DEDICATED club member Philip Day became the second person to receive a prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award this year.
Eric Meanock received his award the club’s Charter Night in March but Philip missed out on the occasion as he was supporting his wife Elaine, who this year has been the Inner Wheel District Chairman 2017 – 2018.
Instead, the club surprised Philip at their next meeting and again Peter Shrigley PHF read out the citation explaining why Philip had been honoured with the award.
‘Philip was born the second child to Geoffrey and Madge Day in 1956 and has both lived and worked at Hanging Chadder Farm ever since.
‘Educated firstly at Downey House, then St Paul’s and subsequently at Chadderton Grammar School, Philip demonstrated an early aptitude for all things practical.
‘Given a family background of farming, it was of no surprise that Philip on leaving school went to Agricultural College in Grantham, Lincolnshire.
‘Philip’s keenness on engines developed further when, as a member of the Young Farmers he began driving tractors and became the youngest National Tractor Driving Champion.
‘This interest endures to the present day as he builds tractors, mainly David Brown’s, drives them and shows them.
‘His mother always observed that he and his brothers were very complementary on the farm as Philip focused on repairing and maintaining the machinery whilst they cared for the livestock!
‘Philip married Elaine in 2005 and between them they have four sons, a daughter and a grandson.
‘His latest projects are likely to feature a rocking tractor and tractor bed for his grandson Larry.
‘It was probably only a matter of time before Philip followed his father Geoffrey into Rotary.
‘I recall his father as being a quiet man of great integrity and a strong commitment to public service. It was a privilege for me to present him with a Paul Harris Fellowship in 1998.
‘Philip became a Rotarian in April 2007 and has continued his father’s good works, using his Rotary membership as a platform to undertake a wide variety of voluntary activities.
‘Always interested in engineering and being of an inventive nature Philip joined other engineers in a group known as REMAP, making adaptations for disabled folk to enable them to manage daily living tasks more easily.
‘Having fulfilled all the principal roles within the Club, not least serving as President in 2011/12, his life within Rotary has expanded beyond Club membership.
“He is well known across the Rotary District 1285 currently being a member of the Summer Camp Committee and an Assistant District Governor.
‘In recognition of his community service and his wider involvement in the Rotary movement, it is the wish of fellow members that he be awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship and a unique experience for me to have played a part in the presentation of such an award to both father and son.’