Teignmouth Rotary Club’s first female president, Nicola Burgess, is celebrating a year of success as she handed over to incoming president Colin Barber.

Highlights included the Rotary Club’s annual Picnic in the Marquee, which raised over £1500, the James Bond theme float at the 2023 Teignmouth Carnival, inviting Children In Need’s Pudsey Bear to Teignmouth, bringing Santa and his sleigh to tour the town and putting on the Junior Speaks competition in local schools.

Nicky’s chosen charity of the year was Teignmouth Coastwatch, which is run by volunteers who keep a look out for people or vessels in distress or difficulty. Nicky is planning an additional fundraising event for the charity; a ‘Great Gatsby v Peaky Blinders’ dinner at Teignmouth Golf Club on September 28.

Others who benefited from Rotary support include members of Dawlish Underwater Hockey club who were selected to represent Great Britain at the World Championships in Malaysia.

‘A huge thank you to everyone who helped and supported me during my presidential year and a very big thank you to each and every one of you that have supported Rotary,’ Nicky said. ‘Being the first lady president of a club, which was always male dominated, meant I had some very big boots to fill,’ she added.

Teignmouth Rotary Club is always looking for new members of all ages who want to make a difference within the community and to make new friends. To find out more, contact Nicky Burgess via email [email protected] or phone 07962254746.