NMD ROTARY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

Members (2022-23)

Michael T. Coleman

Mike was born in Llandudno for an Australian father and an English mother. After his graduation, he worked as a precision engineer and a recruitment consultant which took him to the length and breadth of the continent. He was married to Viera for more than 40 years until she passed away. Currently, he is the chairman of MND association. Steam railways and golf are his hobbies.

George E. Cope

George is married to Julie and has two grown up children and six grandchildren aged between 7 and 20. He trained as a solicitor and was for many years in practice in Marple resulting in him being invited to join the club. Becoming tired of spending his days chained to a desk George managed to achieve early retirement. He has always been a keen walker and lover of the outdoors and now has a much more active life as a volunteer Ranger with the Tameside Countryside Service. This involves dry stone walling, hedgelaying and other work to improve the natural environment along with litter picking and rubbish removal to counteract the impact of the less well behaved. In addition to the Ranger work George also leads Health Walks aiming to help the less fit and active become fitter, more active and healthier. He is also Lay Reader at St. Mary's church, Haughton Green. Such remaining time as is not taken up with Rotary is taken up with his wife and family.

John Delany

Born in Manchester and graduated from the Turner Dental School in 1968, John is a retired dentist who has been married to Margaret since 1971 and have two sons and four granddaughters. He had been a member of two previous Rotary Clubs before joining the present one. He is a dog walker with a special interest in gardening. And, he spends most of his time with his family. When time allows, he goes for longer walks in the Lake District and Derbyshire with a group of friends. Holidays are often spent in Wales or in the Lake District.

Christopher J. Farnsworth

Chris is a retired dentist. As a dedicated Manchester City supporter, he is delighted with his Champions team. He hopes Manchester united will improve and looks forward to many exciting Derby encounters on along the way. He has been in various positions in Rotary and is trying to get better at spelling our success and helping local charities.

Frederick R. Ferris

Fred was born and brought up in Northwest London until he was 18 years old. He then studied dentistry for five years in Manchester University. After graduating from the dental school, he married a Scottish-Canadian girl, and since then, his family has been living in Marple and in the surrounding areas. As the fruit of their marriage, they have two sons and three granddaughters. He worked at his dental practice opposite to the Marple swimming baths for 30 years and many of which were with Rotarian Chris Farnworth. Now being retired, he spends much of his time walking his dog, gardening, and playing golf. Being a member of New Mills and Marple Rotary Club for very many years, he enjoys friendship and fellowship of the fellow Rotarians.

Edwin T. Gnanaprakasam, Ph.D.

Edwin was born and brought up in Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu, South India. Having studied in Jesuit schools and college, he joined the Society of Jesus at the age of 20. As a Jesuit Scholastic and Priest, Edwin worked in various capacities as a parish priest, lecturer and chaplain in different countries including India, Guyana, the USA and the UK. After leaving the Jesuits, he earned his Ph.D. in Metagenomics (Geochemistry and Geomicrobiology) from the University of Manchester which enhanced his career pursuit in Microbial Genomics. When personal circumstances changed, his part-time work in Regent Cinema, Marple, became his lifestyle as the managing director of the 90-year-old cinema. Outreach programmes and gentle company of the rotarians are the reasons he has joined the club recently.

Howard Lawless

Howard was born and raised in Sale. He trained to be a solicitor qualifying in 1969. He commenced work in the family legal practice eventually becoming one of the senior partners. Howard married Beverley in 1971 and they moved to Knutsford where they brought up two children, Sarah and Richard. They now have two grandchildren. He was a member of the local Knutsford Rotary Club for 18 years. Having to retire early due to ill health in 2002 he and Beverley moved to Marple in 2015 when he then transferred to New Mills, Marple and District Rotary Club.

Rita G. Pollard

Rita’s first job was in the Banking sector. After working her way through the jobs of junior, machinist, Manager’s secretary, cashier, branch chief cashier, Rita was asked by the local Area Office to oversee the transferring of branch held accounts systems to online systems and would visit the local branches to help with any problems that had arisen. After 15 years of working in the Bank she left to help her husband in the family group of Companies, taking on the roles of Company Secretary and Finance Director, positions she still holds. She continues to be involved in these businesses after over 40 years, although has stepped back from the day to day running of the companies. Rita was married to Noel for over 55 years and they have a wonderful daughter Abigail and beautiful grand- daughter Sophie. Rita’s hobbies include sewing, golf, gardening and reading.

