Gloucester Club - Centenary

Rotary Club of Gloucester

Centenary
May 1920 - May 2020

100 Years of making
a difference

Rotary Centenary Booklet Cover 2020 V2.indd 1 Gloucester
Centenary

2020

03/02/2020 16:24

Thoughts from Centenary
President Matt Cass
I feel very honoured and proud to be chosen as President of the Rotary Club of Gloucester
in this momentous year and I know my wife Holly and family share my pride. My late dad
(who was a member of this club) would have been delighted as is my mum Hilary who is this
year’s Inner Wheel President.

A previous book celebrated our 70th anniversary, and in this booklet compiled by Rtn. John
Lovell, we encapsulate much that has been achieved in the last 30 years.

What does 100 years mean to most people? More than a lifetime? What could the average
person hope to achieve in their lifetime, get a job, start a family and leave a legacy for the next
generation? We could only hope for so much.

What does a Rotarian hope to achieve in their lifetime? All of the above and more!  With the
motto “Service Above Self”, Rotarians have a broader horizon and strive to make life better for
those around them and beyond, which is a much greater legacy!

So what does Rotary mean to me? It’s
not just my dad’s old club - then a club
for men only. Today we demonstrate our
commitment to equal opportunities by also
welcoming women as members. Rotarians
strive to make life better for those around
them, for their city and the world they
inhabit. The world is a much better place for
having Rotarians in it. 

What the Rotary Club of Gloucester has
achieved in its 100 years is impossible to
quantify.

In my short time with the club I have seen
the creation of the Christmas “Tree of
Light”, which raises thousands of pounds
every year; the “Santa Fun Run”, which
complements the Tree of Light and then
there are the Rotary Community Awards
which use the funds raised from these and
other events to donate to deserving local
charities.

In the past nine years we have raised and l Centenary President Matt Cass pictured
given away well over £300,000 and initiated with his mother Hilary, President of Inner
projects in Developing Countries worth Wheel during Matt’s centenary year.

more than $1.1 Million Dollars (with the help
of Rotary matching grants).

It is my hope that the projects we have established will continue to flourish into the future. So
my thanks to all existing and former members of the Rotary Club of Gloucester who have done
a great job in making both Gloucester and places further afield much better as a result of their
efforts. So let’s keep up the good work and look forward to the next 100 years of the Rotary
Club of Gloucester. Who knows what our club will achieve in the next century?

Making a difference .... at home

l One of the highlights of the
Rotary year is the switching
on of the Tree of Light on
Gloucester’s Eastgate
Street. Since its inception,
this has been a joint venture
with the City Council with
some of the money raised
going to the Mayor’s chosen
charity. Here we see Rotary
President Sue Smith with
City Mayor Steve Morgan.

A mission without end...

This year the Rotary Club of Gloucester marks its centenary. It was chartered on May 1st 1920 and
being number 27, was one of the first clubs founded in the British Isles. Since then its members have
given of their time and resources to help those less fortunate in our city and the wider world.
It is a mission without end. Despite the growth of a welfare state, there are still needs not met by
local or national government or are better served within the charity sector. Inspired by the Rotary
motto of Service above Self, the club continues to address a host of new social challenges. These
include helping the homeless, the deprived and the disadvantaged and supporting the legion of
carers who look after others in our community. Many of those doing the caring are schoolchildren.
The club also has a separate Youth Trust Fund which helps local youngsters to achieve career goals.
That said the Club has a proud record of initiating and financing humanitarian schemes in many parts
of the world with the support of District 1100 and Rotary Foundation’s Global (Matching) Grants.  
This is dealt with separately.
Today the Rotary Club of Gloucester is dual gender with men and women in our ranks, a
development which would have been unthinkable to those who attended the inaugural meeting of the
club in the Docks Office of Mr E. Manning-Lewis in December 1919.
Following its inception, the Rotary Club of Gloucester grew to more than 100 members and then
started ‘daughter’ clubs in the city – Rotary North (now Rotary at Kingsholm), Gloucester Severn and,
more recently, helping with the formation of Gloucester Quays.
In a world where the demands of the work place and environment have increased, membership
had waned but is now on the increase again as existing members look to recruit new and younger
members who will take the club successfully into its second century.
Today the computer is king and is central to the running of an efficient organisation. E-mails are the
main means of communication both within and between the national, district and local arms of Rotary.
The Rotary club of Gloucester continues to make a difference to the lives of those in Gloucester who
have fallen through the net of prosperity. We are also more alive to the needs of a wider world and
our club has taken a leading role in bringing Rotary help to countries all over the globe.
In 1990 an excellent history of the club was compiled by Barbara Drake. Apart from a brief synopsis
of the first 70 years which appears at the end of this booklet, the purpose of this publication is to

focus on the last 30 years of the Rotary Club of Gloucester’s service to the community here and
abroad. Our story therefore starts in 1990. It is not a history as time, space and finance dictate
otherwise.

It is more an overview of changing trends, new initiatives and differing challenges as Rotary seeks to
continue to address needs both locally and internationally. Space does not permit mention of every
event organised by the club nor is it possible to mention every cheque or donation given to local
charities to use in the community. Quite frankly the list would be too long and many events are of an
annual nature.

