Whitby schools compete for special Rotary event trophy in memory of Fred Payne

There were teams entered from Caedmon, Eskdale and Fyling Hall but also from Outwood Academy, Normanby, making a total of 20 teams of youngsters all enjoying the challenge.

This year’s task was to construct a piece of equipment which could transport a load across an imaginary river valley and deposit it at the other side.

To their delight, the vast majority of teams succeeded in accomplishing this task.

The equipment constructed proved entertaining for both judges, visitors and Rotarians alike!

A special trophy was awarded this year, the Fred Payne Cup.

Fred was a hard-working and energetic member of the Rotary Club of Whitby & District who had taken charge of this tournament since its inception about 14 years ago.

Sadly, Fred passed away only weeks before this year’s event but his family wished the trophy to be instigated in his memory as someone who had played the major role in the tournament’s success over those years.

In memory of Fred a minute’s silence was held to start the day.

The winners of this trophy were a team from Fyling Hall made up of Faith Bailey, Tabetha Summersgill, Bonnie Grenfell and Isobel Anderson.

At the end, the two Rotary Presidents from the Whitby clubs, Bob Cameron and Les Overton, presented the trophies.

Fyling Hall School scooped most of the prizes, winning the Advanced and Foundation levels while Eskdale School won the Intermediate competition.

The Fred Payne Cup was awarded by the judges to the junior team from Fyling Hall who had shown great teamwork throughout.