At a recent meeting, Rotarians welcomed Alan Strickland as the guest speaker. Alan talked about his involvement with Rotary Newton Aycliffe as a teenager growing up in the town and how this had inspired his career since.
Alan set out how he became involved after the late Syd Howarth led efforts to establish an Interact Club, a branch of Rotary for 14-18 year olds. Alan was the first President of Newton Aycliffe Interact Club and worked with other young people in the town to organise fundraising events and youth activities.
After Interact gave him a passion for volunteering, Alan explained that he went on to work nationally for Volunteering England and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations to help others become active in their community. Alongside this, Alan took on a community leadership role as a councillor and cabinet member in a London borough. He talked to the Club about the challenges he faced leading major regeneration projects and the lessons this offered for improving our area.
Alan thanked the Club for its commitment to young people saying: “Getting involved in Interact changed my life and I will always be grateful to the late Syd Howarth and Rotary. Rotarians helped us to learn by assisting our organisation of community projects with their encouragement and support. This grew our confidence, leadership and teamwork skills. It also gave me a lifelong commitment to Rotary’s motto of ‘Service Above Self’, which has driven my career ever since.”
President David Hogg thanked Alan for taking the time to come along to talk and for sponsoring the paint for the Rotary Sleigh last Christmas.
Photo left to right: President David Hogg, Alan Strickland and Cllr Eddy Adam.