In the following pages you will see Caring in the
references made to some social community
events at the club. Rotary has always
worked most efficiently when fellowship Let me give a few examples.
flourishes. Only through meeting,
building friendships and creating an l The club sends needy local families on
ethos of camaraderie, is it possible to holiday every year.
work effectively to help others. l There is an annual Senior Citizens’ Party
It’s not only within Rotary that local around Easter.
Rotarians have made a difference. l For many years at Christmas there was a
Many members have incredible party for disabled folk at the Home Farm
records of service encompassing other Trust at Frocester masterminded by Jim
charities and organisations in the local Tee and later by Trevor Picken. When this
community and further afield. As an event ended, the club’s Christmas now
example some members took leading starts with an uplifting charity concert staged
roles in the establishment of the Life by the Salvation Army during Advent.
Education Trust in Gloucestershire. The These concerts have raised thousands of £s
Trust uses mobile classrooms to visit for the Rotary presidents’ chosen charities.
schools to educate pupils about the l For several years the club has also helped to
dangers of drugs and other addictive pack and distribute Salvation Army festive
substances. food parcels to more than 400 households in
Another member has taken a leading the city.
role in promoting the work of the l Another regular event has been Kids Out – a
Jaipur Limb Project, a Rotary inspired day out for disadvantaged and disabled
organisation, which raises funds to children - which has been held at Cattle
finance limb camps and limb centres Country at Berkeley in June.
in Africa, the Indian sub-continent and
other areas in need of help (such as
Haiti after the 2010 earthquake).

This selfless giving of time and talents has been recognised by Paul Harris Fellowships, an MBE for
Robin Morris and three members have received the Mayor’s Medal for significant contributions to
the life of Gloucester. For them the Rotary motto ‘Service Above Self’ is a precept they practice. In
modern parlance they not only Talk the Talk they also Walk the Walk.

The record of service which marked the club’s first 70 years has been proudly continued in the past
30 years and as a club and as individuals within the community, Gloucester is a far better place for
Rotary and Rotarians having been here. Judge for yourselves.

l The Storytellers’ Bench situated in
St. Mary de Crypt Churchyard was a gift
to the city from Rotary. It was designed
and made by the stonemasons of
Gloucester Cathedral.

Making a difference .... at home

Fundraising is on the up and up

DURING the past 30 years the emphasis on fundraising has increased as has the amount raised
and given away. In 1993 the (then) three city Rotary clubs raised and distributed around
£30,000 for local and international causes.
A year later the Rotary Club of Gloucester raised and gave away £10,000. Of this £3,000 was split
between the Willow Trust and Macmillan Nurses, £1,000 went on holidays for needy families and
£669 on an Easter Party for senior citizens. Smaller sums went to other local projects while money
also went to help Indian Earthquake victims and to aid civil war victims in the former Yugoslavia.
Compare this to the last nine years during which the Rotary Club of Gloucester has raised an
amazing £348,222 – an average of around £38,000 per year. Whereas during the 1990s the club
depended on a number of one off events including auctions of promises, concerts and receipts from
a cheese fayre and Pied Powder Fayre, in recent years considerable sums had been raised annually
from a number of repeat fundraising events.
Not all fund raisers in the 1990s were successful. A beer festival tagged as the club’s major income
booster for the year in June 1996 met with mixed fortunes. It certainly increased Rotary fellowship
and raised the club’s profile. Unfortunately it also lost thousands of £s and members were requested
to pay a levy to offset the losses.
During the past 30 years service clubs, such as ours, have had to be accountable to the communities
in which they live, work and fundraise if they are to attract public support and recruit new members.
Here Rotary has a problem. Unlike some organisations whose raison d’être is evident from their titles,
Rotary has frequently conjured up misleading images – often of exclusive (male-only) clubs where
the quality of the food and fellowship matter more than their commitment to charitable purposes.
All is changing. People are more understanding of Rotary’s purpose and show their approval by
helping us raise money and by sponsoring and attending Rotary events. Public Relations are slowly
altering people’s perceptions.
To raise in excess of a third of a million £s in nine years would not have been possible without the
help of thousands of non-Rotarians. Here are some of the ways in which this substantial amount has
been raised.

l The main source of income was car parking for Gloucester Rugby Club’s home
games which club members undertook at Imperial Commercials in Mercia Road and
at the Winfield Hospital. This netted £116,311.
l Other large income streams were: Members’ contributions £30,958; the festive Tree
of Light in the city’s Eastgate Street £40,115; Christmas street and store collections
£25,828 and other sponsored and fund raising events which contributed £55,824 to
the club’s coffers.
l The annual Salvation Army concerts held at the start of Advent have raised in
excess of £8,476 and brochure selling at the biennial Tall Ships festival topped
£9,000.
l Nearly 30 other events including an auction of promises, a Gala Evening, brass
band concerts, a race night, Santa Fun Run and many other events kept the income
flowing in and – in turn – enabled the club to fund vital humanitarian work both here
in the city and abroad.

