SIR Terry Wogan and other celebrities will be among more than 2,000 people expected at the national Rotary clubs’ conference, which starts in Bournemouth today.

A three-day programme of guest speakers has been set up at the BIC to welcome members of the volunteer organisation and visitors will be able to look around a free exhibition in the Solent Hall.

Today TV presenter Loyd Grossman will speak in the Windsor Hall about his chairmanship of the Churches Conservation Trust with the founder of the Help For Heroes charity Bryn Parry also taking the stage ahead of a Young Musicians and Vocalists showcase in the evening.

Among another full day of events tomorrow, Songs of Praise presenter Pam Rhodes will talk about how Rotary volunteers help dementia sufferers with Sir Terry Wogan talking about Children In Need.

Entertainer Richard Digance is among those appearing on Sunday.

Mike Dwyer, president of the Rotary Club of Bournemouth, said he had been looking forward to a boost for both the local rotary clubs and businesses.

He said: “It does feel special having it here and even more so because of the benefits it brings into the town for the hotels, restaurants and shops. It all adds to the local economy, which is great. And we’ve been looking forward to meeting other Rotarians.”

Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Chris Rochester, will speak in Windsor Hall today as well as the event host Caroline Millman, Rotary Wessex’s district governor.

87 YEARS AND COUNTING

THIS year’s Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland conference at the BIC is the 87th anniversary of the event.

Organisers hope the event will encourage more people to become members of a Rotary club to help with projects benefiting communities both locally and across the world.

The presentations and evening events at the conference are limited to Rotarians.

However, non-members can turn up at the BIC and get a free pass for the House of Friendship exhibition in the Solent Hall open from 11am to 6pm today and then 9am to 5pm on Saturday. The exhibition is open from 9am for two hours on Sunday.

There will be more than 70 charities and organisations with Rotary links there including ShelterBox and the Royal National Institute of Blind people.