Bill Henderson , President 2007/2008

Bill was born in and went to school in Luton,

He was a founder member of Luton Rotaract club and a member of the Young Conservatives.

On leaving school he followed a course in business studies and accountancy, gaining the highest pass rate in business studies of all students on the course. Bill joined the family business, Hendersons Newsagents as a partner in 1971. With Bill's involvement the business began to prosper, embarking on an expansion program that led to the opening of a further two shops within 2 years, and then on to a total of fifteen shops. Over the years businesses have been bought and sold and Henderson's Group as it is known today has become a major player in the trade.

Bill married Mary in 1979 and they have one daughter Emma who is studying at Bristol.

Bill joined Luton North Rotary Club in 1994 and has been actively involved with International projects, particularly with our link clubs of Metz Rive Gauche in France and Wolfsburg in Germany

. Bill's aim this year is to bring his club up to date, He has already kitted members out in Club sweatshirts and inducted three new members all from different cultural backgrounds. It is hoped to finalise the clubs link with South Africa very soon and to continue with support to India.

Bill and Mary have attended every International meeting and have hosted and entertained our overseas visitors in their home. This year Bill is working with members of the club to raise money to send a container of wheelchairs to St Vincent in the Caribbean.

Bill has a number of hobbies, Caravaning, walking, gardening and is about to take up sailing. Bill and Mary have caravaned extensively all over Europe, Scandinavia and the UK. Wherever they go with the caravan he will spend much time walking and exploring the local area. He will regularly take a five or six-mile walk at weekends with Max his Border Terrier.

A keen passion is Motorsport, where Bill was the founder of Henderson Motorsport, racing the original Minis until moving to the Ford Fiesta series three years ago. They race all over the U.K. with the occasional trip to Europe and have had many podium finishes. The team driver Rupert Hinde has raced for many years and started his career in Formula Ford at the same time as Johnny Herbert and Eddie Ervine of Formula One fame.

Bill has now handed over the reigns and semi retired from the business and intends to spend his time on his many hobbies, learning to sail, travelling and getting more involved in Rotary.

Luton North Rotary is always looking for potential new members to join their active social and community service life. We can't promise everybody a career in Motorsport, even if you are the next Lewis Hamilton, but who knows ! For further information please drop us an email.