story by: DAVE KING

Rotarian Paul Denton took the opportunity at his investiture at Windsor Castle to ​tell the future King about The Rotary Foundation.

Paul Denton from Luton North Rotary Club was presented with his OBE by Prince ​William, the Prince of Wales.

The award was made because of Paul’s services to charity, chiefly securing a $1.1 ​million Rotary Foundation grant for the charity Mercy Ships to fund a new, state-​of-the-art CT scanner, and other vital equipment on board Global Mercy. The ​hospital ship, which has been operating off West Africa, brings free surgery and ​medical training in regions where resources are scarce.

The grant, awarded in 2020, was the highest in The Rotary Foundation’s history.

Paul said they had no idea who would be presenting the awards until they ​arrived at Windsor Castle. “Once in the castle, there were about 70 of us who ​were given a serious, yet delivered with humour, training session on how the ​ceremony works and order of service,” he said.

“But we still did not know which of the Royals was presenting and what questions ​they would ask.

“I was pleased to see it was William, Prince of Wales. He had 50 other awardees ​to meet on the day, but he still managed to give me undivided attention and ​seemed genuinely interested, asking about my Rotary work, mentioning my trip ​to Ghana. I was also able to mention Mercy Ships.”

It was a family outing to Windsor Castle with his brother John, daughter Sally and ​granddaughter. “My daughter Julia put the wheels in motion to initiate my ​nomination but sadly she died before the award was announcement,” added ​Paul.

“As we walked across to the castle we were greeted by many tourists, where we ​mingled and photos were taken. We felt like celebrities, well in a way we were.”

Paul reflected that the Mercy Ships grant galvanised Rotary clubs all over the ​world. He said: “I greatly admire the work of Mercy Ships and was thrilled to help ​them get the largest grant in the Foundation’s history. We tapped into funds ​from South Korea, Japan, New Zealand and all over the world. So many people ​got behind it. They saw the charity’s clear vision and wanted to help.”

Paul, a banker at NatWest for 40 years before his retirement, added: “The grant ​galvanised the generosity of Rotary, truly capturing hearts and imaginations: 31 ​Rotary districts, 341 clubs across the UK and the world – from Oklahoma to Seoul ​– all found a common cause to support Mercy Ships. I’m sure that’s one of the ​main reasons I received an OBE.”

Mercy Ships Chief Executive Officer, Joanne Balaam, said the charity was ​delighted to hear of Paul’s award.

“Paul’s commitment and determination to raise the largest global grant ever ​given by Rotary International of $1.1m for Mercy Ships will create change for ​decades to come. Women, men and children who have been robbed of years of ​healthy life in sub-Saharan Africa, can now receive the vital medical care they ​need.

“From all of our Mercy Ships volunteers and patients, we pass on a big ​congratulations for Paul’s well-deserved OBE in recognition of his volunteer ​services to charity.”

The royal honour comes just three years after he was awarded The Rotary ​Foundation Distinguished Service Award.

A member of the Luton North Rotary Club since 1983, he said he has spent much ​of his time as a Rotarian working with the Rotary Foundation, with its aim ​of ‘doing good in the world’. He was introduced to the charity just two months ​after joining Rotary.

After the ceremony, Paul and his family moved next door to St George’s Hall for ​photographs and later celebrated with afternoon tea at a Windsor hotel.

“It was a very happy day with many of my family present, and, it was the day ​when I told the future King about The Rotary Foundation.”