continued overleaf

Making a difference .... at home

Topping the list of outgoings was £28,277 spent l ABOVE: President Matt Cass advertising
on Aquaboxes which are life savers in areas Rubgy match car parking which netted
of the world where water supplies have been £116,311 for the club’s coffers. BELOW:
compromised by natural or man-made disasters. Brochure sellers at the Tall Ships Festival,
As well as a water-filtration unit, each Aquabox which also raised £000s
contains a variety of humanitarian aid items,
including cooking utensils, hygiene equipment,
tools, shelter materials, baby and children’s
clothing and educational items.
The club has also contributed £19,256 to Rotary
Foundation – the world’s largest charity which
helps with health/humanitarian and educational
projects throughout the world.
On a local level the following have received
substantial gifts:- GEAR (the Gloucester
Emergency Accommodation Resource), Carers
Gloucestershire, City Mission’s Homeless Centre
(for showers), the James Hopkins Trust, the
Mayors’ charities; the Salvation Army; Together
in Matson; Alabare Home for Veterans and the
Willow Trust to name but a few.
In recent years the club has also initiated
a Rotary Community Awards scheme (now
supported by all Gloucester’s Rotary clubs). This
distributes smaller grants for specific purposes to
a large number of charities in the city. In 2019, for
instance, £12,667 was given away to more than
26 city organisations through this scheme which
invites groups to bid for up to £500 each from a
pot of money.
While the majority of the club’s cash is spent
here in Gloucester, the club has also supported
projects in Tanzania, Kenya, India, and Sri Lanka
during this period while also donating generously
towards Rotary International’s End Polio Now
– an on going campaign to eradicate polio
throughout the world.

l LEFT: During the past 30 years the club has
given more than $50,000 towards Rotary
International’s End Polio Now Campaign.
Here we see Club member and Former
President John Sargent at an Immunisation
Day in India with one of the children who
received the polio vaccine. On one day
alone in Lahore, over 100,000 children
received the vaccine.

Making a difference .... at home

Ups and downs of membership

In 1991 the club had a membership of 79 with over 70% attending the September meeting. Sadly
thereafter the number of members declined. To some extent this was inevitable. Many members
had ‘graduated’ to Rotary from Round Table many years earlier and then decided with increasing
age and infirmities to step down.

Similar problems beset all clubs in RIBI and recruitment is now a top agenda item at both national
and local levels. In Great Britain and Ireland the problem of fewer Rotarians has led to clubs
disappearing, others changing their meeting times and the emergence of e-clubs where members
meet on line and only occasionally in the flesh.
During the last 100 years and up to 5th
Various initiatives to attract new and younger February 2020, a total of 649 men and women
members have been tried and here in have been inducted into the club. There
Gloucester a new club aimed at a much lower are four past presidents who are the third
age profile, Gloucester Quays, has made its generation of their families to be members of
appearance. the club. These are Amanda Chamberlayne,

For existing clubs the challenge of retaining Jeremy Dancey, David Foyle and Clive
new members is an ongoing headache. With Kingscote. Amanda and Clive are still current
fewer joining Rotary’s ranks the age profile of members.

existing clubs is rising worryingly. New thinking

was required. In May 1994 outgoing president David Corbett expressed concern that some younger
and newer members had had to resign because of business pressures. He urged Rotary to find
ways to balance its ideals with an increasingly demanding business environment facing both young
executives and established practitioners.

Since then our club and others have redefined what qualifies for club attendance. Existing members
have had to be more tolerant of newcomers who often find it difficult to make a Friday lunch time
meeting but in all other aspects (such as attending events and fundraising) are doing superb work.

In terms of numbers our club slimmed from 79 in 1991 to around 40 by 2012. Since then we have
managed to attract some younger recruits with membership now nudging the 50 mark. The club’s
future looks much healthier than once it did.

A landmark meeting was held in April 1997 when the club voted by 27 votes to 24 to accept women
members. Only a simple majority was needed and, as a result, the club became the first dual
gender club in Gloucester. Rotary International has since decreed that it will be illegal for clubs to
discriminate on grounds of gender.

Just as the club has reflected the gender changes and expectations in society, so it has slowly
changed in other ways too. Informality is now evident in the way meetings are run and in the dress
adopted by members. Communications within and between members have changed from pen/paper/
telephone to e-mails and Facebook. The old adage that ‘As it was in the beginning, is now and ever
shall be’ is no longer sustainable – if indeed it ever was. Our club has had to move with the times.
Doing nothing was never an option.

One recent addition to the club’s list of officers is that of the almoner who keeps in touch
with members who are either indisposed themselves or have partners or loved ones to
look after. This sometimes means they are away from club for long periods. Keeping in
touch is vital both to assure them they are still in our thoughts and to alert members of
the situation. Until the end of 2019 this duty was carried out sensitivily by John Smith.
This post is now occupied by Peter Nesbitt.

