Dennis Duggan, a Past President of Welshpool Rotary, has been on a crusade to ensure that Rotary’s name remains prominent in the mid-Wales town.
He has recently managed to restore a neglected sign promoting Rotary at Owain Glyndwr Park.
The on-off sign saga stretches back to 2005, when the Rotary Club of Welshpool wanted to mark the Rotary centenary. They obtained permission to erect a suitable board on the Owain Glyndwr Park.
“We were also given permission to paint a mural next to the board,” explained Dennis.
“We used a piece of marine plywood, and a local ‘signwriter’ painted the Rotary roundel and suitable wording free of charge. A local artist was commissioned to design and paint the mural.”
“Lots of people, local and visitors, pass through the little park so our club is constantly in the public eye,”
Dennis explained that the board was soon fixed to the wall but the artist, for whatever reason, never began the work. So in 2006, Dennis’s wife designed a mural. As the park is adjacent to the Montgomery Canal that was the chosen theme.
“The plan was for the local High School students to paint the mural, but again that failed to happen and my wife ended up doing the job herself,” he explained.
“After two or three years the board began to deteriorate, then paint was daubed over it. Someone, I’m not sure who, removed the board and I don’t know what happened to it.”
For the next nine or ten years the mural remained, though its purpose was long forgotten.
So last year, Welshpool Rotary arranged for a replacement board. The new one is plastic, and has an anti-vandal coating, and is now siting proudly in the town.
“Lots of people, local and visitors, pass through the little park so our club is constantly in the public eye,” added Dennis.
