in office, Rotarians raised £550,000 for WaterAid those days, you went out with someone longer than
projects in Tanzania. Kenny has continued to support you would today. We’ve been very happily married for
collaboration between Rotary clubs and WaterAid, 44 years.”
travelling to Tanzania in 2002 to visit projects. In June, in particular, and John excelled at curling,
late 2007, Prince Charles, President of WaterAid, known as “chess on ice” for its complex strategies. The
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honoured him with the President’s Award for Scottish game, which is now played throughout the of RI President
Outstanding Voluntary Contributions to WaterAid. world and is an Olympic event, involves hurling large
John Kenny
After the club meeting, Kenny drives home to granite stones at a target at the opposite end of an ice
in Scotland at
Linlithgow, where a 15th–Century palace, birthplace rink. In Scotland it’s called “the roaring game,” not
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of Mary Queen of Scots, rises over the local loch. because of the shouting that takes place (and there is a
rotarian.
Go to www.
Inside his house, his wife, June, is pouring tea for the lot of that), but because of the sound the stones make
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visiting video team. On a walk in his garden, Kenny as they travel across the ice. “I played it competitively
for a video
proudly points to his “listed” trees, which means and loved every minute of it,” she says. John interjects,
feature on John
they are protected in much the same way as historic “She was really very good!”
Kenny from
homes. Just over the garden wall is the local golf club. June, who loves entertaining, is an accomplished RVM 4.3.
He has ambitious plans for his presidential term. cook and pianist. She served in every club office in
As his RI theme, The Future of Rotary Is in Your Inner Wheel, but as John moved up through the
Hands, suggests, he wants Rotarians to take personal Rotary ranks, she devoted more time to assisting
responsibility for Rotary’s future. “On membership, him. “He loves the organisation,” June says. “Rotary’s
for example, Rotary can do nothing, but every high ethical standards are something we both believe
Rotarian can do something. There are a lot of good in. We also meet so many tremendous people. Kind
(potential) Rotarians in the community who have people. Good people. We have been blessed,” she adds.
never been asked to join,” he says. Rotary clubs must “Rotary gives us the opportunity to do something
consider the question of time and cost of meetings, for those less fortunate than we are.” John concurs:
he adds. “It’s up to each club to decide where to eat, “Rotary is about helping others. We are the fortunate
or indeed if they will eat at all. There’s nothing in the ones. And to those that much is given, much is
(RI) Constitution that says you have to have a meal. expected. There will never be peace in this world as
Young people seem prepared now to support a cause, long as there’s poverty. We must continue to face up to
but they’re not prepared to join an organisation. So the challenges of poverty. Shortages of food and water
we must make our Rotary meeting attractive to make will become a major issue this century. Rotary is not
young people want to join.” the United Nations. We’ll never solve all the problems
Back in the house, as June pours more tea, she’s of the world. That is not the function of Rotary. But
asked if she’ll miss her home and friends when she we can be there to help and do what we can in a
travels. “I will,” she replies. “But I’m fortunate. I have practical way.”
good friends here, and I will keep in touch with them.
I’m also very proud of John.” Story by Bob Tomlinson – a member of the
John and June met through his colleagues in the Rotary Club of Kirkintilloch, Scotland, and an
early 1960s. June takes up the story and describes award–winning journalist. Photographs by RI staff
a world that many Rotarians will remember with photographer Monika Lozinska–Lee.
fondness. “We just started going out once or twice
at first, then we started to see each other every other
week. We went dancing and were going out with each
other for four years before we became engaged. We
were engaged for a year before we were married. In
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