AIREBOROUGH Rotary’s first female President Heather Read knew immediately whom she would like to invite as guest speaker for the club’s 64th Charter and her choice proved an undoubted winner.

It is 18 years since the Alternative W.I. calendar, approved at Head Office 'because it was local and would be small' first saw the light of day in the Devonshire Arms, Cracoe. Tricia Stewart brought the story up to date in a hilarious account packed with northern humour bringing gales of laughter from a capacity audience. She reminded us that it all began with 1,000 calendars printed to sell at £5 each and raise £5000 for Leukaemia Research. Since then it has passed through various phases of several calendars, the Movie, the Stage Show and Calendar Girls – the Musical (who is this Barry Garlow?)

During Questions and Answers Tricia felt the sum raised for the charity so far was around £5m.

District Governor Robert Morphet, in proposing the toast to the Rotary Club of Aireborough, recounted the club’s successes over the year and President Elect Lynn Rhodes-Holme thanked all the guests present and particularly the members of the many neighbouring Clubs taking the time to share Aireborough’s Charter.

During the evening District Governor Robert Morphet also presented two Paul Harris Fellowship Awards. The first went to Andrew Wilson, 32 years a Rotarian, who has held with distinction many roles in the club, being President in 1995/96 before moving on to District positions, initially as Assistant Governor Leeds and currently chairing the Youth Service Committee. Proposing the award, Brian Hall also felt his having a telescopic ladder clinched the deal. Graham Davies then introduced the second surprise recipient Inner Wheel member Carol Hall whose design skills allied to the vision of a cartoonist has ensured that any flyer or poster advertising a Rotary or inner Wheel event will be imaginative, appropriately humorous and always delivered on time.