We were delighted to welcome the third of three new members to our club last week during our regular business meeting. We feel this new recruitment reflects our club’s increased visibility within the community, our diverse activities, and the warmth of our members.
The first of our new members is Bettie Morton, MBE. Bettie was inducted into the club by President Maxine Blades on February 4th, with Rotarian Rosemarie Morton as her proposer. Bettie’s Rotary classification is Gallery Director.
The second member, who has chosen to remain anonymous for now, was also inducted during the same meeting. He was proposed by Past President Robert Yonge, who shared a few words about him.
The third new member is Aruna Jago-Brown. Aruna was inducted by President Maxine during our meeting on Tuesday, with Past President Richard Kemball-Cook as her proposer. Aruna’s Rotary classification is University Lecturer.
Each of our new members brings unique perspectives, skills, and interests, which makes us even more excited to work alongside them. We look forward to collaborating with them to make a positive impact on both the local and international communities.
Below are brief biographies of Bettie and Aruna. We are confident that all three new members will be valuable additions to our club, and we eagerly look forward to getting to know them better in the coming weeks and months.
Bettie Morton MBE
Bettie is a seasoned arts professional with over 30 years of experience in the cultural and visual arts sector, working in both the public and private sectors. After completing a diploma in the history of art, Bettie spent 10 years at the Museums and Galleries Commission (now Museums & Libraries Archive Council), before founding The Bettie Morton Gallery in Brixton, London. From 1999 to 2009 the gallery built an international reputation for innovation and community involvement, becoming a hub for local and international artists.
In addition to hosting monthly exhibitions, Bettie launched several community art projects, such as the Brixton Open Art Prize and the Young and Creative Art Prize, fostering social change and the regeneration of Brixton. Bettie also established the NU Origins Art Expo, bringing together artists from across the globe.
Bettie served as a Trustee for the Contemporary Arts Society and continues to hold an honorary position. In 2012, she was awarded an MBE for her services to community arts. Now based in Canterbury, Bettie continues her work in the arts as a writer and speaker, with a focus on art as a vehicle for social change. In September 2024, Bettie was elected President of the Canterbury Speakers Club.
Aruna Jago-Brown
Aruna has had a distinguished career, shaped by a diverse cultural background. She is the daughter of a dietitian mother and a doctor father; her father worked for UNESCO, which meant she grew up in several countries. Aruna has Brazilian and Sri Lankan heritage, and she says that her early exposure to uplifting medical stories in the Reader’s Digest got her interested in medicine and inspired her desire to contribute to the fight against cancer.
Aruna holds a first degree in pharmacology, a second degree in physics and natural science, an MSc in nuclear medicine and a doctorate in nuclear medicine. She specializes in nuclear medicine in the areas of radiopharmacy, radioisotopes, NM and PET scanning. Aruna is a senior lecturer in diagnostic radiography at Canterbury Christ Church University and Kent and Medway Medical School, guest lecturer at Exeter University, external moderator for the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine and, like several of our members, she is a STEM ambassador.
Aruna is also dedicated to supporting victims of domestic abuse. She volunteers with the Rising Sun Domestic Violence & Abuse charity and participates in the Phoenix Programme, which offers courses and support across East Kent. She has written a book, Stepping Away, focused on this subject. A second-generation Rotarian, Aruna is passionate about continuing the Rotary tradition and raising awareness of domestic violence, emphasizing that it can affect anyone, not just “other people.”
Picture (L-R) PP Richard Kemball-Cook, Aruna Jago-Brown, President Maxine Blades, Bettie Morton, PP Robert Yonge. Picture credit: The Rotary Club of Canterbury.
