Letters
to the editor
Anthony Hopkins’ love of Tommy Cooper
Your article about Sir Anthony Hopkins taking the part of the great Rotarian, Sir Nicholas Winton, in the film ‘One Life’ brought back many happy memories. During the 1993-94 Rotary year, Anthony Hopkins was made an Honorary Life Rotarian at a dinner in Port Talbot, Anthony Hopkins’ home town, by District 1150 Governor, Wally Cole. In 2008 Sir Anthony generously agreed to my invitation as secretary of the Tommy Cooper Society to unveil our statue of Tommy, followed by a gala lunch in Caerphilly Castle at which Sir Anthony proved not only to be a big Cooper fan but a most versatile actor by performing Tommy’s gags in immaculate style.
Tudor Jones MBE,
Rotary Wherever
A PHF is
prestigious
I am sorry to read in that Alex Ritchie feels that his most recent PHF award is de-valued. While my own club considers a Fellowship to be a prestigious, one-off recognition of meritorious service, not everybody sees it that way – not least The Rotary Foundation! Indeed, the very first line of the RFUK criteria states that “Paul Harris Fellowship Recognition is simply a request for recognition of a cash donation of $1,000”. And one can be multiple PHFs (5x = sapphire pin; 3x = ruby pin). I once attended a club in Oregon, USA, where at least half of the members were PHFs because they had made the appropriate contributions. Thus, there seems no reason why Honorary Rotarian Farley of Builth Wells should not expect to be considered in due course, if the criteria are met!
Chris Silver,
Rotary Club of Inverness Loch Ness, Highland
The trend for RI to issue political statements
I write with some trepidation in response to Stephan Stephan’s letter in the January edition of the Rotary Magazine. The comments within it express my general concerns over yet another RI statement which appears to cross the boundaries of Rotary’s declared non-political, non-religious status. I joined Rotary because of this declaration. I have nothing against any religious groups provided they don’t try to force me into their way of thinking. My view of religion is that each is a moral code to be observed by its followers. A tolerance towards all seeming to be an important caveat. Can I ask RI’s senior personnel to provide us with a meaningful statement about their political and religious neutrality, and that they will never again issue statements which contain provocative political content.
John Miles,
Leatherhead Rotary Club, Surrey
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