Borderland Rotary Club hands over presidency in record temperatures

Record-breaking temperatures provided the backdrop for a delightful evening at The Sweeney Hotel, where members of Borderland Rotary Club gathered for a lavish barbecue and the annual handover of the presidency. Brian Ashton officially took over the chain of office from outgoing president Steve Jerman.

Steve, an IT developer, joined Borderland Rotary just a few years ago after spending the previous 25 years in Boise, Idaho, developing innovative technology solutions.

Reflecting on his year in office, Steve said: “Although I was a little nervous about becoming president, I was very flattered to be asked. It proved to be much less daunting than I expected because I received so much support from fellow members.

“We’ve had a fantastic year, with the return of the Christmas Parade and a revamped Borderland Mountain Bike Challenge, which raised significant funds for the Air Ambulance and other local charities.

“I’m also delighted that my final duty as president is to present not one, but three Paul Harris Fellow Awards – Rotary’s highest honour, recognising exceptional service above and beyond the norm.”

One award was presented to club member Andy Boroughs for his tireless humanitarian work supporting civilians in Ukraine during the ongoing conflict. Further awards went to Mila and Alex, who run Shropshire Supports Ukraine. Their volunteer organisation collects and delivers donated equipment to Ukraine, with a lorry making the journey every month. Among the items donated by Borderland Rotary were six petrol generators.

“What a wonderful way to end my presidency,” added Steve.

Incoming president Brian Ashton thanked members for placing their confidence in him for a second time. Brian previously served as president in 2020, when the Covid pandemic severely restricted the club’s activities.

He said: “I certainly learned how to use Zoom during Covid, but unfortunately the club was unable to do very much at all. I was therefore honoured to be asked to serve again and I’m looking forward to a much more active year.

“We have a strong and stable membership, a programme of events and activities we can be proud of, and I look forward to making an even greater difference in our local community with the support of everyone involved in Borderland Rotary.”