Peter B. Rogers CBE

Peter was born in Liverpool, but went to university in Manchester. Most of his working life was spent in London, the first half as a government economist at HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office and Environment. The second half was in broadcasting, first as Finance Director and then CEO of The Independent Television Commission. After retirement in 2000, he lived with his wife Jean in the Lake District. Widowed in 2014, he moved back to Manchester and joined Rotary. His main interests are walking, reading, the theatre and classical concerts.

Vishnu Ramaiyah

Vishnu was born in South India for Tamil parents and is proud of his Tamil heritage which traces its roots to THREE millennia. After completing his B.Sc. in Chemistry from Loyola College, Chennai, he started his own digital animation company called Kattrapin Technoloties Pvt Ltd. which employs more than 60 professionals. He married Florence against their families’ cultural and religious beliefs and as the fruit of their holy union, they have two children. For three generations, Vishnu’s family is known for playing football in the local clubs. To his credits, he has other companies including Kattrapin Technologies UK Ltd and Brainmat Product Pvt Ltd.

Susan R. Smith

Brought up in Romiley and educated at Astley Grammar School, Susan moved to Staffordshire after her marriage. She worked in residential child care for several years before gaining a B,Ed (Hons) from MMU. She moved to Marple and began a teaching career culminating as a lecturer in Childhood Studies at Stockport College. Retirement opened a whole new world. She became involved in Community Dance and has performed onstage at The Lowry. Following her husband’s death from Motor Neurone Disease, she has begun volunteering at a local hospice.

David Thomas

David Thomas, a retired chef, has worked at the Midland Manchester and eventually owned his own French Restaurant called ‘the Copperfield’ in Disley for over 30 years. He has 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He still plays golf and dedicates his time with his family and friends. He still enjoys cooking for his family whilst tasting a nice a glass of wine.

Edward H. Thomas

Eddie was born in Oldham in 1936. In 1942 the family moved to Cumberland, a great change. He enjoyed his childhood there, and attended Keswick School, from where he gained a place at Manchester University to study Medicine. He qualified in 1960 and then spent two years working in hospitals. In 1962 he married Rachel, also from Keswick, and was fortunate to find an opportunity to join a General Practice in Marple, a great place to live and work. He was very happy here, and eventually stayed till he retired at the age of 60. He has three children and six grandchildren, all living in the area. His hobbies have been walking and game fishing, now getting too old to continue, together with gardening, and listening to classical music. Several of his neighbours were members of the Rotary Club and they encouraged him to join them in 1983, the move reckons that he never regretted.

Michael B. Yates

Mike was born in Manchester, attended Manchester Grammar School and Manchester University where he graduated in Economics. An established Mancunian he then broadened his horizons by going to live and work in Cornwall, London and Sao Paulo. After 5 years he joined a Manchester based engineering group as Finance Director before starting his own company involved in manufacturing and distributing tools and cutlery from Brazil and India. Working from Home before such an expression became WFH, he needed a reason to get away from sitting at a desk. Little did he know how big a part Rotary would play in his life after a neighbour invited him to join. He has had many roles within the organisation but by far the biggest has been his involvement in the fight to eliminate polio from the world and he has received many awards in recognition of this work.

Florence Arulanandam (Friend of Rotary)
David Brailsford (Hon)
Irene Ferris (Friend of Rotary)
Susan Humphrey (Friend of Rotary)
Beverley Lawless (Friend of Rotary)
Stephanie Lawson-Kelly (Friend of Rotary)
Pat Lord (Friend of Rotary)
Carole Scott (Friend of Rotary)
Stephen Scott (Friend of Rotary)

WEEKLY CLUB MEETING LOCATION

Thursday at 12 noon for 12.30 pm Meetings

Marple Golf Club Barnsfold Road, Marple Stockport, SK6 7EL

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PROGRAMS

Enjoy various talks delivered by speakers from various realms of life; Have a friendly drink and meal; To establish network; To get to know each other to become friends

Rotary International

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