Ballymena Rotary Club

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The Club meets normally on Tuesdays {except Public Holidays} at the Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena at 1pm. Every third Tuesday we have an evening meeting at 6pm.

Meetings commence at 1.00pm with a buffet lunch and finish at 2.00pm. Every third Tuesday we meet in the evening at 6.00pm with Dinner followed by a Guest Speaker. We are always delighted to welcome guests to our meetings.

03/11/2026

At our Rotary Club meeting today, the President and members were delighted to welcome new member Tom Baiki. In welcoming Tom, Membership Chair Lynda Bell stressed that, in addition to giving something back to the community, a key aim of Rotary is for members to enjoy fellowship with like-minded people who embrace the Rotary ethos of ‘Service above Self’.

In accepting the Welcome Pack, Certificate of Membership and Rotary lapel pin from President Chris Wales, Tom said he looked forward to developing friendships with fellow Rotarians. He referred to his many years of experience in software architecture, financial technology and innovation. He wanted to join Rotary as he believed that our experience becomes more valuable when we use it to serve others. He thanked the Club for providing the opportunity to serve alongside its members on a range of local projects.

We were also delighted to welcome Alison Ferguson, Accommodation Services Manager of Women’s Aid ABCLN, Ballymena. Once again, the Club will supply a Toy Box to every child who will spend Christmas in the Women’s Aid Refuge, having fled with their mums from domestic abuse. Alison emphasised that abuse can deeply affect a child’s mental health. She expressed her sincere thanks to the Club, highlighting how a Toy Box is a small but meaningful way to bring comfort, joy and some sense of normality during the festive season. The Rotary Club would like to express its sincere thanks to Corporate Members from Cranswick Country Foods, Knockdene HealthCare and Michelin Development UK for their generous sponsorship towards this year’s Rotary Toy Boxes.

Alison also expressed her sincere thanks to Rotarian Kala O’Donnell. Kala has led Yoga sessions for a group of ladies resident in the Women’s Aid Refuge and will shortly commence a new series of classes. Alison commented on the therapeutic benefits of these classes for women who have suffered from domestic abuse.

20/10/2026

Rotary Club of Ballymena Supports the Next Generation at Slemish College Careers Event
Members of the Rotary Club of Ballymena were delighted to support Slemish College on Monday 19 October 2026, taking part in a careers event designed to help students prepare for their future beyond school.
A total of 78 students participated in the event, benefiting from the opportunity to experience mock interviews and receive valuable feedback to help build their confidence and develop their interview skills.
Rotarians joined a number of local business leaders and mentors in volunteering their time to conduct mock interviews and assist with assessing students. Together, they shared their knowledge, professional experience and practical advice, offering encouragement and helping young people gain a better understanding of what employers look for in prospective candidates.
The exercise provided students with valuable insight into the interview process, helping them understand how to present themselves confidently, communicate effectively and make a positive impression with prospective employers.
For many young people, an interview can be a daunting experience. Events such as this provide a supportive environment in which students can practise their skills, learn from constructive feedback and develop the confidence needed to face real employment and further education opportunities.
The involvement of the Rotary Club of Ballymena reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting young people, strengthening links with local schools and working alongside the wider business community to help prepare the next generation for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Rotary is about more than fundraising; it is also about giving time, sharing skills and making a practical difference in our local community. By working alongside business leaders and mentors at Slemish College, club members were proud to play their part in helping young people recognise their potential and prepare for the future.
The Rotary Club of Ballymena would like to thank Slemish College for the opportunity to be involved, acknowledge the contribution of all the business leaders and mentors who participated, and congratulate all 78 students who took part. We wish them every success as they take their next steps towards further education, training and employment.
Rotary — putting service into action and helping young people realise their potential.

17/10/2026

A Significant and Memorable Evening for Our Club – thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance.

