THE inauguration of the first female members ever to be admitted into the Okehampton Rotary took place recently ? and it is hoped other interested ladies will feel encouraged to join them.

Sarah Watts, who is an associate partner at the Okehampton and Exeter offices of chartered accountants Thomas Westcott, together with retired headmistress Kay Bickley, were invited to see first hand the way their local Rotary worked within the community just before Christmas last year.

After attending several meetings, both ladies decided they liked what they saw and decided to join.

Sarah said; ?In the Okehampton Rotary they do so much good work in the community. I was invited to come along and take a look by Ian Courtney, who is the NatWest Bank?s senior business manager in the town. He said they were hoping more ladies would join, and so it?s rather nice that Kay and I are the very first two.?

The President of the Okehampton branch, John Stevens said Rotary is open to both sexes, although it tends to be predominately run by males.

?We think we are amongst the more forward thinking branches that openly welcome female members, and we are delighted to have Sarah and Kay on-board. It is rather apt that this year we are also celebrating our 40th anniversary of Rotary in Okehampton.?