Rotarian Merv Receives The Paul Harris Fellowship Award

A Farnborough Rotarian has been give a special award for work within the club, in the local community and especially for his role in the successful Music In The Park event, which has raised £500k for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Farnham since 2001. 

Merv was introduced to Rotary when he was invited to supply sound equipment etc for the first Music In The Park in 2001 (formerly known as ‘Picnic To Music In The Park’)  and as a result became a Rotarian. He has been an active member ever since who does embrace the ‘Service Above Self’ motto. For some years he has been a Route Marshall at Christmas and he has been the Chair of the highly successful Donkey Derby for quite a few years. 

Merv has been instrumental in suggesting winning Line-ups over the past 10 shows as well as organising and bringing together all aspects of the Stage Management and Production. Whilst yes it is his profession he brings far more to it than as yet another ‘job’. He somehow manages to overcome huge problems such as when either Acts have withdrawn at short notice or the stage has cancelled in the lead up to the show. This year he sourced a replacement stage at terribly short notice despite being away working crazy hours as a Tour Manager himself. 

He is the only member of the original 2001 group still part of the current MIP team and without his advice, technical knowledge and knowhow this club would find it far more difficult if to stage such a professional music event on this scale.

The Paul Harris Fellowship is awarded to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the Community and Rotary. We believe the fifty thousand people of Farnborough who have attended the 10 MIP shows would say he certainly has!