Rotary honour for test-tube baby pioneer

KEVIN Moore with Rob Knotts, vice-president of Saddleworth Rotary Club, and Bill Bussey

A top medic who worked on the first test-tube baby project with consultant Patrick Steptoe has received Rotary’s highest honour.

Kevin Moore, former president of Saddleworth Rotary Club, was presented with the distinguished Paul Harris Fellowship by Rob Knotts, the club’s vice-president. Reading the citation, Bill Bussey, a former club president, said Mr Moore was only the 19th member in the club’s 36-year history to receive the honour.

Mr Moore, who recently retired from the Royal Oldham Hospital as a consultant anaesthetist, worked with Mr Steptoe at the former Oldham Oldham and District General Hospital, now the Royal Oldham Hospital, and later became medical director of Dr Kershaw’s Hospice. He has seen the rebuilding and restructuring of Dr Kershaw’s to make it one of the finest high-tech facilities in the UK.

Mr Bussey said: “Kevin has put service above self and has been totally dedicated to helping the community over the past 16 years.”

Mr Moore said: “ I have always held the belief that you should put back into the community what you have received from it.

“I greatly enjoyed working at the Royal Oldham Hospital over some 35 years with some wonderful people and gained much personal pleasure and satisfaction.

“My contribution to Dr Kershaw’s Hospice has been my effort to repay Oldham for what it has given me, and this fellowship, which I will always treasure, makes me believe that I have been successful.”

l Paul Harris was one of the Founders of Rotary and was very involved in the development of the organisation which grew from a single club in Chicago in 1905 into the global organisation of today.

The Paul Harris Award was set up in memory of his work to recognise outstanding contributions to the ideals of Rotary. It can be awarded by a Rotary Club to any person, Rotarian or not, who is deemed worthy of the honour.

The recipient is given a medallion on a blue and gold ribbon, a special lapel badge and a citation signed by the president of Rotary International and the chairman of Rotary Foundation Trustees.