Norfolk born and bred, Ted is
approaching retirement after nearly 39 years with Barclays Bank, latterly as a
Corporate Business Manager but with a specialisation in Agriculture some 5 years
ago - an intended sinecure which misfired into a very demanding role!
Ted Lives near Norwich with Lynda, and retains close links with both the City
and Great Yarmouth.
A Past President of Great Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce, and of Great Yarmouth
Marketing Initiative (GYMI), an original executive member of Shaping the
Future, and a keen member of the Strangers Club in Norwich, he is looking
forward to travel and golf as well as Rotary - when he finds some spare
time.
I have never tackled the Cresta Run on
my toboggan, but I guess it must be something like being President of Haven
Rotary: you leap on board and it’s a thrill a second ride until you almost get
the vehicle under control, and then you’ve finished.
Ah, the memories! I joined Rotary
unaware of the grand design that a new treasurer was required, and so almost
from day one, I sat on the top table in that role, and accordingly, and
unfortunately, never served as a committee chairman which would have served as a
useful primer for the challenges to come. Well yes, there was Club Service, but
that was at the time structured as a rehearsal for the Council Meeting and
involved very little original thought.
After
that, I stumbled through the roles of Junior and Senior Vice under capable
Presidents who seemed to know what they were doing, and seldom required any
assistance (or so I thought) and then suddenly, the presidential ribbon was
thrust around my neck and I was ready to embark on a journey into space – or
rather, gaffes.
Fortunately,
like my predecessors, I quickly discovered that our excellent, patient and long
serving secretary, Tony King, was really the puppet master and so I quickly
became Sooty to his Harry Corbett as he carefully manipulated me – and steered
the club- in the right direction.
Mind
you, Haven is a bit special and prospers through wonderful banter. The president
is fair game and generally the butt of this repartee. Every president in my
recollection has been systematically ambushed and goaded to the brink of despair
before the members pull back; safe in the knowledge that another leader has
finally been licked into shape. And I was no exception.
There
are so many highlights that blur into the past and which I will not recount but
the Club did raise over £5000 for the Kosovo Appeal, we won the District
Foundation award as a consequence, and a successful and enjoyable District
Conference was held at Potters in Hopton. And
there were the dodgy bits that seemed like penury - like the futility of
spending hours with Tony, revising the Club’s by-laws, (within the spirit of
Rotary ideals). A revision of the rules that could be approved, adopted and then
conveniently ignored anytime thereafter as it suits the Club. Yes, I was set up
again, even at the end of my year!
But
come the crunch, here is a club of friends, ready to support their president
through thick and thin, and woe betide any unwanted incursions by the hierarchy
or indeed any other outsiders. Fellowship First epitomised!
I had a wonderful year
personally and can only hope my friends will reflect that I passed the baton
safely to my successor, with the club having achieved a little more, and grown
ever closer, life enriched by the experience.
Email:
Ted
Witton
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