Back in December 2012, Steve Lovell from Haslemere Rotary Club in Surrey died ​while visiting relatives in Australia. Steve was a very popular Rotarian with a rich ​sense of humour.

At the beginning of 2014, Rae Boxall and other members of Haslemere decided ​to write, and self-edit a joke book, a clean joke book, in Steve’s memory and co-​opted John Miles from Global Sight Solutions to assist because of John’s ​experience in this field. With the help of a cartoonist, a joke book was published ​which was sold and raised thousands of pounds for charities and The Rotary ​Foundation.

Now, there are plans to re-print the book, called “Lovell’s Laughter Lines” to raise ​even more money.

John Miles, who is a member of Leatherhead Rotary Club, recalled that with the ​first run of books they managed to get them printed by a Rotarian-owned ​publishing company in Bangalore, India, and then brought to the UK by another ​Rotarian who owned a shipping company.

“At the time, Haslemere Rotary Club’s aim was to raise funds primarily for ​Midhurst Palliative Care which is aligned with Midhurst Macmillan Services, plus ​the British Heart Foundation. In the end, a total of over £11,000 was eventually ​donated to these worthy causes,” said John.

Haslemere Rotary Club donated batches of books to Surrey-based charities such ​as Grayshott Cricket Club, Chiddingfold Guides and several local schools plus ​other organisations for them to sell and retain the proceeds. Copies were also ​sold at local fetes and at Rotary club events.

Additionally, Haslemere donated a batch of books to Global Sight Solutions which ​John Miles is a trustee of, and he sold them at conferences and to clubs following ​John’s presentations. This raised a further £5,000, with £2,000 donated to The ​Rotary Foundation.

In addition, Bangalore Rotary Club changed the intro pages and then sold a ​further 1,000 copies on their patch enabling them to raise over £1,000 for their ​local good causes.

John said: “It was an excellent way to honour the memories we had of a true ​Rotarian in Steve Lovell. It really pleased his widow and his family. It was also a ​good excuse for two Rotarians from different clubs to work together.

“The first edition is now all sold out but a second edition is being contemplated. If ​other clubs wish to be pro-actively involved in respect of funding the second ​edition and therefore taking the profit on the books they sell, I’m sure Global ​Sight Solutions would happily hold their hands during the purchasing process!”

You can contact John at info@globalsightsolutions.org or visit Haslemere Rotary ​Club’s website.