Making a difference .... at home

Honorary
members

l For many years the club had
a close association with HMS
Gloucester whose captain was
an honorary member of the
club. This picture was taken
at the commissioning of HMS
Gloucester in 1985 when the
club presented the captain with
a tantalus for use in the officers’
boardroom. It was returned to
the club when the ship was
decommissioned.

The club has always had an illustrious list of honorary members chosen
in consequence of the position he or she holds. Throughout the past 30
years this list has included the Mayor of Gloucester.
Others have appeared and disappeared from the list. For years the
captain of HMS Gloucester was one such member until the ship was decommissioned.
Likewise the commanding officer of RAF Innsworth was a member until the base closed. More
recently the list has included the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire and the county High Sheriff.
Other additions have been the senior officers of the Gloucester corps of the Salvation Army. This is a
result of the close liaison which has grown between the club and the corps since John Smith, a corps
member, also became club president.
The link between the club and the city’s Civic leaders has been a fact of life for decades. This has
been continued and our ranks since 1990 have included former Mayors, Sheriffs and councillors
who have joined as members following their terms in office during which they have been able to
acknowledge the work the club does in the city.
The link has proved beneficial in both ways. The Tree of Light outside the Guildhall in Eastgate Street
is paid for by the council but is used as a fund raising feature by the club which always ensures that
the current mayor’s chosen charity is one of its recipients.

l This photo was taken at Hatherley
Manor Hotel in May 1995 at
a reception to mark the 75th
Anniversary of the Rotary Club
of Gloucester. It is unique in so
much as it was the only time that
six past and present Commanding
Officers of HMS Gloucester were
photographed together. Also
pictured is the “Silver Cathedral”,
a gift from the City of Gloucester
which was seldom seen outside
the ward room of the “Fighting G”.

Making a difference .... at home

Rotary... a club on the move

For 29 years from the mid-1960s until the mid-90s, the club’s home was the Fleece Hotel. The
club had moved there at the invitation of Rotarian Cyril Rich when its venue at the Bell Hotel was
subject to re-development.
Ironically that was the same reason for the club moving from the Fleece to its next home at the Laud
Room in the Cathedral. Unfortunately as events were to prove a permanent home for the club was
elusive.
For about five years the medieval Laud Room with its frescoes was the prestigious gathering place
for the club until the Cathedral ended the franchise of the caterers and the club had to move from
there to the New Inn.
Once again, however, the club could rightly claim to have its home in one of the city’s most iconic
buildings. The New Inn was built in the 15th century by the Benedictine monks who then lived at St
Peter’s Abbey which, from 1540, became Gloucester’s new Cathedral.
Here the club enjoyed excellent hospitality in one of the Inn’s upper rooms but it was not to last. A
change of ownership brought a change of heart and our regular Friday meetings were not seen to fit
into the Inn’s future plans.
So once again a new home had to be found. This time the club moved into another of the city’s oldest
hostelries – the Fountain Inn in Westgate Street. After an initial honeymoon period uncertainty about
the Inn’s future meant a renewed city centre search for another venue.
Despite exhaustive enquiries no satisfactory venue could be found in the middle of Gloucester so
in 2013 the club moved to its present home at the Wall’s Club at Barnwood. The move was neither
easy nor popular with many members who saw it as a temporary expedient until a city centre venue
became available.
However its easy accessibility, a large car park, understanding caterers and security of tenure have
persuaded doubters to accept the situation and get on with Rotary’s mission to make a difference,
irrespective of where we meet.

l Also on the move were entrants in Santa’s Fun Run, a recent addition to the club’s fundrasing
events. It has proved increasingly popular and is already raising much needed cash.

Making a difference .... at home

Welcoming women l Angela Seddon
l Amanda Chamberlayne
History was made at the end of 1999 when the club’s first two l Sue Smith
women members – Sue Smith and Teresa Brown – were
inducted by the president Colin Dunford.
It was a day to remember but not one which had arrived without
some controversy. In order to move from a male only club to a dual
gender club there had been a vote which had approved women
members – but only by the slimmest of majorities.
Thankfully that is history.
The club can now boast it has a number of women members
(though not as many as we would wish) but all of whom play active
roles in the club, as well as in other local organisations.
Several have taken senior roles in the club and three – Sue herself,
Angela Seddon and Amanda Chamberlayne – have all become club
presidents.
The first of these was Angela, who became in 2004 the club’s first
women president. It was a significant date for both the club and
the Rotary movement since she was president during Rotary’s
international centenary year.
At just 40, Angela was also one of the youngest members of the
club to hold the office. Subsequently she was followed into the
president’s chair by Amanda in July 2013 and Sue in 2017.
There is also one further unique distinction which came Angela’s
way. In 2010 when she was summoned to serve in Her Majesty’s
armed services. As a reservist with the RAF, Angela served for
several months in Afghanistan. She returned to the club at the end
of 2010 looking extremely fit.
Members had taken immense interest and pride in her achievement
and presented her with a bouquet of flowers when she returned to
the club later that year.

l Members of Inner Wheel and the
Rotary Club of Gloucester prior to
the start of the annual Gloucester
Day march on the first Saturday
in September. Gloucester Inner
Wheel was formed in 1931 and
has provided tremendous help and
support for Rotary events. They
have also raised £000s themselves
for chosen local charities. Their
members are the wives, widows
or relatives of existing or former
Rotarians.

