Birthday bash for Rotary Club

DISTINGUISHED guests helped the Rotary Club of Crompton and Royton celebrate its 53rd anniversary at a special dinner.

The presidents of Oldham, Chadderton and Failsworth, Saddleworth and president-elect of Oldham Metro joined members and Rotarians from other local Rotary Clubs for an evening at the Bella Vista Ristoranté.

The principal guests were district governor Elizabeth Tatman, who proposed a toast to both Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Crompton and Royton, and Dr Paul Whittaker OBE, the founder and artistic director of charity Music and the Deaf.

In a hilarious but moving speech, Dr Whittaker outlined the problems of being born deaf. Despite his difficulties, his love of music led him to learn to play both the piano and the organ.

He tried for two years to get a university to accept him before eventually being awarded a place at Oxford.

After getting his degree he started to teach music to deaf children which led to the formation of Music and the Deaf, which has now been going for 20 years.

Hundreds of schoolchildren now learn music and he has even formed an orchestra made up of children who are deaf. Last year the Queen awarded him an OBE for his services to music.

Club president Peter Lomas said: “We had a splendid turn out of our members and friends from other Oldham area Rotary Clubs.

The contributions from Elizabeth Tatman and Paul Whittaker were very special and made it a most memorable night.”