rewarding helping families in need. I never imagined that our work would be recognised. It is just us doing our bit.”
Allison White from Great Aycliffe Cancer Support was stunned and remarked, “This means such a lot to me and the other volunteers that we have been recognised in this way.” Geoff Batchelor was equally surprised when Trish presented him with his award. This is Geoff’s second Paul Harris Fellow which means he now has a bar with a sapphire blue gemstone.
A Certificate of Appreciation has been awarded to Tesco Newton Aycliffe, with our grateful thanks, for their commitment and continuing assistance to Rotary Newton Aycliffe and the community in general.
A Certificate of Appreciation has been awarded to County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust for their outstanding contribution and service to the public during the challenging circumstances of the past year. The Trust’s Executive Director of Nursing, Noel Scanlon, said, “We are incredibly grateful to be recognised in this way and are lucky to enjoy a close relationship with our local Rotary Clubs. Their support means a great deal to our staff and benefits our patients enormously.”
The awards were presented by Rotary Newton Aycliffe President Trish Pemberton and Rtn Jean Thompson, with a surprise visit and in an outside space at the charity/organisation venue. In emotional presentations across the area, President Trish praised the work of these people and their charitable causes saying “without the hard work and dedication of individuals and organisations like yourselves, our communities would be a poorer place. Because of you, we have a town and a region to be proud of and we need to celebrate our volunteers and community champions, which is what a Paul Harris Fellow is all about. On behalf of Rotary, thank you each and every one of you for your service”.
All recipients have been invited to the next Rotary Zoom meeting to tell members about their work.