Making a difference .... at home

Didn’t it rain...

THE heavens opened over north
Gloucestershire on July 20th, 2007. In
just 14 hours two months of rain fell on
already sodden ground. Chaos ensued.
Roads were closed, homes and businesses
flooded, 2,000 people went into emergency
shelter overnight and 43,000 were without
electricity. Polluted water supplies led
to bottled water being distributed from
supermarket car parks while bowsers in the
streets met other needs.

Many Rotarians took matters into their own l Some of the dignitaries who attended the launching
hands by helping with water distribution
and taking supplies to the housebound and of four flat bottomed boats donated by Rotary to the
disabled. We even provided 500 litres of Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service.
disinfectant to residents at Longford.
Nationally and locally Rotary responded and in no time £1m was raised of which at least £300,000
was earmarked for District 1100. A large proportion of this came from a fashion show staged by top
model Naomi Campbell.

In Gloucester one of Rotary’s first tasks was to replace seven mobility scooters damaged beyond
repair in the floods. The cost of this project was £4,750 of which £2,350 was collected at Gloucester’s
Tesco supermarket.

Another project which was created in the wake of the floods was a new £56,000 Longford play area
to which Rotary contributed the handsome sum of £36,000.

Probably Rotary’s longest lasting contribution was the provision of four flat bottom boats for the use
of the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service. These were launched at the Docks a gala occasion
in June 2008 attended by representatives of other Rotary clubs as well as civic dignitaries.

Whereas the scooters and play area had been financed by District and National Rotary funds the
£28,000 boats project was uniquely a club affair. It was also unusual in that an international grant had
been used to help with purchasing them with monies coming from both our friends in Rodez and from
the George club in South Africa.

City Council leader Paul James said that despite the devastation caused by the floods there had
been a silver lining in the community spirit which had been engendered at a time of adversity and in

which Rotary had paid a huge part.

l One of Rotary’s first tasks following
the deluge was the replacement
of seven mobility scooters which
had been damaged beyond
repair in the floods. Here we see
the scooters and their riders on
parade. Second and third from
right are Rotarians John Sargent
and Jeremy Keck.

Making a difference .... at home

Marking Rotary’s first 100 years

THE world’s first Rotary club was founded in February 1905 when lawyer Paul Harris and three
friends met in a small office in Chicago. These newcomers to the city, wanted to rekindle the spirit
of fellowship they had known in their home towns.
In order not to give precedence to anyone their meetings rotated around different venues – and
Rotary was born. Within a few years there were Rotary clubs across America and Canada and
in 1911 the first Rotary club in the British Isles started in Dublin with London following shortly
afterwards. The Rotary Club of Gloucester was the 27th club to be launched on May 1st 1920.
In 2005 Rotary clubs and Rotary districts throughout the world celebrated Rotary’s centenary. Here
in Gloucester, Rotarians, civic dignitaries and guests from all over District 1100 packed the Cathedral
for a service of celebration led by the Dean, Nick Bury, a member of our club.
The celebration took place in the shadow of the South East Asian tsunami on Boxing Day 2004 which
had taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in S.E. Asia and left devastation and chaos in
its wake.
Throughout the world Rotary had responded in a magnificent show of unity by providing millions of
dollars of aid to stricken communities. In the case of District 1100 invaluable aid for people in India
and Sri Lanka was provided including a number of fishing boats which replaced those lost during the
tsunami.
Closer to home the centenary was marked by a joint project involving all three city clubs (Rotary
Quays had yet to be born!) which provided two high dependency beds at the new Children’s Centre
at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. This gift enabled GRH to treat more children at the same time and
cost £45,000.
One centenary project which didn’t cost a penny but raised the profile of Rotary was that every week
for a year The Citizen newspaper devoted a page to Rotary news which highlighted a different Rotary
club within its circulation area. Its editor Ian Mean received a Certificate of Appreciation for this.

l Here is how the
club’s award winning
In Gear magazine
reported the
celebrations of the
centenary and also
covered the £45,000
project involving the
other city clubs at
the children’s centre
at Gloucestershire
Royal Hospital.

Making a difference .... at home

A memorable project l TV Presenter Nick Owen
and Shirley-Anne Lewis,
a representative of
the Institute of Cancer
Research receiving
the cheque at one of
two gala events held at
Barnwood Park School to
mark the completion of a
magnificently conceived
and executed project.

Every year the club has raised and given away thousands of £s – but undoubtedly the single
biggest project was the £38,400 cheque handed over to the Institute for Cancer Research in
June 2004.

Rotarian Peter Nesbitt, who had recovered from a cancer operation, conceived a huge fundraiser
involving most of the primary and secondary schools in the city.

He then led a team of Rotarians who visited local primary schools to help with a series of balloon
races while secondary schools decided for themselves how best to raise money. The campaign,
which received considerable coverage in The Citizen newspaper and other local media, was
launched at an international rugby match at Kingsholm in March.

