Recollections of one of the great contributors to the York community were exchanged at an informal gathering of city Rotarians.

Dick Stanley was a Past President of the Rotary Club of York and his daughter, Jane Pirrie, donated her father’s Past President’s jewel to the Club for its archive.

Club President Nigel Naish said: “The donation of his Rotary Past Presidents jewel gives us the opportunity to remember and reflect again on Dick’s unstinting service to our community. Dick was well known for his remarkable memory and was a real live “Who’s Who” of people and organisations in York.

“He was modest, absolutely reliable, never keen to hog the limelight and most of all, a true gentleman”

Jane said: “Rotary was very important to my father and he applied its credo of Service Above Self in so many different ways and with such a variety of organisations in the City.

“When I was a young girl the central tower of York Minster was in danger of collapse and my father played an important part in raising the £2 million necessary to fund the repair work. He also played a leading part in creating the hugely successful National Early Music Centre in the former St Margaret’s Church in Walmgate.

“I am so proud of my father and delighted to know that his Rotarian colleagues will appreciate his Past President’s Jewel.”