OKEHAMPTON Rotary Club has a new president for the upcoming year.

Following a dinner at the Adventure Okehampton facility, the Okehampton Rotary presidental handover took place on June 29. Outgoing president Rob Harman handed over the chain of office to new president David Potter (see right).

The evening was rounded off with entertainment from the Rev Stephen Cook who amused all present with his witty songs and anecdotes.

Rob Harman has had a very busy but successful year in office, starting the process of taking the club through a period of transition and recruiting new members while continuing to raise funds for the local charities and other projects supported by the club.

The one big disappointment was the May Fair which was rained off this year. However, members are working hard to stage a summer fair on Sunday, July 23 in its place, which will include the annual duck races.

Rob thanked the club council and members for their support during his year of office and he will now serve as treasurer for the coming year. Other changes see Richard Jennings take over as secretary and Maddy Carragher taking on the role of chair of the newly formed youth services committee.

Mike Davies becomes president elect and Hugh McPhillips president nominee.

In his address, new president Dave Potter thanked Rob for his hard work during his year in the post and also the outgoing treasurer Allenton Fisher and secretary Sarah Watts, who have both decided to stand down this year.

Dave said that he was looking forward to the coming year, pledging to continue with the work started by Rob Harman, and continuing to uphold the principles and traditions of Rotary.

Dave also announced that his president’s charity for the year will be the project being set up by James Stevens, first aid trainer Joe Rice and Darren Goodwin, who is a critical care paramedic, to provide additional defibrillators in Okehampton.

They are consulting the SW Ambulance Trust and the final project plan is nearing completion. The intention is to set up a local charity to take the project forward.

The charity, once in operation, will be looking for funding to install the defibrillators and provide monthly CPR and defibrillator training sessions at a cost of about £15,000 over eight years.

The training will be offered free of charge to the community of Okehampton.

The Rotary club meets regularly at the Fountain Inn for lunches and business, with an evening meeting on the third Thursday of every month.

There are also occasional information meetings when the Rotary organisation is explained to invited guests with a view to recruiting new members.

Anyone interested in coming along to one of these sessions should make themselves known to the president, secretary or any other rotarian in the first instance.