Museum display celebrates work of Rotary International

Local Rotarians swung into action following the floods of 2007, raising nearly £500,000, and more recently sponsored the clothing of Young Ambassadors taking part in the Clipper Round The World Yacht race.

“I think it is about trying to help people less well off than yourself,” said district governor elect Robin Mason. “We take elderly people out and give them sandwiches, tea, a singsong and a game of Bingo.

“One old lady said it was the first time she’d gone out since the same event last year. It doesn’t have to be big money, it is something where there is a need.”

Next September 500 people will be attending the annual district conference at the Royal Hotel in Hull, with events and business sessions at Hull Truck. “I thought it would be nice to have it in Hull,” said Mr Mason. “We have never had it here before.”

The organisation – whose best-known motto is Service Above Self – has 1.22m members worldwide. Rotary District 1270, which has 48 clubs and takes in large swathes of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, has 1,600 members, but despite the numbers involved, Mr Mason said it was sometimes regarded as a “secret society.”

He added: “We look on this as an opportunity to showcase what the Rotarians do.”