IAN Cochrane has taken the hot seat as president of Dukinfield and Stalybridge Rotary Club.
And he is promising to make sure the message of ‘There is more to the organisation than just Santa floats at Christmas’ hits home.
Ian – integrated neighbourhood services manager at Tameside Council until his retirement in 2015 – has since devoted his time to volunteering.
He is also chair of Stalyhill Junior School, a co-opted Governor at Wild Bank Primary School, secretary of Stalybridge Festival committee and event manager for the Whit Friday brass band contest at the town’s New Labour Club.
In addition, he volunteers for Barty’s Foodbank, works closely with Tameside Women’s Centre and acts as a volunteer to support Tameside Action Together’s annual Christmas toy appeal.
Ian joined Rotary in 2019 and has served as community chair and vice-president in the 2020/2021 Rotary year.
He pro-actively led several community initiatives and in his address upon becoming President he said: “Many people think that Rotary are ‘Those guys who come round with the Christmas float each year.’
“In fact half of our club members are female and we are actively involved with supporting many good causes in our communities throughout the year.”
Ian, 62, has already taken on a challenge since becoming president by taking on a walking challenge, for which he has already raised hundreds of pounds.
He intends to not only complete the Welsh 3000 Challenge, which involves completing all three mountain ranges in Snowdonia and includes climbing all 15 peaks over 3,000ft, within 24 hours but also the Yorkshire Three Peaks on the following day.
Then he will be driven up to Fort William in Scotland to complete the National Three Peaks Challenge.
Graham Fitton, also of Stalybridge, has taken the reins as vice-president and they are familiar with each other, having volunteered together for many years and having key roles on the Stalybridge Festival Committee.