During the following weeks Citizen photographers visited a large number of local schools as each
became involved in fundraising.

The project culminated in one of the most memorable
weekends in the history of the club when a cheque
for £38,400 was handed to a representative of the
Institute of Cancer Research at a well attended
dinner. The guest speaker was TV presenter Nick
Owen, himself an active supporter of a hospice in the
Midlands.

The previous evening more than 230 people had
enjoyed an evening with former Conservative MP
member Neil Hamilton and his wife Christine.

Both events were held at Barnwood Park School
where Peter was chairman of the Governors.
Peter is also a former club president and a former
Gloucester Citizen of the Year.

For this project, and for many others including l Peter Nesbitt, a member of staff and a
raising money for Polio Plus and inaugurating festive pupil at Heron Primary School at the
collections around the streets and at supermarkets start of one of the balloon races.
in the city, Peter was awarded a richly deserved
Paul Harris Fellowship. The project also received
a RIBI award for raising the profile of Rotary in the
community.

Making a difference .... at home

Bonjour
Rodez...

BACK in the 1980s, Rotarians
Trevor Picken, Roy Porter and
Leo Soble made a trip to Rodez in
the south of France to investigate the
possibility of setting up a link between
the local Rotary club there and our
own.

They were unsure of their reception
– but they need not have worried.
Now nearly 40 years on, and despite
Brexit, the link they established then
is still going strong. l Rotarians Colin Rogers (left) and Derek Chapman. Derek
cycled from Gloucester to Rodez to attend one of the
Although faces over the years annual gatherings. Derek also raised money for Rotary by
inevitably change, the joie de vivre cycling from one end of New Zealand to the other.
doesn’t. Many memorable weekends

have been shared, many friendships forged and new ones are still being made.

The fun doesn’t start and end with the weekend. Most members fly to France but there have been
diehards who have driven classic cars (Trevor himself) and even one indefatigable member (Derek
Chapman) who cycled all the way.

While the annual get togethers take place alternately in England and France, on one occasion the
reunion took place in Barcelona – an event which proved enjoyable and was attended by Spanish
Rotarians as well.

There is, however, more to the link than memorable weekends and friendships. Each club has
helped the other with international projects – in Mauretania and Ecuador and in 2008 our Rodez
friends gave financial assistance to a Rotary International matching grant which paid for four flat

bottom rescue boats for the
Gloucestershire Fire and
Rescue Service following a
deluge the previous year which
led to widespread local flooding.

Their generosity was marked
when club president John
Sargent presented his French
counterpart with a Certificate of
Appreciation and photographs
of the boats in use.

l Rotarians from Gloucester and Rodez are pictured outside This just goes to show that
Bowden Hall at Upton St. Leonards during a recent visit. there has always been more
to the link than skittles, barn
dances, fascinating days out,
golf competitions and, of course,
feasting and drinking.

Making a difference .... at home

IN 1992/93 club member A SEED cake
David Seed became only the
second Rotarian from our club
to be District Governor, William
Thomas having been DG in the
1950s.

The theme for his year was ‘Real
Happiness is Helping Others’
and so it turned out. All 77 club
members accompanied David
to the other 58 District clubs
covering more than 3,000 miles
in the process. On his last visit,
to Cheltenham, a dozen or
so members of our club were
present. Former club member
and past president David Corbett
masterminded all David’s
travelling arrangements.
l Barbara and David Seed appearing out of a wooden cake
which had been made in secret by several club members.
In all David attended 212 events
during his year. These included
black tie events, sports competitions, fund raising events, District, RIBI and RI meetings. His District
Conference in March 1993 broke all records with 1100 delegates and wives at the Torquay gathering.
This was District 1100 21st conference and the principal speakers were astronaut Helen Sharman,
comedian Barry Cryer, newspaper executive John Aldridge and artist David Shepherd (who sold
£5,000 of books and paintings at the conference).

At the Conference there were two major social events – the Gala banquet and the 21st celebration of
District 1100 called ‘A Bit of a Do’.

The banquet, attended by 972 people, was preceded by a Civic Reception. Barry Cryer, the speaker,
was well into his stride when the event was interrupted by a fire alarm which delayed events for 30
minutes until the Fire Brigade declared the building safe. The other highlight was David and Barbara
exploding out of a wooden ‘SEED’ cake made by several club members.

None of this would have been possible without a backup teams of members working over the
previous 18 months and during the conference weekend. These included the Conference Committee,
teams of stewards and the packing of 500 ladies’ gifts by Inner Wheel. A special tribute needs to be
paid to Sergeant at Arms Trevor Picken who ran the conference with military precision.

Great advocate for female members

Prior to becoming DG, David had been with the word male being deleted in the
secretary of both the club and District late 1980s.
and was club president in 1986/87. After A great advocate of female members,
his stint as DG, David was three times David caused quite a stir during his year
the District delegate on Rotary’s triennial as DG when he took other Rotarians’
Council of Legislation where he led a wives to events when his wife Barbara, a
campaign to delete the word ‘white’ from lead soprano in the Stuart Singers, had
Rotary membership rules. Originally only engagements elsewhere!
white males could qualify for membership

Making a difference .... at home

Clive’s dream becomes reality
LIKE many great Rotary projects it started with an idea. It captured the imagination, it was adopted
by the club and after hours of fruitful endeavour it happened.

