TIMPERLEY resident Helen Doherty was keeping it in the family when she became the new president of a Manchester rotary club.

Helen, aged 54, has taken over the reins of the Manchester Trailblazers Rotary Club.

When the club was established four years ago, its inaugural president was Helen's father, Harold Bolter, and his wife Sheila is also a member.

The club has possibly the lowest age profile of any rotary club n the country, with an average age of 35.

Helen was one of the first people to join the club when it was established four years ago and immediately took on the club secretary role.

Harold, of Drayton Grove, Timperley, said: "From the start, we concentrated on getting younger people involved in Rotary, which is widely seen as an old people's retirement activity,"

Harold, who is now 78, was astonished when he was asked by younger members of the existing Rotary Club of Manchester to help them set up a city centre club which would meet in the evenings rather than at lunch-time, making it more accessible to people with jobs.

"If my wife and I hadn't become members of the Trailblazers and roped in Helen, who is now 54, the average age of the club's members would probably be nearer 30.

"The younger element don't seem to hold our longevity against us, though, and for our part we have found working with younger people very rewarding."

Helen's predecessor as president, Peter Senior, a teacher from Heald Green, is 32, and his successor as president to follow Helen has already been chosen. A New Zealander, working and studying in Manchester, Martin Judd is just 23 years old.

The Manchester Trailblazers club meets on Thursday evenings at the St. James's Club in the city centre and details of its many activities are detailed on its website. It is actively seeking new members.

As an indicator, the club's next big event is a Bollywood Extravaganza, to be held on July 8 at the Sai Spice restaurant in Chorlton. It features a three course meal prepared by a world renowned chef and spectacular entertainment, including belly dancing and live traditional Indian music and dance.

The event is in aid of two charities, the Booth Centre, which helps the homeless of Manchester, and the Rotary Foundation, which supports many good causes world-wide and is best known for its successful campaign to end polio.