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Kevin Terence Farleigh (1963 – 2008) Paul Harris Fellow, Past District Governor (d1290), Past President of Plymouth Mayflower Rotary Club As most people who knew Kevin will know, he was the sort of person who had his finger in many pies. I first met Kevin when I joined the Port of Plymouth Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1991. He had already been a member for a number of years although it wasn’t until he became President in 1997 that our friendship started to develop. It was around this time that numbers in the Junior Chamber started to decline and although we both worked to keep it going, as a fall back, he suggested that I might be interested in this group called Rotaract that he belonged to. And so I became just one of the many that Kevin introduced to the Rotary family. I knew from our chamber days that Kevin was an avid attendee of conferences as well as travelling overseas and this continued through Rotaract and Rotary. I have many fond memories of attending conferences in Poznan (in Poland), Santander and Barcelona in Spain as well as many here in the UK – including Banbury Camping Although when I joined Rotaract, Kevin had already moved on to Rotary, he was still an avid supporter of Rotaract, often being referred to as “the oldest Rotaractor” around and long after I had moved on into Rotary, he was still attending Rotaract conferences around the world. Kevin was well known in the Rotary world, with friends he had made from his days in Rotaract in far off places such as Japan, South Africa and Australia. Not everyone agreed with his approach to things, but no one can fault his commitment and enthusiasm to Rotary or to any of the causes he supported. I mentioned in my opening line that he had his finger in many pies, and the fact that he was hardly ever at home will testify this. As well as being a member of Rotary, he was also a member of Plympton & Plymstock Roundtable, the Wooden Spoon Society and several other organisations. If he wasn’t at any of these, you could be fairly sure he would be at one of two other places – at a quiz or watching Plymouth Argyle. Kevin was well known around Plymouth for taking part in quiz nights – at one point, he would be attending up to 2 or 3 a week – along with his other commitments. And if you wanted to stand a chance of winning one of these quizzes, Kevin was always someone you would want in your team. This probably stems from the great memory he had for facts and figures. In all the time I knew him, I don’t think I ever saw him write a telephone number down – he would just remember it. As mentioned above, apart from Rotary, his other big love was that for the “Green Army” – Plymouth Argyle FC – well I guess someone had to support them! He was a season ticket holder for many years and before the redevelopment of the “Theatre of Greens”, i.e. Home Park, he would stand in the Devonport End cheering his team on through thick and thin as well as travelling many miles to watch them play away from home. That was devotion for you! Kevin was a true Plymothian, and as well as Argyle he was also an avid supporter of Plymouth Albion RFC – where he was an occasional match day steward and Plymouth Devils Speedway team. In fact he was passionate about most sports and we shared many an hour (and good time) watching rugby on the TV (usually in a bar somewhere) or at Twickenham and Cardiff. So what other memories do I have? To be honest there are probably too many to record here and I am sure we all have many of our own memories of him. Most of us will share his uncanny ability to fall asleep almost anywhere, at anytime. I recall many people telling stories of him falling asleep with the disco blaring away at a dinner – I even saw him once fall asleep surrounded by almost 70,000 people at Twickenham prior to an England v Australia rugby international! But I suppose I will remember him more for his great friendship. His knowledge and enthusiasm for Rotary will be sorely missed and his untimely passing leaves a massive hole in not just the Rotary family but in the hearts of everyone who knew him. Yes at times he could be a pain – but who isn’t? But as those who attended his funeral will testify, he had a heart of gold and more often than not would put others before himself and worked tirelessly to help those in a less fortunate position than himself – hence his involvement in so many different organisations. He was a larger than life character who left an impression wherever he went. Kevin, we’ll miss you mate! Darren Hands, District 1290 Communications Chairman Article reproduced with kind permission from the Rotary D1290 Newsletter
Have your say...... If you have any articles or stories that you think other clubs may be interested in, please send them to me, the Newswire Editor, at editor@rotaract.org.uk). Please send your articles and photos no later than 15th November 2008 RGBI Chairman 2008/09 Keith Pickles Email: chairman@rotaract.org.uk Website: www.rotaract.org.uk The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of the Exec. Team or the Council of Rotaract in Great Britain & Ireland. TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More Dates for your diaries.... 16th November 2008 RGBI Council Meeting (Bournemouth) 1st March 2009 RGBI Council Meeting (District 1140) 25-26 April 2009 RIBI Conference, Edinburgh 1-4 May 2009 RGBI Conference, Cardiff 3rd May 2009 RGBI Council Meeting (Cardiff) 14th June 2009 RGBI Council Meeting (Edinburgh) 18-20 June 2009 Rotaract PreConvention, Birmingham 21-24 June 2009 RI 100th Convention, Birmingham The 2008/9 Rotaract in Great Britain & Ireland Executive Team Role Name, Club & District Contact Email Chairman Keith Pickles (Hart & Rushmoor 1140) chairman@rotaract.org.uk Administrator Claire Seale (Edinburgh 1020) rgbi.admin@rotaract.org.uk Treasurer Andrew King (Carmarthen 1150) treasurer@rotaract.org.uk International Claire Tennant (Deben 1080) international@rotaract.org.uk Extension Martin Coates (Liverpool Hope 1180) membership@rotaract.org.uk Rotary Liaison Richard Burnett (Westbourne 1110) rotary@rotaract.org.uk Past Chairman Paul Simon (Colchester 1240) pastchairman@rotaract.org.uk
Page 1 and 2: From the Exec. Team An update from
Page 3 and 4: Membership & Extension Officer - Ma
Page 5 and 6: RGBI News Update Organising a Chari
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