The late Past District Governor Horner Beckett


PDG Charles Horner Beckett who died on May 28th was President of the Rotary Club, Dublin in 1956/57 and District Governor in 1971/72. Horner was the longest serving member of the Dublin Club having joined in 1944 at the age of twenty‑three. He is likely to have been one of the longest, if not the longest, serving Rotarian in District 1160. In total 67 years of service to others. When he was introduced to the Club Horner was a bit taken aback to discover that not only was he representing his family firm James Beckett Ltd but the entire building trade in Dublin! This was heady stuff for a twenty‑three year old. His family firm was the biggest in Dublin and had built the Adelaide Hospital, the National Library and National Museum and scores of other well known buildings throughout Ireland.


It appeared that the Club at that time was, as


ever, endeavouring to attract younger members and that Horner was the first of the coming generation to join. He joined the Vocational Service Committee and organised visits to some of the leading businesses of the day including Bord na Mona, Jacobs Biscuits and to Rotarian Willie Smithʼs Meath farm where he was breeding Land Race pigs. As this was strictly illegal at the time, the same Willie used to bring the hog in a sack to a neighbouring farmer when the Agricultural Inspector was due to call. Horner was also involved with Community Service. One aspect of this was to provide films for the inmates in Mountjoy Prison. With the late Harry Barnardo he trudged up and down to Mountjoy with films that turned out to be of little interest to the inmates until in successive weeks they showed ʻThe Great Train Robberyʼ and ʻEscape from Alcatrazʼ These proved to be major hits.


The international highlight of his year was leading a large group of Dublin members to the R.I. Convention in Lucerne Switzerland. He marvelled at the superb organisation, conference infrastructure, horse drawn carriages, cow bells, Alpine horns and above all the insight the Convention gave of the breadth of Rotary Service throughout the world. This experience was to lead to a greater emphasis on Community Service in the Dublin Club. Horner was our District Governor in 1971/72 and his Conference was held in Galway. This


was at the height of the Northern troubles and he made a plea that ʻthe lines of communication and friendship in District 116 (now 116) should be kept openʼ. It is to the credit of Rotarians in our District that they were. He continued to be active in the Rotary movement for over thirty years after his year as DG. In the nineteen eighties he was to the forefront of efforts to get the Polio Plus initiative off the ground and he spoke on this topic at many different Clubs throughout the District. He was an invaluable mentor and sounding‑ board for successive Presidents of the Dublin Club and there was no better person to ask for guidance on a difficult topic or point of order. He had Rotary Rules and procedures at his fingertips.


Earlier this year Horner achieved one of his lifeʼs ambitions in attending the Dublin Clubʼs Centenary Lunch on February 22nd. In our Club Horner was our Iconic Rotarian to whose level all aspired. His diligent planning and attention to detail were legendary. He lived his life as a Rotarian, always putting others before himself. He lived, in fact, the Four Way Test: Horner Beckett gave himself to others. He ensured in his life that the little things, as well as the big things, were done well.Charles Horner Beckett, husband, father and Rotarian 15.03.1921‑ 28.05.2011 By PP Tony Keegan


An Taoiseach visits Dublin Rotary Club to celebrate their centenary


Rotary strong in Strabane and Lifford


Strabane Lifford President Mary Lafferty welcomes District Assistant Governor for Zone 5 David Falkingham to their annual assembly meeting where club convenors set out their plans for 2011/12


Club President Mary Lafferty also presented cheques for £1440 Foundation Programmes and £350 to Foundation Polio Plus to complete their promises for 2011/12


Clonmel cooks up a Paul Harris


Club President Anne Marie O'Brien presents Rotarian Tadg Browne with his Paul Harris medal. >


> Rotarian Tadg Browne's years of sterling service to the Rotary Club of Clonmel was recognised when he was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship having first cooked dinner for himself and 50 other diners! Tadg and Club President Anne Marie O'Brien were the competing chefs in the latest of the club's series of Celebrity Chef dinners, to raise funds for Polio Plus, the international Rotary campaign to eradicate polio.


But unknown to Tadg it was all a set‑up, aimed at getting his wife Geraldine, sons, daughter and other family members to the club's base at luain Restaurant in Clonmel for a convivial evening of delicious food before Anne Marie surprised him with the medal.


An Taoiseach Enda Kenny being presented with a copy of "First in Service" written and published by the Dublin Rotary Club to celebrate their centenary


11


Proposed and seconded by long‑time fellow Rotarians Angus Grant and Verona Malone, Tadg was suitably delighted. He was, however, still in shock two days later at the club's weekly lunch ‑ and a bit put out that his dessert of champagne jelly hadn't won the diners over!


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24