On Thursday 15th October 2026, we welcomed Lord Alderdice to our special meeting in the Adair Arms Hotel.
Lord Alderdice is the 4th Honorary Member to be welcomed in 2026 as part of our Club’s contribution to the Ballymena 400 celebrations.
Rotarian James Perry MBE formally introduced Lord Alderdice to those present, following which President Chris Wales presented him with his Honorary Membership certificate for the Rotary Club of Ballymena.
Lord Alderdice then gave a very entertaining and thoughtful response outlining his proud connections with Ballymena and his career as a Politician and his various roles to date.
Lord Alderdice sits in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat Peer and has held several distinguished positions, including serving on the House of Lords Select Committee on International Affairs and Defence. In 2025, he was appointed as the UK Trade Envoy for Azerbaijan and Central Asia.
It was wonderful to have so many members and guests present to share in this special occasion.
Following the presentation and speeches, dinner was served.

06/10/2026

New Corporate Member

At today’s Rotary Club meeting, President Chris Wales and Membership Chair Lynda Bell were delighted to welcome our newest Corporate member, Iris Houston, General Manager, Adair Arms Hotel. Iris was presented with a comprehensive Welcome Pack highlighting the inspiring work led by our Committee Chairs, spanning Community, Youth, Membership, International, Public Image, Foundation, and Environmental initiatives.

She also received our 80th Anniversary booklet, ‘Reflecting on 8 Decades of Service’, together with a framed Certificate of Corporate Membership, a Rotary Calendar of Events for 2026-27 and Rotary pin. We wish Iris, together with Neil Gordon (Deputy Manager) and Josephine McKay (Duty Manager) all the best as they set out on their Rotary journey! The Adair Arms Hotel now brings the total number of Corporate Members in the Club to 16 (spanning a range of sectors including Hospitality, Manufacturing & Construction, Estate Agents/Auctioneers, Financial Services, Recruitment Agencies, Local Enterprise Agencies, Building Societies and Software Companies).

23/09/2026

🐾 WALKING FOR PERCY! 🐾💙
On Wednesday 21st October at 10.30am, members of the Rotary Club of Ballymena, together with Percy, his handler, Vice Principal Chris, pupils and carers from Castle Tower Special School, will be taking part in a sponsored walk from the school to the Ecos Centre.
But this isn't just a walk — it's a walk with a purpose! ❤️
Percy is a Labradoodle Therapy Assistance Dog who plays a very special role at Castle Tower. He helps pupils who may become anxious or agitated and provides invaluable support with emotional wellbeing, social interaction, stress reduction, sensory stimulation and academic engagement.
🐶 The Rotary Club of Ballymena is delighted to sponsor Percy, but his ongoing upkeep costs in excess of £2,000 every year.
We would love your help to ensure Percy can continue his important work supporting the children and young people at Castle Tower.
💙 Would you like to sponsor our walk?
You can donate via PayPal:
PayPal – Peter Chestnutt
Or make a donation directly to:
Rotary Club of Ballymena
AIB
Sort Code: 93-80-17
Account No: 14062188
Reference: Percy
Every pound will help keep Percy doing what he does best — making a difference. 🐾❤️
Thank you for your support!
Peter Chestnutt
Honorary Secretary
Rotary Club of Ballymena

20/09/2026

Making a difference in our local environment!

On Saturday 19th September, the Rotary Club of Ballymena Environment Committee organised a litter pick at the Ecos Centre and Moorfields Road.

Our volunteers included Rotarians, Corporate Members and colleagues from Cranswick Country Foods, Cullybackey, and Knockdene Healthcare. Together, we collected more than 15 bags of litter, along with a variety of other discarded items, from the two locations.

A special thank you to Rotarian Cosi Sarkar, the volunteers from Cranswick, who kindly gave up part of their Saturday to help, and to Laura and her daughter for their fantastic hard work.

Thank you also to Rotary President Chris Wales, who covered a large area of the Ecos Centre, despite the rain arriving towards the end of the session!

It was a great team effort, and every piece of litter removed makes a difference to this precious local environment.

