JUST five years into his short Rotary career, Paul Parfrey has been awarded an accolade few can dream of earning after decades in the organisation.

The member and past president of the Rotary Club of Swindon Phoenix, was surprised with the Paul Harris Fellowship last week – the highest honour available to Rotarians across the globe.

While many must wait up to 30 years and some never achieve the sought-after award, the 49-year-old from Haydon Wick became one of the youngest holders of the title in Rotary history.

“I didn’t have a clue I was going to get it; I was speechless,” he said.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I’ve only been in Rotary for five years and I didn’t expect it at this stage of my career.

“I’ve only seen Paul Harris Fellows who have been in Rotary for a long time and have achieved a lot.

“I recognise the meaning of it. But I just do what I enjoy doing. It’s about giving back to people less fortunate than ourselves.”

The Paul Harris Fellowship Award is the highest honour a club can bestow on a member for outstanding service to their community.

Paul joined the Rotary Club of Swindon Thamesdown in 2009, after making a presentation to members on his work with charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Along with other members, Paul broke away from the group to form the Rotary Club of Swindon Phoenix in February 2012.

He went on to become its president between July 2012 and June 2013.

His most significant achievements over the years have included launching and turning the Dragon Boat Race and Santa Run into must-attend events and firm favourite in Swindon’s fundraising calendar.

Raising enough funds for a £6,500 mammography biopsy chair at the Great Western Hospital was also a highlight.

The humble fundraiser could not help but feel others were more deserving of the honour.

“I keep saying I should not have had this,” he said. “ Other people in the group should have,” he said.

“The title doesn’t change anything. I will carry on doing what I’ve been doing.”

This includes continuing to usher Rotary into the 21st century, one of Swindon Phoenix’s main missions.

“We are quite a young club age wise,” he added. “It’s not an old men’s club and we have got six lady members. The goal is to bring Rotary into the 21st century. It’s about making it fun and we want to be more approachable.

“We have relaxed the strict Rotary rules on attendance. The majority of us have jobs, people are busy. What is important is that members turn up to events.”

The news of successful nomination for the fellowship was sprung on Paul at a cheque presentation on Wednesday, September 17, when president David Coe called him up to make a speech referring to him as “Paul Parfrey, Paul Harris Fellow.”

This left Paul speechless.

His wife Lynn, 57, could not contain her tears as Paul was presented with his certificate and medal.

“I saw him speechless – he was just in shock – and cried,” she said. “He is a person who is not in it to promote himself. His goal is to help out people.”