NEWS
Long Service Award
President Chris de
Lisle makes a
presentation to
Danny Bonwitt, our
most senior
member, for 55
years of ‘Service
above Self’.
Danny was born in
Worms in Germany
in 1934. His family
escaped to England
via Italy in 1937 and after the war settled
in the Manchester area. He qualified as a
Mechanical Engineer but later joined the
Air Squadron and thence to fly in
Canberras.
After service in the RAF and commercial
work in Ghana and Nigeria with Unilever,
he followed a career in the catering
equipment industry, becoming chairman
of the Catering Equipment Suppliers
Association.
Danny is always working to help others
and in particular, with the Princes Trust
and initiating the education programme
at HMP The Mount when it was first built.
Danny first became a member of Rotary
in 1970. Together with other like-minded
people, founded Henley in Arden Rotary
Club which is still flourishing. He became
President in time and also when he
moved to Knutsford and then again, as a
founder member and early President of
the Berkhamsted Bulbourne Rotary Club.
He became chair of governors for Ashlyns
School and also of London Colney
Primary School. He initiated the Dacorum
Young Artists competition in 2015 for
primary and secondary schools, which
goes from strength to strength.
Latterly, he was a national trustee of the
arts-based educational charity NADFAS
and took on a three-year role as chairman
of Berkhamsted Probus Club.
In 2016, Danny received the BEM from
the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, the
Countess of Verulam, in a ceremony at
County Hall, Hertford.
Danny and Barbara have two children,
Adrian and Caroline.
Dacorum Young Artists 2026
Young artist competitors, their parents
and teachers were welcomed to the 11th
DYA Exhibition at Ashlyns School on 2nd
May 2026. Guest of honour was Cllr
Catherine McArevey, the Mayor of
Dacorum, who takes a keen interest in the
wellbeing and education of young people.
The competition, open to Year 4 & 5
students in Dacorum Borough, featured
work this year from 22 schools. Usually
no theme is set and the work exhibited
represented material created over the
school year.
Out of 687 entrants this year, one entry
from each school was awarded ‘Best in
School’. Those judged ‘Best Overall’ 1st,
2nd and 3rd were announced on the day;
two entries awarded Highly Commended.
Judges were Mary Casserley, a leading
local artist, Joanna Bryant, gallery owner,
art dealer and curator and Bex Wells, a
local textile and craft designer.
Ashlyns School provided the use of their
Hall and Berkhamsted School the display
boards. Sponsors comprised the Rotary
Clubs of Berkhamsted and Hemel
Hempstead, The Arts Society Gade Valley
and Ashridge DFAS. The competition is
also supported by The Arts Society, the
country’s leading arts education charity.
The 22 Best in School entries went on to
be exhibited at Hemel Hempstead Library
from 8th May to 8th June.
(Click on images to
enlarge)
Dr.Neha Vigh is a local GP
with around 20 years of
experience who moved to
the UK 16 years ago after
qualifying in India. She
grew up in Shimla in a
Rotary and Inner Wheel
family where her mother
served as Treasurer and
her father president and
ran free medical clinics supported by
Rotary.
Caring for her mother after major
surgery inspired her to take on Caremark
Dacorum where she is Managing
Director and leads a home care service
focused on high quality post hospital
support. She also volunteers with
Macmillan and works with charities like
Community Action Dacorum. This
summer she will launch her own Private
GP practice to support families and older
adults.
Neha discovered Rotary Berkhamsted
through the Berkorun social media posts
which reconnected her with the Rotary
values she grew up with and continues to
uphold.
Steve Elliott is a
retired serial IT
entrepreneur. He
was a member of
Berkhamsted
Round Table for 20
years, is currently President of 41 Club
and a past Youth Rugby coach.
Steve is known to our members as the
volunteer responsible for lighting for
many years at our annual Fireworks
Show. Steve lives in Dudswell.
Rotary Centenary Civic Awards
The Rotary Centenary
Civic Awards in
Berkhamsted are a
joint initiative between
the Berkhamsted
Rotary Club and the Berkhamsted Town
Council. Instituted in 2004 during Rotary’s
centenary year, the awards recognize the
town's unsung heroes—individuals who
have made outstanding contributions to
the local community.
Berko Rotary President Chris DeLisle
presented Civic Awards to Barbara Bonwitt
and Rachel Franc at the annual Town
Meeting in May. Rachel and Barbara have
for many years led the Happy Wanderers
charity which has benefited hundreds of
local pensioners.We are delighted to be
able to recognise publicly their dedication
and hard work in this very special 70th
anniversary year of Happy Wanderers.
The Youth Civic Award was
given to Alexi Pephanis, a
young local resident who
makes a valuable
contribution to the
community and provides a
good role model for other teenagers.
Congratulations to Alexi for his successful
personal development and the support he
has provided for other young people
through his work at The Swan Youth
Project.
NEW Members
Berkhamsted
Rotary Club
welcomed its
newest recruit on
Tuesday - Pamela
Leigh. Originally
from South Africa,
Pam attended school in the UK. With
experience in change and property
management, she has also worked with
RSPCA.