DARTMOUTH Rotarians held their first post lockdown Civic Lunch at the Royal Castle Hotel, hosting many dignitaries from the town for the first time in three years.

President Nick Hindmarsh welcomed guests including Captain Roger Readwin, the commanding officer at Britannia Royal Naval College; Town Mayor Graham Webb and his Sergeant Ron Lambden; Harbourmaster Paul Britton; Andy Course representing St Saviours and the whole parish; Mark Strudwick, Lifeboat Operations; Town Crier Les Ellis; Dee Nutt of Dartmouth Caring; Ollie Abercrombie the new police sergeant; Dr Sophia Hendy from Dartmouth Medical Practice; and Coastguard Keith Langworthy.

In his welcome Nick Hindmarsh said: “This is a special lunch for Rotary and our first after a three year gap. The event in 2020 was our first event to fall victim to Covid. It is our way of thanking you and those you represent, for the work you do for the benefit of our community.”

He thanked all present for their help in supporting Dartmouth’s better health “in every meaning of that word - economic, educational, spiritual, personal health and development.”

He added: “Rotary is one of the world’s largest and most successful global membership and humanitarian service organisations, with 1.2 million members in over 200 countries. It’s 40,000 members in over 1,700 clubs in Great Britain and Ireland are volunteering their time and talents to tackle challenges at home and abroad in our cause areas, including promoting peace and fighting disease.

“These past two years have affected all of us in our personal and professional lives and made us re-evaluate what matters and how we work. That is true of Rotary too. We are working hard boost our activity to support where we can with our time and our fundraising.”

Nick commended the work the Rotary Club of Dartmouth was doing with the Reading Buddies scheme at Dartmouth Academy, picking up again after a long break, and said further work with Slapton Ley and the Academy will soon be getting going.

He said: “This month we have had two street collections for Ukraine, and raised over £6,000 to date, and later in the year our Summer Fete and Beer Festival return.”

“We look forward to working with you in the coming years. It is through partnership that individually and collectively we grow stronger.”