Unsung heroes who helped Swanage and Purbeck Rotary raise more than £33,000 for charity in 2024 were recognised at an emotional evening of celebration.
The event was held at The Swanage School on Wednesday 5th March 2025 with invited guests from Swanage and Purbeck businesses, clubs and organisations, alongside guest of honour Swanage town mayor Tina Foster.
Outgoing Rotary President Maggie Hardy, pictured with David Pike, paid a moving tribute to long serving member Sue Whitton who died recently
Heartfelt tribute to Sue Whitton
Short video presentations were screened to demonstrate the breadth of Swanage Rotary’s community, international and youth projects which have all been boosted over the last year by their fundraising.
Highlights of the evening included an award of £1,500 to the Swanage Skate Park, bringing the amount raised to almost halfway towards their target of £200,000, and one of £1,700 for Purbeck Youth Music to allow local children to attend a Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra concert.
Jacob and Reuben, students from The Swanage School, gave a presentation on the school’s robotics project which was supported by sponsorship from Swanage Rotary’s youth committee
But the most moving part of the event was a heartfelt tribute paid to long serving Rotarian Sue Whitton, who recently died after more than four decades of fundraising and charity work in Swanage.
Sue Whitton (right) in the tea tent at the Rotary summer fete in 2023, with fellow Rotarian Mary Pike (left)
“We are very proud she was one of us”
Swanage and Purbeck Rotary president Maggie Hardy said:
“Service Above Self is our Rotary motto and it seems very appropriate to celebrate a Rotary life well lived this evening whilst also acknowledging the tremendous role our friend Sue Whitton has played in this community since she came to live in Swanage in 1977.
“Sue and her Rotary friend Mary Pike have, amongst other things, run a Christmas pop up shop raising over £25,000 in the last five years for international charities, selling their delicious cakes, puddings and Christmas goodies.
“It now seems appropriate to discontinue the shop in this format, as the pair of them were the shop!
“Sue was a very special lady who was actively working for Rotary right up until the end and will be greatly missed by so many people particularly here within Swanage and Purbeck Rotary where we are very proud that she was one of us.”
Mo Andrews and Maggie Hardy present a £1,500 cheque to Heidi Florence of Swanage Skate Park
Over £33,000 donated to 25 projects
Maggie Hardy added:
“Our club has had a successful year raising a lot of money for Rotary projects both in our local community and internationally, increasing our membership, enjoying fun and fellowship and hearing from many interesting speakers.
“During the last Rotary financial year we have donated more than £33,000 to 25 organisations and projects both locally and internationally.
“None of what we do could be achieved without the help of many of you in the local community either in person or through your businesses, so once again a very big thank you to you all.”
International project leader Ali Arnold told the audience about Rotary’s overseas projects
Students Jacob and Reuben of The Swanage School, told the meeting of the robotics project Rotary has helped to fund
Those who go above and beyond
Rotary’s youth project leader Susan Treadwell gave an update on the major youth project this year – the donation of toothbrushes and toothpaste to all children at St Mark’s School and the pre-school to help promote good dental health.
And international project leader Ali Arnold described the wide range of overseas projects funded, including Smile Train, Mercy Ships, Shelterbox, Medecins Sans Frontieres and Rotary’s Christmas Shoebox initiative.
A regular highlight of the annual evening is the presentation of the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowships, the gold medal of Rotary, to some of the many individuals who go above and beyond in the local community.
For 2025 the first to receive a Paul Harris Fellowship was Deirdre Mersey from the Swanage Community Defibrillator Partnership for her tireless work for the charity, coordinating the guardians who look after the 48 defibrillators that are installed throughout Swanage and the surrounding area.
Deirdre Mersey (centre) from Swanage Community Defibrillator Partnership received a Paul Harris Fellowship
Helen Hardy was surprised by an award for the huge amount of help she has given to the club
New president’s plans for the future
Rotarians Sarah Randall, a volunteer at Swanage library, and David Pike, who has been a supporter of both Swanage Rotary and the wider Rotary district for many years, were also honoured.
And another Paul Harris Fellowship award was made to Helen Hardy for her tireless efforts behind the scenes helping team leaders with the extensive organisation and administration required for the very successful summer and Christmas community events.
To conclude the evening incoming president Bart Libicki outlined some of his plans for the future and said it was a huge honour for him to become president of such a thriving and welcoming club.
Bart presented every woman present at the event with a bunch of daffodils tied with a blue ribbon to denote Rotary colours in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Incoming Rotary president Bart Libicki said it was a huge honour for him to lead such a welcoming club
Further information
- Latest information from Swanage and Purbeck Rotary
