THE outgoing president of Taunton Vale Rotary Club has handed over the bat-on to her successor in a social distancing ceremony.

Kathryn Robinson-Burge ended her year as the club's first woman in charge by passing the chain of office to Tony Blackshaw - on the end of a cricket bat held in her outstretched arm.

Kathryn said: "In normal times our club meets fortnightly at the County Ground in Taunton, so something with a cricket theme seemed an appropriate solution (to the social distancing issue)."

Looking to the future, Tony said: "Kathryn began the process of widening the appeal of our rotary club and I am determined to build on that important start.

"In recent months, members have been providing extra help to ARC (the local homeless charity), St Margaret’s Hospice, Taunton East Development Trust (Halcon Link Centre) and Taunton Opportunity Group.

"During my coming term as president the club, I will be concentrating particularly on support for young people in and around Taunton.

"As local Rotarians, we stand ready to continue to respond as needed, assisting the recovery of our Taunton community from the coronavirus pandemic."