Southwell Rotary welcomes new president

BY kind invitation of Mr and Mrs Geoffrey Bond, Southwell Rotary Club recently held a private Garden Party for members and guests at Burgage Manor, the childhood home of Lord Byron.

During the evening Alan Hawkes was formally installed as President of the Club for the year that commenced on 1st July.

Pictured are Mr Geoffrey Bond OBE. DL; Southwell Rotary Club President, Mr Alan Hawkes; Mrs Dianora Bond and Mr William Brown MBE, the Immediate Past President of the Club.

Club members and guests enjoyed a buffet supper (provided by the outgoing President) in the delightful garden of Burgage Manor with its splendid view towards the hills beyond Kirklington. There was also a tour of the House, guided by Mr Bond, in which numerous items relating to Lord Byron were on display. This was an amazing collection of books, portraits and other artefacts, brought together, by an authority on the great poet, under the roof where he had once lived.

A collection made during the evening from those attending, resulted in a donation of £200 to Reach Learning Disability, a charity close to the hearts of Mr and Mrs Bond and one with which the club is proud to be associated.