Past District Governor Ambrose Elliott (with President Billy Ferguson) presents the Four Avenue of  Services award to Past President Hugh Rice.

In January 2010, the Rotary Club of Banbridge mourned the death of Rotarian Hugh Rice. His career in banking brought him to Banbridge in 1981, and he was invited into Rotary in 1982. Hugh was Club President in 1991-92, again in 2009-2010, and he served District as Attendance officer and as Conference Treasurer.

Hugh demonstrated more enthusiasm than most, and for him, there was only one way to do anything – the right way! Regardless of the project or job in hand, he was in the thick of it. In the 1990s he started a series of annual film premières, and was instrumental in raising huge sums for the club’s charities. He also led a small team of volunteers to Romania with a lorry load of vital supplies for the needy in that country. He contributed greatly to fun and fellowship also. He attended every social function, and he and his wife Aideen hosted many a BBQ at their home on the outskirts of the town (with that wonderful view of the winding River Bann).

Hugh was honoured by the club with a Paul Harris Fellowship and later with a Four Avenues of Service Award). He was also a keen attendee of Conference, representing the club many time at District Conference and also at R.I.B.I. Conferences.

Hugh had a perennial smile bordering on a grin, and his love of fun and fellowship was infectious. He was not in the best of health in recent years but this did not stop him from taking on the Presidency of the Golf Club in 2008 nor that of the Rotary Club in 2009. It was somehow ironic that the strongest part of him (his huge heart) was to let him down in the end.

He really lived out our motto "Service Above Self’ and we are most unlikely to see his like again.

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