ROTARIANS are celebrating after a year of considerable success in contributing to local charities and in community activities.

Richmond Rotary Club has this year raised more than £5,400 for local charities, and rotarian Don Farrar and colleagues have recently been working in the Friary Gardens, Richmond, cleaning the sign that describes the origins of the Friary Gardens Tower in time for visitors to the park and Christmas lights.

In November members of the club collected the record sum of £1,400 in a hastily but effectively organised Market Place collection for the victims of the typhoon in the Philippines.

And in October, a successful production at the Georgian Theatre Royal brought in more than £2,000 for local charities, and the Rotary Charity Art Exhibition held at The Station raised a further £2,000 and also ensured a market place for many local artists just before Christmas.

Such was the success of this show that the organisers are determined to repeat such an exhibition next year.

President of Richmond Rotary Mac Bryant said: “Rotary works for communities around the world and in Richmond we always try to help where we can. “The real strength of Richmond lies in the community itself. Richmond is a wonderful place to live with generous and positive people who care about others. Rotary wants to help channel this spirit as effectively as possible.”