A good friend of mine, Basil Lewis of the Rotary Club of Humberside recently managed to publish many hours of research in a new book entitled “Paul Harris in Britain”.Basil Lewis is currently involved in both the Rotary Global History Fellowship and Genealogy and Heraldry Fellowship serving the latter as International President. Outside of Rotary, Basil has worked for BBC Radio and has served on the RIBI Communications committee.   

This book is of enormous intrinsic value to Rotarians in RIBI but it is also a centennial project of the Humberside club with part of the funds raised going to The Rotary Foundation.

The author has put many hours and, indeed, years into his research which has included many long and gruelling hours spent in the Archives departments in both Evanston and Alcester. The author has examined documents most will never see including a key source to this book – Harris’ never-published Peregrinations Volume 1 (A Visit to Great Britain and South Africa).

The book itself does not involve itself in any critical analysis of Harris or Rotary but simply and succinctly records the extensive travels of Rotary’s founder in Britain during the years 1928, 1932, 1934 and 1937.

Given the ever-increasing interest in Rotary’s past, this book may appeal to some members with an interest in history and archives. Apart from Harris’ own writings, the book also uses sources such as local club archives and press records.

For me, it is wonderful to read about past Rotarians who had the pleasure of meeting Paul Harris and many of their impressions are priceless. In the bulletin of Liverpool Rotary Club in 1928, one member records his thoughts on the founder of Rotary: “I remember this quiet-looking, elderly gentleman who spoke to us in a simple but eloquent and impressive manner. One has the feeling that the great growth of Rotary had surprised and even startled him.”

If we are looking for inspirational quotes from Harris, the author supplies one from a speech made at Elgin Rotary Club. This probably sums up why Paul Harris travelled so much in later life after years of failing health and why after his death it was appropriate that the first real tribute was the establishment of Paul Harris (now known as Ambassadorial) Scholars. - “In their spirit of tolerance and in trying to find things that are beautiful and illustrious in other countries, I think we can do something. We travel in other countries and the more we travel, the less serious the differences appear.”

As everyone knows, Paul Harris visited the Edinburgh Club many times. However, we also learn that many Falkirk Rotarians travelled to hear him speak to Glasgow Rotary Club in July 1928 and again (along with Motherwell Rotarians) in April 1934. Harris also recorded how he enjoyed travelling throughout the lowlands of Scotland- “Sir Walter Scott country” as he called it. On his heavy scheduled itinerary he would spend too much time in the “beautiful vales of Southern Scotland”. It is also interesting to learn that the last official visit Paul Harris ever made on these shores –on July 29th 1937 was to historic Newbattle Abbey in Midlothian. He set sail for the USA next day. Basil Lewis efforts are well worth supporting and makes for interesting reading. You can obtain a copy from Rotarian Basil Lewis at his address - 1001 Anlaby Road, Hull, HU4 7PN. The cost is £8.50 which includes a contribution to Rotary charities and postage within RIBI. Cheques should be made payable to The Rotary Club of Humberside.