A stalwart who recently celebrated his 100th birthday was treated to a special lunch having spent more than half his life helping his community.
Woodbridge Rotary Club honoured centenarian Ron Hepworth on Friday, July 17 with the event at the town’s Bull Hotel.
Ron, who was president of the club in 1980 and 2000, first became a Rotarian in 1973.
“We thought it was really important for us to commemorate that achievement in life,” said Woodbridge Rotary Club president Robin Pivett.
“He's been a retiree for 53 years, doing an awful lot for the community. [...] He does more than a lot of our younger members.”
Rotarians and their partners from both Woodbridge, Deben Clubs and Inner Wheel were in attendance at the lunch.
The huge golf lover recently completed a round on his milestone birthday at Woodbridge Golf Club and also received a birthday card from the King and Queen.
Ron’s public service dates back to the 1940s, said Mr Levitt, when Ron joined a convoy taking caravans to Italy after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, a stratovolcano located near Naples, Italy.
His advocacy further includes a “very vocal objection” to the closure of a number of Post Offices and helping club members work out Value Added Tax (VAT), a sales tax added to goods and services, when it was introduced to the UK in 1973, according to Mr Levitt.
The club president says much has changed since Ron joined the club 53 years ago: “People used to wear collars and ties years ago at all the meetings. We're much more of a relaxed organisation in order to attract newer and younger members.”
Ron is also a Freeman of Woodbridge—a title given to honour people who give outstanding service to the town, of which only 12 people can hold at one time.
“He always hosts our Christmas carol service, standing on the Barker Hill, composing it, doing the compo,” said Mr Levitt.
Ron plans to be there again this December at the top of the steps at the Shire Hall, according to the club president.
“Ron is an unstoppable individual,” Mr Levitt said. “You just can't hold him back.”
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