New Club Secretary announced for club
14/09/2026
ROTARY ANNOUNCES SUCCESSOR TO LONG-TIME SECRETARY
A Shropshire Rotary club has successfully found a successor to its long-time secretary who has very recently retired.
John Yeomans, a past president of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club, has taken on the demanding role from Gareth Watkins who decided that after 11 years 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 today: “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.”
He was chairman of the Friends of Heaton Moor Park which led to him becoming a Rotarian and actively participating in the local community.
His past roles in Rotary include a year as president of the Rotary Club of Stockport Lamplighter in 2002. He was district protection officer in District 1050 for six years and was also heavily involved in community work in Stockport.
Since joining Shrewsbury Severn Rotary, he has not only filled the office of president in 2021, but also the role of organising Christmas events for elderly residents in the town since 2015.
Earlier in his life, he was a boarding pupil at Kingsland Grange Preparatory School in Shrewsbury for four years when he got to know the town well.
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.”
He was a police officer prior to his retirement and his wife Carole also supports Rotary activities in a voluntary capacity.
The couple have a son and two daughters and two grandsons.
Said Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club president Johnathan Callwood: “Gareth’s service to the club has been immense and I did wonder how we would fill his role.
“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."
Anyone wishing to know more about Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club can contact president@shrewsburyrotary.co.
A Shropshire Rotary club has successfully found a successor to its long-time secretary who has very recently retired.
John Yeomans, a past president of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club, has taken on the demanding role from Gareth Watkins who decided that after 11 years 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 today: “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.”
He was chairman of the Friends of Heaton Moor Park which led to him becoming a Rotarian and actively participating in the local community.
His past roles in Rotary include a year as president of the Rotary Club of Stockport Lamplighter in 2002. He was district protection officer in District 1050 for six years and was also heavily involved in community work in Stockport.
Since joining Shrewsbury Severn Rotary, he has not only filled the office of president in 2021, but also the role of organising Christmas events for elderly residents in the town since 2015.
Earlier in his life, he was a boarding pupil at Kingsland Grange Preparatory School in Shrewsbury for four years when he got to know the town well.
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.”
He was a police officer prior to his retirement and his wife Carole also supports Rotary activities in a voluntary capacity.
The couple have a son and two daughters and two grandsons.
Said Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club president Johnathan Callwood: “Gareth’s service to the club has been immense and I did wonder how we would fill his role.
“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."
Anyone wishing to know more about Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club can contact president@shrewsburyrotary.co.
