A NORTH Cornwall club is welcoming a new president with more then two decades of experience.

Each year, the Rotary Club of Bude sees its current president pass the torch to the next in line set to take on the important role.

Recently the club welcomed its new president as 2024/25’s head, Martin Yeo officially ushered in Alan Rainsley.

Alan has succeeded Martin in this important position for 2025/2026.

The club has described Martin’s tenure as a ‘very busy and very successful year in office’.

While he is new to this role in particular, this isn’t Alan’s first rodeo as president.

A spokesperson from the club said: “Alan brings considerable experience to this role having served as a Rotarian for 25 years in three different clubs, two of which he has previously led. He has been awarded a prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship, named after the founder of Rotary International, in recognition of exceptional service to the movement.

“Alan taught in a large comprehensive school in Central Bedfordshire for 37 years before retiring in 2010 and moving to Cornwall the following year.”

Following his appointment, Alan expressed that it will be both a privilege and a pleasure to be president and he is looking forward to helping to steer the club through another successful year.

However, Alan is set to hit the ground running! An early task for him and members of the club will be the organisation of the very popular Annual Duck Race to raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the club's own charitable initiatives. The race will be held on Monday, August 25, on the canal and tickets will be on sale over the previous three weekends at various points in the town.