PERSHORE'S former Mayor has switched from one chain to another by becoming the new president of the Rotary Club of Pershore.

John Grantham, aged 71, who stepped down from 15 months mayoral duties last month, received the chain of office from former president Gerald Canvin, at the Railway Inn in Defford yesterday.

John, who joined the club five years ago, and has Acorns and St Richard's Hospices as his nominated chari-ties, had a quick start to his presidency by presenting essay prizes at Pershore High School today.

He said: "My aim is to raise money to help Rotary Club Intern-ational complete its 10 year programme of eliminating Polio throughout the world and I want to make the people of Pershore more aware of what Rotary does."