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Dinner in honour of P.P. Arthur Thompson Following the retirement of our Past President Arthur Thompson as Club Administrator - a post he held for over a decade - a dinner was held at the Institute of Directors on Pall Mall in his honour. Organised by P.P. Roy Standen with support from Janet Kirk, the event was very well attended. Tributes to Arthur's leadership and service were given by many, led by Past Presidents John Buchanan and Clifford Charles. Photos of the event by our Member Kiyohiko Tanaka can be viewed here . John Holman 4/9/1923 - 25/3/2008
We report with sadness the death of our longstanding Member John Holman, who passed away on Tuesday 25 March at Hammersmith Hospital, aged 84. Our Honorary Member P.P. Arthur Thompson writes: "John Holman was a very private man and we knew little of his personal life. Arthur Kennedy introduced him to the Club in 1991, having known him through the City of London Round Table and, later, the Association of ex-Tablers. John had formerly been a Rotarian in Ealing. "John's family originated from Devon, and that is where he wants his ashes scattered. He was educated at the Leys School in Cambridge and at Balliol College, Oxford. Commissioned in the Army during World War 2, he served in Nigeria and India, and, as a Captain, later became a member of the Honourable Artillery Club. He was a member of two Lodges, three Livery Companies - the Painter-Stainers, the Car Men and the Firefighters - and two golf clubs - the Royal Mid-Surrey and Worthing. "I have recently discovered that he was married to Elizabeth, who lives in Oxford, and has two daughters - one in Manchester and the other in the USA - and four grandchildren. "John practised as a Solicitor for many years in Ealing, specialising in conveyancing and probate. He was a very generous man, supporting a number of charities, and we can say he was a very regular attender at the Club and participated in House Parties and Leonardo events. He will be very much missed." New Administrator for London Club Sad as we are to lose the services of Past President Commissioner Arthur Thompson, who ably served the Club as Administrator for a decade, the Rotary Club of London is delighted to welcome our own former Member, Lt.Col Cyril Halstead, to take his place from 1 January 2008. Cyril is former Head of Fundraising of the Salvation Army, the twelfth largest charity in the UK, with voluntary annual income in excess of £35 million. A lifelong member of the Army; Cyril was Commissioned (ordained) in 1956, served as a corps officer heading up many local Army churches and being the ‘face of The Salvation Army’ in many towns and cities. Prior to his national appointment, Colonel Halstead headed up the Army in three of its major Divisions (Diocese) with responsibility for evangelical, social and welfare programmes as well as for the securing of funds and generating PR. Meeting the needs of a changing society meant the Army needed to restructure its PR and Fundraising functions. Colonel Halstead was appointed Head of Fundraising in October 1996 with the task of developing the Army’s income to fund the extensive welfare programme reaching people in all forms of need. His contacts with Rotary International commenced in 1971 when an urgent request was made for him to take charge of a holiday for boys from Ireland, planned and arrange by Rotary International (Scotland) at a Scottish Schools Camping Centre – a two week challenge in very many ways ! It was then in 1974 Cyril was invited to become a Rotarian in Glasgow at the Govan Club. As his appointments changed with The Salvation Army, so did his links with Rotary moving next to the Paisley Club in 1980; then on to Northampton 1985; followed by the Birmingham Club in 1990. It was then in 1996 Cyril found himself a member of the Rotary Club of London. Knowing at first hand the true worth of Rotary he is delighted and honoured to be appointed Club Administrator of the most prestigious Rotary Club in the UK. Having worked within The Salvation Army as assistant to PP Arthur Thompson some years ago in Glasgow, there are no doubts in his mind as to the tremendous challenge that will be his as he takes over the reigns of this task after Arthur’s most successful 10 years. Ray Wiggins We are sad to report that our longstanding Member and Paul Harris Fellow Ray Wiggins passed away at the beginning of December. As the Club's archivist, Ray possessed encyclopaedic knowledge of the Club's 96-year history and frequently contributed interesting articles to The London Rotarian. Accompanied by his charming wife Maisie he attended the October lunch with our honorary member Prince Philip. Ray was much liked and leaves a gap that will be hard to fill. Friends of Rotary The new Friends of Rotary Scheme has got off to a flying start with the following having joined the London Club's Friends chapter: Sally Muggeridge, Chief Executive of the Industry and Parliament Trust; Alderman Gavyn Arthur, Lord Mayor of London 2002-03; Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent of The Times; Peter Hargitay, adviser to the President of FIFA; H.E. Tanya Milasinovic, Ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina; H.E. Wolfgang Ischinger, Ambassador of Germany; H.E. Jan Winkler, Ambassador of the Czech Republic; and H.E. Jean-Michel Veranneman de Watervliet, Ambassador of Belgium.
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