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 Night of the Rotary Club of Northallerton.
Northallerton Rotary Club President David Ison hosted the evening and welcomed the large number of guests. District Governor Richard Greenwood from the Rotary Club of Bradford West praised the Club for its achievements over the year and its active work in the community. President David Ison responded to the District Governor by describing several of the Club’s projects, in terms of supporting local community events, stimulating youth activities, international assistance, and fund raising for charitable causes.
The guest speaker was Tom Riordan CBE, who is the Permanent Secretary to the Department for Health and Social Care. Born and raised in Northallerton, after studying history at Oxford University Tom entered the Civil Service in 1990 before helping to form the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward in 1997, becoming Chief Executive in 2006. He was Chief Executive of Leeds City Council for 14 years from 2010, before taking up his current post. He gave an interesting and amusing summary of his career, and stressed his happy memories of his roots in Northallerton.
The evening included a raffle, with prizes generously donated by Northallerton businesses J Thompson Family Butchers, Fiori Florists, Archers Removals, and several Club members. A splendid £380 was raised, which will form part of a donation to the President’s chosen charity, Child Neuroblastoma UK. Neuroblastoma is a brain cancer in children which currently has no cure, and funding is critically needed for research and support for those families affected.
During the evening, President David presented the highest award in Rotary, a Paul Harris Fellowship, to Chris Johnson of Northallerton Rotary Club, in recognition of his strong support for the Club and its activities.
Photo 1: Top table guests, left to right, Polly Reynolds and Northallerton President Elect John Prest, Louise and Tom Riordan (guest speaker), Helen and President David Ison, Trish and Rotary District 1040 Governor Richard Greenwood, Northallerton Town Councillor Amanda Eames, and Northallerton Mayor Phil Eames.
Photo 2: President David Ison (left) presents the Paul Harris Fellowship to Chris Johnson.
