 President Maurice Holden opens the proceedings as master of ceremonies. |
 Mayor of Kenilworth, Norman Vincett, cracks a joke. |
 President Maurice gives tokens of appreciation to the staff who serve us so well throughout the year, represented by Anelise and Cristina. |
 Manager of the Quality Hotel, Honorary Rotarian Amon, announces the menu for the evening. |
 Rotarian Arnold Bolton proposes the award of Citizen of the Year to Harry Sunley for his contribution to Kenilworth and his work on researching and preserving historic sites including the Abbey ruins. |
 The presentation of Citizen of the Year is made by President Maurice to Harry Sunley. |
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Harry Sunley: Citation on being declared Kenilworth Citizen of the Year From rocket science to archaeological digs aptly describes the career of Harry Sunley who has given so much of his time and talent to Kenilworth and notably in researching and chronicling for posterity a detailed segment of the town’s history. A Charted Engineer educated at Eastbourne College and Hull University, Harry Sunley spent most of his working life in the Aero-Space Industry specialising in rocket engine development. He retired from that career in 1981 becoming Town Clerk of Kenilworth for the next six years and a prime mover in the twinning of Kenilworth with Bourg La Reine. He was a founder member of the History and Archaeological Society formed in 1982, and served as Chairman for several years being its present very active President. Although not a native of Kenilworth, he is from Sussex, he has taken such a keen interest in researching the town’s past that there is now on record a comprehensive history of the medieval Abbey of St. Mary and a reconditioned “Barn” containing an exhibition and display of architectural artefacts. Although he has taken part in a number of “digs” including Blacklow Hill and Little Virginia, his greatest interest has been in delving into the annals of the Abbey on which he has become a leading authority as well as being an accomplished speaker and author of several books. A major instigator in preserving what is left of the Abbey site he saw his efforts rewarded when, in 1970, the Society was invited to tidy up the Barn and catalogue the architectural and archaeological finds from the Abbey. The Barn was unveiled to the public four years later and is open on many Sunday afternoons. The Tantara gatehouse was consolidated in 1977 using £20,000 raised by the Kenilworth Abbey Advisory Committee. Additional research and the provision of data to further interpret the remains of medieval buildings goes on through the Kenilworth Abbey Interpretation Scheme – but that is yet another story in the Harry Sunley saga. |
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The assembled multitude enjoy the banquet ... |
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Volunteers present the pantomime of the year, prepared by Rotarian Phil Highley. |
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The Christmas Message is given by Captain Steven Thomas of the Salvation Army: |
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 He is presented with a cheque for £250 for Salvation Army Charities. |
 Citizen of the Year, Harry Sunley, and Mrs Betty Sunley are presented with a cheque for £250 for the MacMillan Nurses. The donations come from generous support for Rotary Activities in Kenilworth throughout the year, including the Grocery Grab at Sainsburys, the Art Exhibition at the Town and Country Festival and The Two Castles Run from Warwick Castle to Kenilworth Castle. |
 Rotarian Phil Highley prepares for his command performance. |
 Performing his own version of ‘Busy Bee’, made famous by Arthur Askey ... |
 ... and warmly received by the assembled multitude, including top table of the Mayor Norman Vincett and Mayoress of Kenilworth, the President of Kenilworth Rotary, Maurice Holden and his lady, President of Inner Wheel, Janet Holden. |