The project was the Rotary Community Awards which was sparked by a
suggestion from President Clive Hannis. He suggested that rather than the
club choose one charity during his period in office, it should make smaller
sums available to a number of city groups and organisations which would
bid for sums of up to £500 each.

The bids would be assessed and the awards distributed at a lunch
time meeting to which all successful bidding organisations would send
representatives.

In the first two years – 2015 and 2016 – our club developed the idea, with l Top, Clive Hannis
the other three city clubs joining in 2017, since when all four clubs have who conceived the
contributed varying amounts to the awards ‘pot’. idea of the Rotary
In the first year when it was a ‘stand alone’ project involving just our club, Community Awards
£5,775 was distributed to 17 groups. In 2017, however, when all city based and below, David
clubs joined in, the sum rose to £9,550 which went to 22 groups. Seed who turned the
Last year (2019) 26 groups shared a pot of £12,667. This means that in the dream into reality.
five years since its inception a total of 104 Gloucester organisations have
shared £45,547.

In 2017 the awards were presented by the Lord Lieutenant Janet Trotter.
In a letter to organiser David Seed after the event she wrote: ‘This sharing
activity is a bold move on the part of the four Rotary clubs. I know this
was a mammoth activity to see through and I am grateful to you and your
colleagues for perseverance and an excellent outcome’.

She also commented on ‘the benefit in judging applications rigorously and
ensuring the most worthwhile organisations receive support. She wrote “I was impressed by their
diversity and reach within the communities of Gloucester.”

There’s much truth in the old saying that from little acorns mighty oak trees grow. It certainly seems
that the Gloucester Rotary Community Awards are now deeply rooted and will continue to thrive.

l Here are representatives of two of the organisations which received money from the Rotary
Community Awards in 2019. The awards were presented by Miss Gloucester, Tamsin Grainger
and the Club President, Chris Soane.

Making a difference .... at home

A great day
out for kids

WHILE it’s true that Rotary makes l A few of the hundreds of children from Gloucester who
a huge difference by enabling have enjoyed a day out at Cattle Country at Berkeley.
other charities and groups to ‘make a
difference’ by providing them with much
needed funding, club Rotarians have
always shown themselves willing to
roll up their own sleeves and organise
events for those less fortunate.

One of the highlights every June is the popular Kids Out event which in 2019 was attended by nearly
800 children. Add to that the number of Rotarians, helpers, teachers and parents and the number of
people who ‘invaded’ Cattle Country at Berkeley topped 1,000.

Kids Out started as a District initiative at the West Midlands Safari park in the early 1990s. Within a
few years our club decided to run its own Kids Out event and in 1998 chose to go to Berkeley where
year on year the event has grown as more Rotary clubs participate and bring with them more and
more children. The original concept - which is still the current mantra – is to provide a day out for
disabled and disadvantaged children. While Rotary clubs choose the schools to invite, it’s up to the
schools to choose the children.

In 2019 our club invited eight local schools to the event. Transport, lunch, a T-shirt and a cap were all
provided at our expense. It’s hardly any wonder that heads and teachers look forward to the day and
the children are thrilled with a day packed with memories.

Central to the arrangements is the lunch which is available to all (organised by Inner Wheel) followed
by ice creams provided by the generosity of Walls.
It’s a day to remember masterminded for over 20 years
by Colin Dunford who took over from former Rotarian and
President Andrew Hurley. Colin organises the event for all
the other clubs and during his time at the helm be has seen
it grow year on year.
It showcases Rotary at its best and is a great day for
children (of all ages). Long may it continue.

l LEFT: Some of the Inner Wheel members seen with Rotarian Andrew Hurley. Inner Wheel
organised the mass catering for adults and children alike. RIGHT: We see Rotarian Rob Hall with
some of the young guests.

Making a difference .... at home

l Highlight of the 75th Anniversary Two anniversaries
Celebrations was a celebratory
dinner at Hatherley Manor. Below EVERY year produces its own highlights. During the past
we see Rotary President Colin 30 years, however, three anniversaries have attracted
Eynon and Gloucester Councillor particular attention – the club’s 75th and 90th birthdays and in
John Workman planting one of 2005 the centenary celebrations of Rotary’s foundation.
seventy five trees along Metz The centenary events will be dealt separately but both
Avenue to mark the occasion. the club’s 75th and 90th were memorable thanks to the
involvement of senior officers from HMS Gloucester with
whom the club had formed a close link.
More than 200 people attended a celebratory dinner at
Hatherley Manor in 1995 to mark the club’s 75th where there
was a contingent of former captains as well as the then
current commander of HMS Gloucester. It was a unique
occasion for the officers themselves since it was the first
time they had all been together in the same place.
Colin Eynon was club President and marked the 75 years
with help for the Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia (whose founder
Dr Catherine Hamlin received a Paul Harris Fellowship from
the club) and also by planting 75 trees in Metz Way.
In 2010 when Gloucestrian Jeremy Keck was President
there was a special birthday party at Hartpury College where
the main speaker was Admiral Terry Loughran – a former
captain of HMS Gloucester who was accompanied by David
George who was the current commander.
It was a night to remember where gold naval braids, civic
and religious insignia and Rotary jewels all combined to
create a colourful and memorable gala night at Hartpury.
Rotary’s UK president David Fowler, another speaker, said
that Rotary made projects happen and dreams come true.
He said that since the start of 2010 UK Rotary clubs had
exceeded a target of £1m towards Rotary’s global goal of
eliminating polio and had also provided invaluable help in
Haiti following a devastating earthquake.

