The new president of Littlehampton Rotary Club is Ron Child.

Mr Child, of Pigeonhouse Lane, Rustington, was installed at a ceremony during the club's meeting on July 1 at Highdown Towers.

Ron has had a long career as an architect during which he spent two years in Kingston, Jamaica, in charge of the development of a college of arts, science and technology.

He was also a member of a team of architects developing the BBC TV centre White City.

His last appointment was as borough architect of the London Borough of Wandsworth.

He lived in Sutton where, in 1986, he was a founder member of the Rotary Club of Sutton Nonsuch.

In 1994 he joined Littlehampton Rotary Club after moving to the area, which holds much family history for his wife, Angela.

Her great grandfather started the photographic business of J White and Son in River Road in 1874.

The business later moved to 20/22 Beach Road and expanded to include furniture sales. Her grandfather, AH White, was president of Littlehampton Rotary Club in 1925 so Ron is following in family footsteps.

A particular interest of Ron's has been the project launched jointly by six local Rotary clubs to fund and set up a life education centre, an important part of the fight against drug abuse.

The centre is a modern mobile classroom which, working in schools, gives children from the ages of four to 15 the knowledge, self-confidence and decision-making skills to enable them to make healthy lifestyle choices, particularly the avoidance of drug misuse.

Ron has been a member of the inter-club committee for six years, arranges an ongoing series of visits to schools and will continue his interest in this project while president.

Several new members have joined Littlehampton Rotary Club recently and Ron is keen to encourage more young business and professional men and women to join and to enjoy the fun and fellowship of serving the community.

For more information, phone 01903 785888.