Rotarian takes over secretary role after 11 years
John Yeomans has taken over as secretary of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club after 11 years of service from Gareth Watkins
A Shropshire Rotary club has appointed a successor to its long-serving secretary, who has retired after 11 years in the role.
John Yeomans, a past president of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club, has taken over from Gareth Watkins, who decided it was time to hand over the baton.
John was a long-standing member of the Rotary Club of Stockport Lamplighter before moving to Shrewsbury and joining Shrewsbury Severn Rotary in 2014.
Of his appointment as secretary, he said: "Gareth is a hard act to follow and I can already see the role is going to be quite a challenge.
"My 29 years as a Rotarian will hopefully help me along the way."
John was chairman of the Friends of Heaton Moor Park, which led to him becoming a Rotarian and getting involved in the local community.
His previous Rotary roles include a year as president of the Rotary Club of Stockport Lamplighter in 2002. He was also district protection officer in District 1050 for six years and was heavily involved in community work in Stockport.
Since joining Shrewsbury Severn Rotary, he has served as president, in 2021, and has organised Christmas events for elderly residents in the town since 2015.
John also has longstanding links with Shrewsbury. Earlier in his life, he was a boarding pupil at Kingsland Grange Preparatory School for four years.
He said: "I was brought up on a farm in Mid Wales and Shrewsbury was our main shopping centre. My wife and I then came to live in Shrewsbury on my retirement and knew it to be a lovely town."
John was a police officer before retiring, while his wife Carole also supports Rotary activities in a voluntary capacity.
The couple have a son and two daughters and two grandsons.
Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club president Johnathan Callwood said Gareth's service to the club had been "immense".
"I did wonder how we would fill his role," he said.
"Luckily John, who is a long-standing Rotarian, has stepped up. He brings wisdom, experience and passion to the role.
"I count him as a good friend and great mentor and he does us great service by stepping into Gareth's shoes."