John Clifford, Managing Director of Westminster Stone presented the Rotary National Peace Award to the extremely deserving winner Sara Rowbotham.

The Peace Award is given by Rotary International to recognise an individual or organisation who has contributed to the furtherance of peace and understanding throughout the peoples of the world.

Sara Rowbotham is a former social worker who worked with the Rochdale Crisis Intervention Team for the NHS. As a frontline sexual health worker and lead for the crisis team, her work played a key role in exposing the Rochdale child sex abuse ring and helped to bring the perpetrators to court.  Sara received Special Recognition at the NHS Hero Awards and was played by Maxine Peake in the BBC drama Three Girls.

The presentation took place at this year's Rotary District Conference at the Liner Hotel, Liverpool on Saturday 6th October.  The conference drew high profile speakers working for Charities and Institutions around the world including, Terry Waite CBE, Entrepreneur Jay Allen, Dr. Waheed Arian, Sara Rowbotham, and Darren Richards of Mercy Ships.

Rotary Peace Prize 2018 | Sara Rowbotham | Westminster Stone

This year's International Award winner is Dr Arian and the Arian Foundation –  for their work in supporting medical services in war zones.

Arian Teleheal uses volunteer doctors from the UK and US plus other countries to advise their colleagues in war zones and low resource countries using encrypted social media, enabling real-time discussions on the best available care for patients. The charity has been credited with saving dozens of lives in Afghanistan and Syria.

Rotary International is one of the largest humanitarian organisations in the world and is made up of 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide who work in their local, national and international communities to help those in need.  The panel of adjudicators for the Peace Prize includes Terry Waite CBE who was himself working to free hostages in war-torn areas when he was captured in Beirut and spent almost 5 years in solitary confinement.

John Clifford was presented with a certificate of thanks by Terry Waite at this year's Annual Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for their support in sponsoring the Peace Prize 2018.

Rotary International Award 2018 | Arian Foundation | Westminster Stone