The Rotary Club of Northallerton

LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR TEENAGERS

An accomplished presentation from Becca Herod and Abbie Hodgkinson, who in July completed a challenging week of leadership and character-building activities, was warmly received by their audience of Rotary members and their guests.  The two students from...

THE KING’S MEN CAPTIVATE NORTHALLERTON AUDIENCE

The ancient setting of All Saints Parish Church in Northallerton echoed recently to the sound of sublime choral music.  An evening performance by the King’s Men of King’s College Cambridge featured a variety of pieces sung a capella – voices in close harmony without...

CANOES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS

Four new canoes and equipment have been donated to a special needs charity, Chopsticks in Northallerton, enabling the further development of outdoor education provision and supporting many young people with special educational needs to access the outdoors for many...

NEW PRESIDENT FOR NORTHALLERTON ROTARY CLUB

From today, the Rotary Club of Northallerton will have a new President for the Rotary year beginning on 1 July. After a successful year, David Ison hands over today to John Prest.  During his year in office, David has led the Club in several fund-raising...

TOP AWARD FOR CHARITY WORKER

A local charity worker has received a top award for her commitment to hosting children from Belarus and helping Ukrainian families seeking sanctuary from the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.  For many years, Alison Shepherd has arranged annual month-long visits to the...

MAGICAL BURNS SUPPER

Back by popular demand, a Magical Burns Supper will be held in the Yorkshire Suite of the Golden Lion Hotel in Northallerton, on Saturday 25 January 2025, at 6.30 for 7.00 pm.  Northallerton Rotary Club will host the event, to which all members of the public are...

CELEBRATING 77 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

Guests from across Yorkshire, including the District Governor of Rotary in Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire and the Mayor of Northallerton, gathered in the Yorkshire Suite of the Golden Lion Hotel in Northallerton for a black tie dinner to celebrate the 77th Charter...

LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS DEBATE MOBILE PHONES

Six local primary schools held a debating competition in the impressive surroundings of the Council Chamber at County Hall, North Yorkshire Council's headquarters in Northallerton on 17 October.   Chair of the Council, Roberta Swiers, was in the chair, and she...

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE FOR YOUNGSTERS

A large audience recently enjoyed an evening feedback talk from Josh Proud and Jacob Heys, who in July completed a challenging week of leadership and character-building activities, sponsored annually by the Rotary Clubs of Northallerton and Northallerton Mowbray for...

Northallerton  is a market town and civil parish near the River Wiske, North Yorkshire, England.

It is an administrative centre of the North Yorkshire District and has served as the county town of the North Riding of Yorkshire from 1889 to 1974 and of North Yorkshire from 1974 to 2023. The town lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It had a population of 16,832 in the 2011 census an increase from 15,741 in 2001  Northallerton is made up of four wards: North, Broomfield, Romanby and Central.

There has been a settlement at Northallerton since Roman times; however, its growth in importance began in the 11th century when King William II gifted land to the Bishop of Durham. Under the Bishop’s authority Northallerton became an important religious centre. Later, it was a focus for much conflict between the English and the Scots, most notably the Battle of the Standard, fought nearby in 1138, which saw losses of as many as 12,000 men.

In later years trade and transport became more important. The surrounding area was discovered to have large phosphorus reserves. These brought industry to Northallerton due to the easy trade routes. Lying on the main route between Edinburgh and London, it became an important stopping point for coaches travelling the route, eventually superseded by the growth of the railways in the 19th century. Lying in the centre of a large rural area, Northallerton was established as a market town in 1200 by Royal Charter, and there is still a market in the town today.

It continues to be a major retail centre for the local area. As the administrative centre for the North Yorkshire Council, and several other associated public sector organisations have their headquarters in the town.

 

Our President  John Prest joined The Rotary Club of Northallerton in 1995 following in the footsteps of his Father, W. L. Prest, Junior, a Founding Member of the Club in 1947.

He entered the family firm of W. L. Prest & Son, a well known local firm of Estate Agents, started by his Grandfather and Grandmother in 1926 from their home on Kelvin Terrace.  

 John was the third generation of the family to join the family firm in1963. In 1932, the firm moved to Stamford House hich has remained their office and family home ever since. John’s son, Mark, joined the firm in 2000, thus becoming the fourth generation family member. 

John has been active in local politics for a number of years including a term as Mayor of Northallerton, a District Council Member for 32 Years where he was Chairman of a number of Committees over the years and is proud of the fact that he is the on[y member to have served two terms as Chairman of the District Council.

 He is currently President of North Yorkshire Show, thus following in his Grandfather’s footsteps who was a Joint Show Secretary in the 1930’s.

John and Partner, Polly, enjoy living at Stamford House, spending time gardening, reading and walking.

 

With his late wife, Sue, John has a son, daughter and 3 grandsons.

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Photographs by Rotarian David Lock PHF copyright