BUSINESSMAN Paul Hughes is ensuring Taunton charities continue to get financial support.

The father-of-three is the new president of Rotary Club of Taunton Vale with a mission to recruit more members and support charities.

Mr Hughes, 57, said: "The world we live in is pressurised and busy, and yet the needs for charities to attract financial and non-financial support has never been greater, given the UK and world-wide economic environment.

"In my career I have been able to acquire experience and skills in assessing situations, identifying critical issues and implementing clear but simple actions which are to the benefit of all.

"I believe Rotary provides the perfect environment to use this experience for the benefit of both charities and the members of Rotary, to ensure we can serve others in a fun and committed environment.”

Mr Hughes, who joined the organisation 16 years ago, says he wants to “give something back” and “help those who are so much less fortunate than me”.

He is a former chairman of Taunton Round Table and of the British Institute for Brain Injured Children and is currently a governor of Queen's College, Taunton.

His original career was in corporate banking with Lloyds before providing consultancy services on risk management and team development to companies across the globe and more recently working with a variety of small and medium sized enterprises.

He is a partner in a boutique corporate finance business in London and an independent consultant to an international banking group.