Banbury town councillor receives rotary award for service to community

David Richardson, the president of the Rotary Club of Banbury, presented Rotarian Cllr Surinder Dhesi with the Paul Harris award on Friday October 23.

The award is named after Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer who started Rotary International with three business associates in 1905. The designation as a Paul Harris Fellow is a tribute to a person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives of the Rotary Foundation.

The award is given in true recognition of a valued and sincere contribution to rotary and the local community and a true recognition of 'service above self,' the motto of all rotarians.

Surinder has served the local community for some 40 years. She has been involved community projects, fundraising for a mini bus, a scanner appeal, the Sunshine Centre, Katharine House Hospice, Dogs for Good, Dogs for the Blind, Maggie’s Centre and Maternity Unit at the Horton Hospital and other fundraising events. She is also long-standing councillor serving on Banbury town and Cherwell district councils.

In normal circumstances the award would have been presented in the presence of all rotary members at the weekly lunchtime meeting. Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions the award was presented to Cllr Surinder Dhesi by President Rotarian David Richardson in his back garden.

Cllr Rotarian Surinder Dhesi's response was excitement and pride at receiving the honour of a Paul Harris Fellowship.

She said: ”I am very humbled and honoured to receive this award. It is a honour and a privilege to serve the community of Banbury.

"I would like to express my warmest thanks to all members of the Rotary Club of Banbury. Working with Banbury Rotary Club has been a pleasure serving the community over the years.”