Rotarians of Narberth and Whitland have honoured Chris Ebsworth, the Managing Director of Folly Farm, with a Paul Harris Fellow Award.

This is the highest award that can be given to either Rotarians or a person in the community who has contributed outstanding assistance and support to Rotary and has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

The Paul Harris Fellow recognition was created in memory of Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, as a way of showing appreciation for contributions to the Foundation’s charitable and educational program. 

Every Paul Harris Fellow receives a pin and a certificate and Chris was delighted to receive his along with a book about the Paul Harris Foundation.

The pin identifies the Paul Harris Fellow as an advocate of the Foundation’s goals of world peace and international understanding.

Chris Williams, President of Narberth and Whitland Rotary, had the pleasant task of presenting the award after newest member Phil Thompson MBE tricked Chris Ebsworth into thinking that Phil needed him as a witness to him joining Rotary.

Karina and Phil had the difficult task to make sure that Chris was available at this time in view of the re-opening of Folly Farm.

Chris, Karina, Anne and the staff of Folly Farm have helped raise £50,000 within the past five years for worthwhile charities selected by the Narberth and Whitland Rotary.

All the concerts have been held at Folly Farm and the money raised would not have been possible without the use of the Follies Theatre. Big names such as Paul Potts and Rhydian Roberts have contributed to this successful fundraising.

Mary Adams, Assistant Governor for Rotary in West Wales, also thanked Chris for the parks involvement in the Annual Rotary Kids Out Event which is attended every year by children from all over Rotary in South Wales and allows children who are disadvantaged in some way to attend the park and have a great day out.

Narberth and Whitland Rotary have contributed to the Rotary Charity Foundation in honour of Chris’s award. The foundation supports the following areas internationally:

• Vocational training for teachers establishing an early childhood education centre in South Africa

• Water filters, toilets, and hygiene training to prevent fluorosis, diarrhoea, and other diseases in India

• A scholarship for a medical professional in Italy to research treatments that minimise mortality rates among premature babies

• Peace-building seminars for 200 teachers and 1,300 students in Uganda

• Treated mosquito nets and medical services that prevent malaria in Mali

• Polio Eradication together with Bill Gates Rotary has been a major contributor to ending polio worldwide.

The founding director of Folly Farm, the late Glyn Williams, had always been a major supporter of Narberth and Whitland Rotary and was an honorary member of the club for many years. He would have been extremely proud of the presentation today.