Girls are certainly allowed when it comes to Ledbury Rotary Club, and here’s the proof.

For the second year in a row the club has a female president.

Outgoing president, Jan Long recently handed over her chain of office to her successor, Mary Cooper, who is both a former mayor of Ledbury and a former county councillor.

Mrs Long said that she had thoroughly enjoyed her time in the presidential role meeting members of the public, “to engender cooperation, respect and kindness with other groups and societies”.

She said: “The highlights included meeting children from the various schools, at Kids Out, the Learning Education Centre Bus, where I showed the children my golden chain and one young person asked me if she was president of the world!”

Mrs Long also mentioned the recent Community Day when the End Polio Iron lung was displayed and attracted people of all ages, including new mayor of Ledbury, Cllr Phillip Howells.

Ledbury Rotary has long been an active campaigner in the fight against polio, especially in Trinidad and Tobago.

Wishing Mary Cooper every success, Mrs Long said her own motivation was the pride she had in the Rotary movement “that does so much good locally, nationally and internationally with perseverance, energy and the volunteering spirit”.

Ledbury Rotary is keen to remind people that the club is dual gender.

Anyone interested in joining or visiting the club can find more information at www.ledburyrotary.org