The History of
Whitchurch Rotary Club
1938 - 2008

Visitors Welcome

We meet in the Dodington Lodge Hotel every 1st & 3rd Tuesday evening at 6:30pm for Dinner, every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 12:45pm for lunch, and if there's a 5th Tuesday, we meet at 7:00am for Breakfast. Visitors are welcome.

Presidents of Whitchurch Rotary Club

PRESIDENT 1977/78
JAMES MITCHELL
Born at Milngavie (near Glasgow). Educated at Balfron High, Glasgow University and West of Scotland Agricultural College, gaining a B.Sc. (Agric) and NDA in Agriculture. Worked for six months with the North of Scotland Agric College, Aberdeen, then two years National Service as an educational officer in the RAF. On demob joined ICI Agriculture as a development officer based in the Midlands, responsible for five fully costed farms. He stayed in this post for ten years, but in 1961 took over the tenancy of Egerton Hall, Malpas, where he went into milk production and cereal growing. Losing his herd to Foot and Mouth in 1967 decided to restore the whole farm to arable, growing a wide variety of vegetables and cereal crops - but especially strawberries - being the first to offer pick your own in the area. In 1968 took over a further 360 acres and also farmed in partnership with his near neighbour, Lord Cholmondeley and also with his landlord's son at Tattenhall -in all farming 1800 Cheshire acres. He retired from farming in 1985, moving to Findhorn, Morayshire, where he purchased two fishing tackle businesses. Very active in the community, helping with sports days, horse shows, local churches - also first chairman of the Cheshire Grassland society. He and his wife keen anglers and shooters, plus playing badminton, tennis and golf. In Rotary was one of the first to supply a towing vehicle for the Santa float establishing a 'Fangio' type reputation, which constantly unseated Santa. His home was often the venue for Rotary and other charity events, and in his year he raised a great deal of money for the Indian Eye Camps. He also went on the Rotary trip to South Africa in 1976 along with other Whitchurch Rotarians.
Joined Rotary 11/12/73. Resigned 1984. Wife President Inner Wheel, 1977/78. Her brother Rotary club of Aviemore; his brother Rotary club of Kirkcudbright.