Local Face: Cheryl Law
Cheryl first arrived ‘down south’ in May 1979 and took up residence in Golders Green, North London as a live-in Nanny. Originating from North Yorkshire, she brought a can-do attitude and a willingness to roll her sleeves up and crack on. Although there were times when it was very difficult financially for her parents, they had instilled in Cheryl and her siblings that there’s always someone else in greater need – ‘give what you can when you can’. This has been Cheryl’s aim since.
Once in London she was introduced to Rotaract – a younger version of Rotary, where she helped in the community and raised money for those in need, and even better – had the most amazing social life whilst doing good.
Cheryl built friendships that even now, 40+ years later are still going strong. She and her friends in the Rotaract Club of Hampstead, Hendon and Golders Green were even at LIVE AID, they manned a refreshment stall and raised £1,000 to give to Live Aid – this was achieved on the night by sneaking through the back alleyways around the backstage area and catching Bob Geldof as he came off stage at the end of the night. The cheque was swapped for a photo – it went in to his jean’s pocket – never to be seen again – but it was replaced!
Following Rotaract, Cheryl joined Rotary – one of the best decisions she ever made. It has been a chance to use her skills and talents for the good of others, whether that is locally nationally, or internationally.
In 2009 Cheryl was the inaugural President of Rotary in Wendover and District (from Chequers, to Tring, Aston Clinton, Weston Turville, Wendover and villages in between) and remains an active member.
Cheryl moved to Berkhamsted in 1982, then Tring, followed by Buckland and finally to Wendover in 2021. She has been able to project manage building work at all of her homes, including fully renovating a Rothschild house in Tring, and is now hoping to renovate her present home, alongside running 2 successful companies, her charity work, her family and her Church leadership role at High Street Baptist, Tring.
Her years in Rotary have enabled her to travel to Australia leading a group of young media professionals, so that they could learn from other professionals, and to America, Canada, Germany and this year Australia for the Rotary International Convention.
As well as having a lot of fun and meeting many new friends, Rotary has given Cheryl the opportunity to further her professional talents, eventually becoming District Governor in 2017/18. She had responsibility for 1600+ Rotarians in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.
Two years ago, she was appointed by Rotary International as an Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Co-ordinator to advise on and encourage charitable work through the Foundation, including the eradication of Polio – something that is very much needed – especially after the recent health scares in London, New York and Israel – ‘it’s only a plane ride away’!
Rotary is not just big international projects, it is small community projects too – making a difference locally. Wendover Rotary hold a Duck Race every Autumn, and have an Eco-Santa Sleigh (think 3 wheeled bike with trailer) both of which raise much needed funds for local charities, and other smaller events. So much more could be done if they had more members. Why not join them!