Brian Corker PHF

Rotarian Brian Corker is a Past President of The Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street and, for the second time, was Club President 2010-2011.  On Saturday, 3rd May 2014, he was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Brian is a retired BBC TV Engineer and a keen 'Radio Ham'.

A Chester-le-Street man through and through, Brian joined BBC on leaving Chester-le-Street Grammar School, where he was recruited as “Engineer Designate “in 1959. He worked at Dickenson Road BBC Studios and with the Outside Broadcasting Unit, Manchester.

In 1960 he was moved to the newly opened BBC News Studio, Newcastle upon Tyne. In the following years Brian was instrumental in solving various Television Operational and System problems, which resulted in the BBC having a number of Technical Suggestions and Patents credited.

After successfully taking the BBC's internal examinations, Brian qualified as a C. Eng.

In 1969 Brian was appointed Assistant Lecturer and later Lecturer to the BBC Engineering Training Department, Woodnorton, Evesham, Worcestershire. At that time, Woodnorton was the only Broadcast Engineering Training College in the World; and he did a lot of lecturing in the 1970’s and 1980’s on Engineering and Operations. During this period of his career Brian was also seconded periodically to the Technical Investigation Unit at Television Centre.

Brian's broadcasting career also involved the Reorganisation of the Receiving Unit for Overseas Broadcasting on Ascension Island, Public Relations with the BBC Engineering Information Dept. and the introduction of Television Broadcasting for the Sultan of Brunei in Borneo.

In 1985 because of seniority, regular medical assessments were carried out in London, when he subsequently experienced early closure of his contract and was offered early retirement. Subsequently Brian's expertise was employed after the formation of a Technical Support Company for TV Advertising Facility Houses and Studios. He was also invited to Lecture at New College, Durham, on mathematics, advanced mathematics, electronics, micro electronics, computing and power distribution engineering.

All this came to an end in 1991, following a Hit & Run traffic incident; that sentenced Brian to a wheelchair for several years. However every cloud has a silver lining and Brian is thankful, for life with his wife Jean, and also as a Rotarian in helping him regain quality of life.

Eric Donkin
Rotarian Eric Donkin is long standing Rotarian with The Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street.

Eric is a Past-President of ProBus and a leading member of Chester-le-Street Methodist Church.

Alan Hedley, Past-President.

On Friday, 3rd March 2017, Past-President Alan Hedley became a welcome re-joining member of the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street.

Alan is currently the Club's Membership Officer.

Bill Holden PHF - Chair of Club Foundation.

Rotarian Bill Holden is a retired Pharmicist by profession and was President of the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street for the year 2008-2009. Bill is currently the Club Foundation Chair. 

On Saturday, 3rd May 2014, he was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Bill is also a member of Northumbria Branch of the Royal Society of St George.

Ken Jackson - Treasurer.

Rotarian Ken Jackson was inducted into The Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street on Friday 18th September 2009.

Rotarian Ken is currently the Club Treasurer, and part of his other interests is membership of the Northumbria Branch of the Royal Society of St George.

Jim Lawrence PHF.

Rotarian Jim Lawrence is a retired Businessman and a keen Rotarian and is a Past-President for the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street.

Jim Lawrence was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF) for his charitable work.

Jim was again Club President during the rotary year 2009 - 2010.

On Friday 3rd July 2015, Jim Lawrence was inducted as Club President for rotary year 2015 - 2016, his third time in office.

On Friday, 1st July 2016, Jim handed was presented with a Certificate for 25 years Rotary Service by Assistant District Governor (Group 3) Stewart Atkin of Rotary District 1030.

David Lindley PHF

- Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street.

David Lindley PHF was inducted as a Rotarian in the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street, on Friday, 3rd March 2017, by Club President Brian Straughan.

David was election Club President for the rotary year 2018-2019.

David was honoured by Rotary before he actually became a Rotarian, by being awarded with the Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF) for services to the community. 

(The PHF Award is Rotary's highest honour for 'Service Before Self' and can be awarded to non-Rotarians for work in areas where they distinguish themselves).

David received his PHF for Community Involvement in the following areas of concern:

• Initially a voluntary worker at Houghton-le-Spring YMCA.

• 1963-1967 Part-Time Youth Leader of Peterlee Boys Club (N.A.B.C.).

• 1967 -1968 Appointed Part-Time Community Centre Warden/ Manager at Durham Community Association.

• 1968/69 he was appointed Full Time Community Centre Warden Manager/Secretary at Durham Community Association until retirement in 2002.; was an Area Team Member and during his full time working career David acquired numerous essential academic qualifications

• Durham Community Association: Shakespeare Hall in North Road Durham City is a vibrant very busy Community Association offering a diverse range of Activities to people of a Ages: Culture and Gender operating 7 days per week.

• David was involved in working in the Local Community: Managing Staff: Health and Safety Etc; Fund Raising: Secretary to the Management Committee-I work with and for people. Working and involved in the local community.

• Since retirement in 2002 to the present time David has been voluntarily committed to Durham Community Association as the Centre Manager and Hon Secretary to the Management Committee-hence the reason he was awarded the PHF.

• Currently he is a Forum Member of the Durham Area Action Partnership and also a member of the Task Finishing Group-meeting monthly in Durham Town Hall.

Alex J. Nelson, BA, MBA, MTS, FCILT, FRGS.  Chair of Club International Committee.

Rotarian Alex J. Nelson was Club President during the years 2013-2014.  Currently he is the Club's Chair of International projects.

