Darlington Rotary Club makes a unique appointment with first female president

Sue Campbell, who marked 50 years as a journalist last year, will succeed Paul Robinson in the prestigious post at a handover dinner at Headlam Hall on June 21.

She said: “I’m very proud to be the first woman president but what’s most important is to do the job well and make a difference.”

Darlington Rotary Club has around 70 members, making it one of the North-East’s biggest branches, but only started allowing women members 12 years ago.

Ms Campbell, the first woman president in 96 years of Darlington Rotary, has served as chairman of the Youth Services Committee, and one of her main objectives as president will be to increase engagement with young people.

The organisation has Rotakids for seven to 11-year-olds and Interact for 14 to 18-year-olds. Sue will be working with Darlington’s former Youth MP Danny Brown to develop Rotaract for those aged 18-30.

Her other priority will be to improve communication through more effective use of social media.

The club has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds during its history, mainly for local good causes. For example, its latest Christmas tree collection raised £10,000 for St Teresa’s Hospice.

“We do lots of things very well, but we have to do more to reach out and think differently. While it’s good to maintain traditions, we also have to evolve,” she said.

She started her career as a journalist on the Skyrack Express in West Yorkshire, before moving to the Lincolnshire Echo, and then working as Barnard Castle reporter for the Darlington & Stockton Times. After a year in Canada, she returned to England and worked for the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette. That was followed by six years in Manchester before emigrating to Hong Kong.

When she returned, she began an 18-year stint at Darlington College, becoming Head of Journalism, and taking the department to centre of excellence status. She later became a director of the college, managing external relations.