Shrewsbury Severn Rotary club on brink of first ever female president
02/06/2026
Shrewsbury Severn Rotary club
A Shropshire Rotary club is on the brink of having its first-ever woman president.And members of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary already have their fingers crossed that history does not repeat itself.
For there’s a touch of déjà vu about Rotarian Joycelin Hoyland’s appointment to the role of the club’s first-ever junior vice president.
For former member Maria Jones was on the brink of actually becoming Shrewsbury Severn Rotary’s first woman president in 2024, but was unable to take up the position.
Now Joycelin, who is Chair of Governors at Shrewsbury Colleges Group, is hoping for better luck than her female predecessor when she becomes president at the start of the 2028 or 2029 Rotary year.
The club’s current president Johnathan Callwood will shortly be completing the first 12 months of his two-year term following a similar arrangement fulfilled by his predecessor David Morris.
Marcus Watkin succeeds Johnathan in July 2027 and he also has the option of fulfilling a two-year engagement as president.
Of her appointment as successor to Marcus in either 2028 or 2029, Joycelin said today: “In the words of the famous song, Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be - we shall have to wait and see.
“But whatever the eventual date, I intend to be fully prepared and I’m keenly looking forward to leading this amazing Rotary club forward as well as proudly following in the footsteps of many distinguished predecessors.
“As the club’s first junior vice president I am eager to learn more about the top role of president in the days ahead so that when the time comes I shall have a high level of preparedness to meet the many demands and face the inevitable challenges.
“It is a position I am eagerly looking forward to fulfilling.”
Said current president Johnathan Callwood: “Joycelin’s appointment shows that our club is progressing so well and we are so lucky to have such talent and experience to help bring much needed support and collaboration to the local community.
“The junior vice president appointment is a preparatory role for the presidency and therefore an excellent way for a future president to learn more about the Rotary family and to gain that important experience.
“As a newcomer to Rotary she is to be congratulated on stepping forward to take up such responsibility so early in her Rotary career and ensuring the club has a clearly defined line of succession which has the strongest ability to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
“It has been a pleasure to recently welcome on board a number of new female members as well as female corporate members and I am confident this exciting trend will continue well into the future.”
If you would like information on joining the club then please contact president@shrewsburyrotary.co.uk
or use the contact link in the home page