He is Stationmaster of Britain's busiest independent railway station in the town of Chester-le-Street, Co Durham. The station lies on the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh, and employs five staff booking journeys throughout the United Kingdom. It was unstaffed, derelict and unloved until Alex, after a career in the bus and coach industry and an entrepreneur in group travel, opened the station in 1999.

Alex joined Rotary two years later during the presidency of Rotarian Brian Straughan.

Although hailing from London, where he is a Freeman and Liveryman of the City, Alex is proud to live in Chester-le-Street and has done much to draw attention to the fact that the Gospels were first translated into English in Chester-le-Street (around 970AD), where he is now pleased to live. He is a regular speaker at other Rotary Clubs explaining how to save money on rail fares and telling the story of how he has doggedly held on to the internet name www.nationalrail.com against the machinations of larger companies.

A qualified transport professional, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Among his other interests Alex is a Founder member and Past-Chairman of Northumbria Branch of the Royal Society of St George.

Alex hopes that in future years it will be possible for other people to download his own brain to acquire rapidly his encyclopedic knowledge of all Britain's towns and cities and railways operating between them!

Francis Phillips
Rotarian Francis Phillips was inducted into the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street on Friday, 6th January 2017, by President Brian Straughan.

Fred Richards PHF..

Rotarian Fred Richards is a Past-President of The Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street and continues to be an active member of the Club.   He was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship for his rotary charity work.

Fred was Secretary of the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street for the two years prior to Fri 30 June 2107, when he stood down.

Fred Richards is a retired Businessman, having been a successful and well known Florist in the town for many years.

John Stewart - Chair of Community & Vocational Service/PRO.

Rotarian John Stewart was inducted into The Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street on Friday, 12th November 2010, and is currently the Club's Chair of Community& Vocational Service and the Rotary Club's Public Relations Officer.

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Brian J. Straughan: Past-President & Club Secretary.

Rotarian Brian Straughan is a Chartered Accountant in Chester-le-Street, Co Durham.

On Friday 1st July 2016 Brian was inducted as our Club President for the Rotary year 2016-2017, this being the second time he has held this important appointment.

On Friday, 30th June 2017, Brian stood-down as Club President, after as very successful year in office, and has moved side-ways to be Club Secretary, where his expertise will be greatly appreciated.

Brian is the Managing Director of B.J. Straughan & Co, finance, auditing and accounting professionals in the North East of England. Specialising in Sage accounts, they provide a reliable and trustworthy service to businesses across Tyneside, Wearside and County Durham, with many of our clients based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sunderland.

Established in 1994, as Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors, with practices in Chester-le-Street and Stanley, Co Durham, they competently handle a vast range of tasks and models, from personal tax matters to a whole company’s payroll, as experts in general accounting, tax compliance and bookkeeping.

From 2000 - 2001 Brian was President of the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street and subsequently was the Club's Treasurer for some years and former Club Chair of Rotary Foundation.

Brian is also a member of Northumbria Branch of The Royal Society of St George.

John Tootill - Chair of Club Service.

Rotarian John Tootill was inducted into the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street on Friday, 9th March 2012.  A former Army Officer, John is active in Rotary.

On Friday, 4th July 2014, John was inducted as Club President for the rotary year 2014-2015. 

Since then was the Organiser of the Club's 90th Anniversary Charter & President Kevin Jobson's President's Night on Friday, 25th May 2018.

John is also a member and Events Secretary of Northumbria Branch of The Royal Society of St George.

Tom Vout PHF - Club Auditor.

Rotarian Tom Vout, a former Head Teacher, has been a member of the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street for some 30 years and has been Club President twice in 1984 - 1985 & again in 1998 - 1999.  Currently Tom is the Club's Auditor.

In August 2015 Tom was awarded Rotary's highest award, a Paul Harris Fellowship. Currently Tom is Club Auditor.

Bob Watson BEM, PHF.

Rotarian Bob Watson is a Past-President of The Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street and a Paul Harris Fellow.

A retired Head Teacher, Bob, is a renowned and talented Musician, and a Trustee of the James Etherington Music Awards, an annual competion for aspiring young Musicians in the Chester-le-Street area and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street.

In 2013 in Her Majesty The Queen's New Year's Honours List, Bob was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his service to Education, Music and Charity in the Chester-le-Street Community.

Linda Watson PHF - President of the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street 2019-20

 Rotarian Linda Watson became the first lady member of The Rotary Club of Chester-Le-Street on Friday 9th January 2009, and  was President of the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street for the rotary year 2012-2013..

On Friday,5th July 2019, she was inducted for the second time as President of the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street for the rotary year 2019-2020..

Linda is a retired Teacher and has been and still is, after many years, the Producer/Director of the well respected amateur theatre/drama group 'Youth Connection' Theatre Company, a local charity. For her dedication to drama and theatre, within the local community, nationally and internationally, she was awarded by Rotary a Paul Harris Fellowship; the highest award in Rotary.

On Friday, 1st March 2013, Councillor Linda Marshall JP, Chair Durham County Council (DCC), awarded Linda Watson the Chairman's Medal, for services over many years, and several generations of school children, to education & drama for the benefit of young people within the Chester-le-Street community. The Chairman's Medal is the highest honour Durham County Council can award any of its citizens.

 Keith Willis
Rotarian Keith Willis

Keith Willis C,Q,S.W.

Senior Social Worker Durham County Council. Former Regional Director of Social Work for N.C.H. Midlands Region Manger Social Services North Yorkshire County Council