GOOD causes and a tireless community servant have been honoured by Rotarians in Ellesmere.

The Rotary Club of Ellesmere welcomed various organisations to its presentation evening at The Boathouse.

During the evening Dianne Harvey received the Community Service Award for 2018 for her work at Ellesmere Youth Club.

An Ellesmere Rotary club spokesman said: "Dianne has been a dedicated and enduring presence during the many years that the Club has maintained the existence of the Ellesmere Youth Club.

"Without two adults present, the youth club cannot operate, and Dianne has been one of those two adults unfailingly, from which many cohorts of Ellesmere youngsters have benefitted enormously."

The evening included the presentation proceeds from the club’s July Bell Boat Regatta, which raised £4,105.

Regatta committee chairman Geoff Corfield, said that there were two major beneficiaries of last year's regatta.

Sue Dewhirst, of CRY for Matthew, received a cheque for £2,100.

She said that the money represented heart checks for 42 youngsters at one of the regular sessions organised by CRY that are designed to identify cardiac risk in young sportspeople.

Of those, typically three might expect to uncover a serious threat to their lives.

Rotarian Ian Williams then received a cheque for £1,525 in his role as chairman of the Shropshire Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Ian said that the national requirement by RBL for money to support former service personnel and their families amounted to £100 million.

All the regatta money would go to Shropshire recipients. Donations were also made to the many groups who helped organise and run the regatta.

The club welcomed Mike Ellison and Jeff Hems of Inner Space Diving Club, whilst Rotarians Bob McBride, Graham Hutchinson and Ian Williams accepted donations on behalf of Ellesmere Scouts, Ellesmere Army Cadets and First Responders respectively.

Geoff announced that the main beneficiaries of the 2019 regatta will be Save the Children, the Isabelle Lottie Foundation and the Harry Johnson Trust.

President Ian said, “We have a wonderful local community, with very many selfless people promoting good causes in all aspects of its life. We can be truly grateful.”

The club expects to hold another presentation evening on March 6. when the proceeds of the 2018 Christmas Appeal will be distributed.

Ellesmere Rotary Club would like to express its thanks to the many local businesses and shops that supported the Appeal through sponsorship and help with its administration.

The Books of Remembrance were available to view in Rowlands Chemists and Tesco, with the latter kindly allowing tags to be attached to its Christmas Tree. Some money is still trickling in, with the total currently standing at £2,419-86.

All of this will be used to support good causes in the area.

DURING the autumn students from Lakelands Academy took part in a qualifying round of the annual Rotary Young Chef competition.

The club has announce that the winner was Francesca Roth, who will represent both the club and the school in the district final of the competition, which will be held at Stafford College on Wednesday, February 27. We wish her every success.

Anyone interested in learning more about the activities of The Rotary Club of Ellesmere should contact the Club Secretary on 01691 777178.