It’s a great honour to serve as President of the Rotary Club of Canterbury – a Club with a proud history, dedicated membership and deep-rooted commitment to service above self.
As we look ahead to the new Rotary year, I’m delighted to share a glimpse of what’s planned. This year’s theme – “The Garden of England (and other gardens too)” – reflects my personal interest in gardening. As a keen gardener, I believe gardens are a wonderful symbol of community, growth and diversity – all values that align closely with Rotary.
Of course, this theme is just a starting point. The year will offer something for everyone. From a talk on the development of the COVID vaccine to a “friendly” Bat & Trap competition at Ye Old Beverlie, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn and also have fun. A black and white photo-themed fundraising quiz is also planned, and we hope to offer a “taste of Sri Lanka” in 2026.
My Presidential year begins following the handover from our outgoing President, Maxine Blades – whose outstanding leadership has left us with much to celebrate. Maxine’s energy and vision have guided our Club through a memorable year, and I am truly grateful for all she has done. I aim to build on that momentum, kicking off with our annual Innovation Competition, held in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University – a highlight in our calendar that showcases the creativity and talent of local youngsters.
Fundraising and community service remain at the heart of what we do. In September, we’ll once again hold our Annual Duck Race – part of Canterbury’s Great Stour Riverfest. This event is not only our biggest fundraiser but also a fun-filled day for the whole community….and this year things will be a bit different!
We’ll continue our support of local organisations and vocational activities through our Community Service and Vocational Committee. Through our International Committee, we’re planning to support projects in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh through local Rotary clubs. Already, we’ve started collecting used spectacles to send to the Rotary Club of Kandy – a simple but impactful way to help others. We will also support humanitarian projects.
Our links with Canterbury Sunrise and Forest of Blean Rotary Clubs, along with our wider cluster clubs, remain important to us – and we look forward to continued collaboration, kicking off with the Bat & Trap evening.
Our relationship with our Pentangular partners across Europe will continue, and we hope to support the latest Joint Pentangular Project as usual. We’re especially pleased to be hosting this year’s Mini Group Study Exchange, working with our partners to offer young people an enriching cross-cultural experience.
We’re also making strides with Corporate Membership, thanks to the efforts of our new team – Roger Hickman, Andrew Clague and Bettie Morton.
Finally, we hope to launch a new project during the year – one that we hope will be as colourful as it is meaningful. Watch this space!
I’m proud to lead our club into another exciting chapter, and I look forward to working with all our members to continue making a difference – both locally and globally.
Raj Dasan
President, Rotary Club of Canterbury 2025-2026
Rotary Club of Canterbury
July 2025
Don’t forget! You can also find out more about what our club does through the news section on this website and via our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram). Do please follow, like, share and help spread the word among your friends, family and other contacts
Picture: Raj and his wife Rajini, pictured through the hole in The Point! Picture credit: Rotary Club of Canterbury.
