Press Release

Well loved British humanitarian Terry Waite has been awarded the top Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his services towards international understanding and peace

07/08/2008

RIBI president Ian Thomson presented the 69 year old from Cheshire with a Paul Harris Fellow with Three Sapphires at the recent Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in North Wales.

Mr Waite, a life  president of the Eisteddfod, was delighted to have been invited to visit the Rotary Club of Llangollen at this year's musical festival to be formally acknowledged as an honorary member of the club but was completely taken aback to be handed the prestigious accolade.

President Ian Thomson said: "Terry Waite is a truly inspirational man. He has made a real difference to so many people's lives and yet remains completely modest. He has endured more than most but still tirelessly strives towards creating a better world, a vision which Rotary rests on so it is only fitting that we recognise his efforts with a Paul Harris Fellow.

“Rotary volunteers are dedicated to promoting world-wide peace and understanding through our local and international projects and we are delighted to welcome Terry as an honorary member.”

In the 1960’s and 70’s, My Waite was an advisor to both the Anglican Bishop of Bristol and later to the first African Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi where he was responsible for developing programmes of aid and development for war-torn Uganda. In 1980 he became Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie's Assistant for Anglican Communion Affairs.

Mr Waite became most famous in the 1980’s for negotiating the successful releases of several hostages in Iran, Libya and Lebanon. He himself was taken hostage in Lebanon in 1987 where he remained in captivity for 1,763 days, the first four years of which were spent in total solitary confinement. He was finally released on 18 November 1991.

Since then, Mr Waite has been involved in a range of humanitarian and charity work and is the founder of AbleChildAfrica and Hostage UK.

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, largely run by volunteers many from local Rotary  and Inner Wheel clubs, has been held annually in the North Wales town since 1947 in an attempt to unite nations through music.  Over 4000 competitors from over 40 countries visit the town during Eisteddfod week to compete in dancing, singing and instrumental skills.  Visitors this year totalled 40,000.