Page 20 - ROTO Magazine Winter 2022.pub

Rotary Magazine for District 1210
Getting to know you: District Governor Steve Antill

How long have you been a What are your leisure Name a book and a record
Rotarian? Officially 19 years interests? I enjoy walking – hills you would take to a desert
since my club, Bloxwich Phoenix, especially, though I don’t get to island Being told I could only
chartered. However, I have been do this too often. Indoors I enjoy have one of each does seem like a
involved with Rotary since joining reading, listening to music and serious case of mental torture.
Rotaract in 1985 playing video games. And I enjoy When I listen to Desert Island
How were you introduced to the occasional beer or whisky. Discs, I do think which tracks I’d
Rotary? I was invited to join What is your favourite food? choose and what my book and
Rugeley Rotaract by a friend of a As long as my ‘desert island’ has luxury item would be. I’m never
neighbour. He offered to let me cheese and vanilla ice-cream I’ll quite sure whether you should
drive his car to meetings which choose items that you know and
was an attractive proposition as I be happy. love or something more
was learning to drive at the time What was your first car? A challenging you would like to find

What is your vocation? Most pale yellow Mini SOA 121 Y. time to appreciate. I suspect I
of my career has been Temperamental but lots of fun. would go for the former and right
implementing and configuring One of the few cars I’ve owned now my book would be Rotters
business software. I have which I’ve cared about! Club (Jonathan Cole) and music
specialised in integrations and What was your first record Blue (Joni Mitchell) but on
wider design and have worked or CD? First singles bought with another day my answers might be
with well-known companies in my own money were “Up the different.
manufacturing, retail and Junction” (Squeeze), “Who Were
financial services. To friends and Name your favourite TV
family I am just someone who you you with in the Moonlight?” programme/s Old (classic) Dr
can ask about any IT issues. (Dollar) and “The Lone Who programmes. In more
Ranger” (Quantum Jump). My modern times when we binge
What encouraged you to first album, bought in 1978, was watch streaming services I have
offer yourself as District “Parallel Lines” (Blondie) which
Governor? Several fellow started a music collection habit particularly enjoyed, on Netflix,
Rotarians mooted the idea, but it that continues to this day “The Good Place” and “Crazy ex
was PDG Ken Wagstaffe who Girlfriend” I generally don’t turn
finally prompted my application. Who has been your greatest over if repeats of Friends, Frasier
The timing means that I will have inspiration in Rotary? There or Faulty Towers pop up on
completed my Year before my have been many. Possibly the screen. Maybe I have a thing for
daughter Chloe begins her GCSE greatest, to me and others in my programmes beginning with F.
studies. club, was PDG Dr Fraser Dukes If you could be in a film what
What have you so far found with his never-ending passion would it be and what
the most rewarding aspect of and enthusiasm for Rotary’s Polio character would you play?
DG? It is a genuine privilege to Eradication programme I would love to be one of those
be able to visit clubs and learn What is your favourite type non-speaking (or partially,
what they do. It is endlessly of holiday? City Breaks or speaking) bit parts in a movie,
fascinating how each club is remote cottages. Not hot places something like newspaper seller
unique yet shares so much of a #2, where I would be able to say
common purpose. I love being If you could invent a gadget, I’ve been in it, find and share the
able to share these great projects what would it be? I have no but never be recognised in the
and successes across the district. idea, but I’d like to think it would street or be of any interest to the
...and the most frustrating As be wholly pointless but somehow tabloid press.
DG I’m frustrated by the volume fun.
of meetings with unclear If you could pass a law, what What is your most treasured
objectives, also the inherent and would it be? Ideally we need possession? I could make a
increasing cost of Rotary them all – I think we have strong case for my Rotary Clubs
subscriptions. There is much talk enough, but I question their mascot, Ash the Bear. He is a bit
of flexibility but little evidence of older, a bit worn, but holds a host
this in the underlying rules and consistent application. of fantastic memories for me and
systems. our club.

20 ROTO WINTER 2022