The Guest Night held on Tuesday, 8th November proved to be a great success. 76 Rotarians and guests arrived at the Dominican Priory on one of the first dark evenings of the Autumn, to be welcomed in to a haven of warmth and bright light!
A welcoming drink (efficiently served by Roger and Sandra Power) and everyone was soon at their place in the festive main hall, ready to tuck in to shepherd’s pies with mixed salad, provided by members of the Inner Wheel Club of Canterbury. Desserts too, served by Dining Committee member Gill Dixon, added to the festivity, along with enticing and colourful English apples, that had been ‘on the tree’ that morning and had been generously donated to us. The final treat was an illustrated talk assembled by local historian Derek Butler. He had willingly taken on his brief of presenting slides of Old Canterbury incorporating Past Presidents of the Rotary Club of Canterbury. It became clear that many had taken prominent roles in the local community – as we witnessed the visits to Canterbury by such dignitaries as Earl Haig, Lord Baden-Powell, Field Marshal Montgomery and no less a person than King George VI with his family. A vote of thanks on behalf of the Club was given by Rotn. Roger Bickerton, a true Canterburian.
The Rotary Club of Canterbury is now in its 90th year and will be celebrating its 90th Anniversary on Thursday 9th February 2012. President Harry Cragg had therefore planned the evening as a pre-cursor to that occasion, reminding members of the rich history of the Club.
At the close of the evening, the President was pleased to present Dominican Priory host, Don Beerling with a donation for the Beerling Foundation and a cheque was presented to Derek Butler for onward transmission to his chosen charity, Demelza House Children’s Hospice.
Photographs by Roger Bickerton
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| President Harry presents a cheque to Derek Butler | President Harry presents a donation to Don Beerling |
