Rotarian George Pendlebury has been installed as the Ross-on-Wye club’s 57th president at Wilton Court Hotel with 40 Rotarians, partners and visitors present.

Outgoing president Kim Hampson thanked the entire club for their support, especially those who had held office and undertaken projects.

He said: “I am amazed at how much we have done, the amount of money we have given away, the projects carried out and the people we have helped.

“The regular meetings have been interesting and varied, and we have played host to several senior people in the Rotary world, including the national president for Great Britain and Ireland.

“We have also had some speakers of international repute.”

George said: “I feel it a great honour and privilege to lead the club and hope I am able to get somewhere near to the success and example of the vast majority of the previous presidents I have had the pleasure to serve under.

“I am now in my 20th year of membership, and have got a lot out of Rotary during this time.”

The club is providing an opportunity for charities and individuals to raise funds for their own charities as well as for Rotary charities.

On Sundays, August 9 and 16, from 3pm to 7pm they are holding a swimathon in Ross swimming pool. The idea is for organisations or individuals to enter as many swimmers as they like, who will have obtained sponsorship related to the number of lengths of the pool they think they will swim, or the total they swim. From the total that each organisation raises, 25 per cent will go to Rotary charities and the remainder to that body. Clubs and organisations wishing to enter teams or simply individuals should contact Debbie Griffiths on 01989 567175, club president George Pendlebury at gpendlebury@gmail.com or visit Peter Baldus’s office over Cheltenham & Gloucester or Nina Robertshaw at Miles Morgan Travel Agents in the Market Place. Entry and sponsorship forms can also be downloaded from rossrotary.com to which clubs can add their own logo.