Rotary rewards Graham’s service
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Dover Mercury chief reporter Graham Tutthill, centre, receives the Paul Harris Fellowship from South Foreland Rotary Club president Peter Sherred, left, and Calais Risban past president Frederic Sudant |
The Mercury’s Graham Tutthill has received the highest award a Rotary club can give to a non member.
Graham, chief reporter of the Mercury’s Dover edition, has been presented with the Paul Harris Fellowship for his work for his profession and his service to the community, church and people.
He received the award when he went along with his wife Jill to report on the South Foreland Rotary Club’s handover evening at the Dover Marina Hotel on Wednesday last week.
To Graham’s great surprise, halfway through the evening, outgoing president Peter Sherred called on four of the club’s past presidents to say something.
Describing him as a veteran journalist with a passion for Dover, Mike Taylor said he had constantly written positively about the town and its many challenges, and that his reporting had been “of a high standard in objectivity and balance”.
Alastair Lyon referred to Graham’s community activities, Pauline Goldsack spoke of the various tasks he and Jill had undertaken at the Beacon Church and Christian Centre, including Graham’s 50 years as organist, and Chris Harbridge said that over the years, Graham had helped many vulnerable people.
Mr Sherred said: “Many of Graham’s contributions to his profession, community, church and individuals have been carried out unrecognised and hitherto unrewarded. Throughout his life he has put service before self in his diverse activities which have benefited many people.”
Mr Sherred presented Graham with a framed fellowship award and Frederic Sudant, past president of the Calais Risban club, presented him with the badge. Jill received a bouquet.
Afterwards, Graham said: “I was totally surprised and had no idea this was going to happen. But I am very honoured to receive this award and thank the club very much indeed.”
■ Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary International and the fellowships are awarded “in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world”.
