A DETERMINED South Cheshire woman has become the first ever female member of a Rotary Club.

After 74 years with an exclusive all-male membership, Nantwich Rotary Club has welcomed Sarah Perris, a PR and communications training consultant at Perris-Myatt.

And now Sarah is ready to give the club some female attention.

She said: 'I have worked for quite a few national charities before but I wanted to do something that would help the local community.

'As Nantwich didn't have a female member, I thought it was a great opportunity to expand their horizons.

'I think the local Rotary club would definitely benefit from more women and a greater age mix than they have currently and I hope that my joining will start a new trend at the Nantwich Rotary Club.'

Sarah, 47, is eager to change the way the club is perceived.

The former Bentley Motors communications director was never worried about being hugely outnumbered.

'I think it could be intimidating for many women to walk into an all-male organ-isation,' she said.

'But I am hoping that my breaking the mould will en-courage more local business-women to get involved.

'I do believe there is an image issue with Rotary. I don't think people realise what they do and how much they raise for local charities.

'The members of Nantwich Rotary have been extremely welcoming and absolutely charming and although it is certainly a big change for them to have a woman in their midst, they see it as a change for the better.'

Nantwich Rotary president Robert Eardley said that the club is delighted to have Sarah on board.

He added: 'It did cause a few raised eyebrows and a ripple or two. In fact, one member has resigned from the club as a matter of principle.

'But once the older members got used to the idea, they have welcomed Sarah with open arms.

'Rotary has been a dual-gender organisation for some time and it just so happened that Nantwich has never attracted a female member before now.

'It is a positive move by the club and we are very happy to have Sarah on board.

'I'm sure she is going to make a great contribution.'