I have travelled a lot in my job and, although the hours have often been very long, I have found the most rewarding thing is meeting people. Now that I am in Rotary, I find the same the thing happens. I am meeting people. Today, I met Kim who is from another Rotary club and in a short conversation I found myself on a journey full of interest. I asked him what he did and he said he was the Deputy Head of special school (which provides education for children with special needs - another interesting subject). But then he went on to tell me he was off to Egypt in 2008 to take up a teaching position in a school foundation where again he would specialise in teaching children with special needs. His accent led me to think he is from South Africa and indeed he is. He was in a Rotary club which borders Zululand. When apartheid ended they found their membership severely cut as many of the members left to go to Australia rather than stay in a multi-ethnic country. What did his club do? - they opened it up to all races and now that club has a majority of black members from different groups including the Zulus. He said it is a most exciting club and has a very open world view supporting Rotary International on its initiatives. In the club in Lewes he led the way to open the membership to women and, although a group of people left at the time of this change, he was firm in his belief that he was taking the right decision.

What an inspiring man, gentle of nature, quietly spoken but firm in his beliefs.