The Rotary Club of Ballymena is proud to support our local community and environment and will continue to organise similar initiatives throughout the year.

Together, we can make Ballymena a cleaner, greener place!

16/09/2026

✨ An Evening That Really Sparkled! 💎

The Rotary Club of Ballymena enjoyed a very entertaining and fascinating Speaker Evening with the wonderful Vera McCullough.

Vera took us on a captivating journey through her career in the world of jewellery and precious stones, sharing fascinating stories and insights from her training in the Czech Republic to her time working in London’s famous Hatton Garden.

Her presentation was thoroughly enjoyed by members and guests, followed by an interesting and lively Q&A.

Adding an extra special touch to the evening, Vera generously donated her speaker’s fee to the Ballymena NI Hospice Support Group — a wonderful gesture and one very much appreciated by the Club.

A huge thank you to Vera for an entertaining evening, for sharing her expertise and experiences, and for her generous support of such a worthwhile cause.

A truly sparkling Rotary evening! 💎✨

08/09/2026

Rotary Charities’ Exhibition
Our Rotary Charities’ exhibition continues at Midtown Makers, Church St, Ballymena, showcasing the work of more than 20 local charities supported by the Rotary Club. During the months of September and October, the exhibition will feature the incredible work of Samaritans of Ballymena. Prior to the launch at Midtown Makers today, we were joined at our Rotary Club meeting by Marie Nesbitt, Director, and Jed Murray, Deputy Director - Outreach. Marie gave a most enlightening account of the challenging work carried out by volunteers at the charity. She thanked the Rotary Club for its generous donations, dating back as far as 1976. She stressed that this ongoing support helps to keep the Samaritans’ phone lines open.
Once again, we are indebted to our Rotary Corporate members at Ballymena Business Centre for the use of this dedicated Rotary Rest Space in their town-centre premises at Midtown Makers.
To find out more, why not call to see the exhibition at Midtown Makers before the end of October?

08/09/2026

Rotary Friendship Across the Atlantic
It was a real pleasure today to welcome fellow Rotarian Burne Miller from the Rotary Club of Granger Sunrise, Indiana, to the Rotary Club of Ballymena meeting.
As part of his visit, President Chris Wales was delighted to present Burne with a Rotary Club of Ballymena pennant, marking the friendship and fellowship between our two Rotary Clubs.
After the meeting, we had the pleasure of meeting Burne’s wife, Jody, at Midtown Makers , where we enjoyed a lovely chat in our Rotary Rest Space, together with fellow Rotarians and members of the Samaritans charity.
Our visit then continued to the Rotary International Signpost in the People’s Park, a wonderful symbol of Ballymena’s connection with the wider Rotary family around the world.
A fantastic afternoon of friendship, fellowship and service, demonstrating once again that Rotary creates lasting connections across communities and across the Atlantic.
Burne and Jody, thank you for spending time with us in Ballymena. We hope you have a wonderful stay and take home some great memories of your visit!
Rotary — connecting people and making a difference.

08/09/2026

A Sad Loss – Stephen Walker
The President and members of the Rotary Club of Ballymena were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Stephen Walker, a former BBC political correspondent and highly regarded author, who was recently awarded Honorary Membership of our Club.
Stephen was one of three new Honorary Members recognised by the Club in April 2026, and each expressed their genuine delight at receiving this special honour. Stephen then joined members for a very entertaining and engaging Q&A session, sharing his experiences, stories and insights with characteristic warmth and humour.
It was a significant and memorable evening for our Club, thoroughly enjoyed by everyone in attendance — and one that makes Stephen’s passing all the more poignant.
We feel privileged to have had the opportunity to recognise Stephen during his lifetime and to welcome him as an Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of Ballymena.
Our sincere condolences go to Stephen’s family, friends and all who knew and admired him.
Rotary Club of Ballymena

Address

1 Ballymoney Road
Ballymena
BT435BS

Website

http://www.ballymenarotaryclub.org/

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