A BRADFORD organisation has honoured one of its longest serving members, who has been involved in the group for half a century.

David Pollard joined the Rotary Club of Bradford in 1964, and in the proceeding 50 years was involved in international exchanges, helping raise funds to fight polio and helping improve sports facilities for disabled youngsters.

Yesterday the club, which works on community projects, held an event to recognise Mr Pollard's achievements at the Masonic Hall in Springbank Place, Manningham. The club's current president Manoj Joshi and Yorkshire District Governor Rob Walmsley were there to celebrate the occasion with Mr Pollard.

The year he joined the club his late father, Ernest, was president, and like his son he also was in the rotary club for over 50 years. David was president in 2002/3 and Yorkshire Rotary District Ambassadorial Officer in 2004/5.

He was presented with a certificate signed by Gary Huang, president of Rotary International at yesterday's meal.

Mr Joshi said: "David joined at the age of 26, and he has always enjoyed Rotary, even as a young boy when he attended events with his father. I have been a member for 33 years, and for me to present someone with a 50 years certificate is a great privilege."

Mr Pollard, a former member of the RAF and accomplished yacht master, diver, and leading figure in Bradford's motor industry, is married to Dr Linda Pollard CBE, a current Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and Chairman of Leeds Teaching Hospitals.

Throughout his membership of Rotary, he has been a keen supporter of the Rotary Foundation charity which also supports other exchange programmes including the international students sponsored by Rotary to attend the Peace Studies course at Bradford University. He has led groups of young people on international trips. He was one of those who were involved in the negotiations between Rotary and Bradford University in the creation of the Rotary sponsorship of Peace Fellows. He went on to become a Rotary Peace World Foundation member in 2004 visiting Australia, Thailand and America as part of this role. Between 2005 and 2008 he was the Rotary International Host Area Co-ordinator for Bradford University.

He also supported the club's Polio Plus scheme to help eradicate the disease and has also been involved with the Rotary sailability scheme programme to provide sailing experience to local disabled children.