l Guests at the 90th
Gala Dinner. On the
left with their wives
are Gloucester
Mayor Chris Witts,
Rotary President
Jeremy Keck and
HMS Gloucester
Captain David
George. On the
right is President
Jeremy with Admiral
Terry Loughran.

Making a difference .... at home

Senior Citizens fun

THE Rotary Club of Gloucester has
several projects aimed at younger
members of our community. The
annual Kids Out event combined with
help for school choirs, contributions
towards playgrounds, pantomimes
and competitions have all been part
of the club’s programme.

We also value our older friends with l President Jeremy Keck with
the annual Senior Citizens’ party at some of the pupils at King’s
Easter. This too has been a much School who helped with
anticipated event for the past 30 serving guests at the 2010
years and during that time has been Senior Citizens Party. Inset
attended by thousands of local elderly right is the irrepressible Mike
folk at King’s School. Westbury whos wit and musical
Invitations are sent to invitees and skills delighted our senior citizens for many years.
then a Rotarian often turns up on the
doorstep to check on whether they
are coming and any mobility issues
which might need addressing.

On the day itself the room and the tables are arranged by members who then transport guests to and
from the event. In some cases the Rotarians are even older than the guests themselves.

Having been checked in and offered the traditional glass of sherry/wine/fruit juice they settle down to
an afternoon of fellowship, fun, feasting and frolics.

One of the highlights is a bingo session. For many years these were supervised by the irrepressible
Mike Westbury whose jokes and innuendoes went down a treat. Also going down a treat were the
sandwiches, cakes and trifles, all kindly made and brought to the event by our friends in Inner Wheel.

Over the years although faces inevitably change the format of the event has changed but little and
inevitably ends with a sing song enjoyed by guests, Rotarians and Inner Wheelers alike. All guests
are then given a potted plant as a reminder of the afternoon before being taken home by car.

Over the years there has been the
occasional incident, such as when
two bottles of sherry were whisked
away, hidden under their table, and
then enjoyed by several lively guests.
Eventually slurred speech and lack of
co-ordination revealed their cunning.

l Some of the thousands of local
elderly folk who have attended the
Easter Senior Citizens’ Party at
King’s School, those pictured here
were guests in 2010.

Rotary Club of Gloucester Ce

Matt Cass (Club President) Richard Graham Roy Lewis
Amanda Chamberlayne Robert Hall Frank Lloyd-Murray
Stewart Clapham Clive Hannis John Lovell
Peggy Cooper Martin Henshaw Phil McKormick
Lorraine Dancey Graham Howell Robin Morris
Colin Dunford Jeremy Keck (treasurer) Peter Nesbitt
Hamilton Elliot Clive Kingscote Chris Peak
Julian Farr Jan Layton-Smith Karen Pearson

entenary members 2019/2020

Trevor Picken Bob Short Paul Toleman
Christopher Rawlins Fred Skelly Ken Watson
Neil Richardson Jason Smith John Weygang
Colin Rogers John Smith Martyn White
John Sargent Sue Smith Richard Wright
Mandy Scott Chris Soane (President elect for 2020-21)
Angela Seddon-Hill (secretary) Ian Stuart
David Seed John Stubbings Unfortunately some club members were
unable to attend when the photograph
was taken. Picture Mike Smith.

Making a difference .... globally

A record few can emulate

ALONGSIDE the club’s commitment to making a difference here in
Gloucester has been its work at international level. Here we have
a record that few clubs can emulate. During the past 25 years
the Rotary Club of Gloucester club has been involved with projects
throughout the world totalling over one million dollars.

Spearheading this for many years prior to his death was Rotarian Colin
Eynon (Past President, Past District Foundation chairman and Past
District Assistant Governor). Colin’s knowledge of the working of Rotary
Foundation which provided matching grants for overseas projects (now
replaced by Global Grants) was the key to enabling our club to finance
significant international projects.

Colin used his knowledge of developing and implementing projects – l Colin Eynon who was key
(sometimes in collaboration with clubs here in the UK) to excellent effect to the club’s success with
as the list of such projects which follows will show. His work was an international projects.
example to us all and we are all in his debt.

With the whole world to choose from it is always interesting to ponder
how international projects are chosen. Many have been brought to the club by individual members who have
been moved by humanitarian problems they have seen for themselves or which have been highlighted to
them during a visit made to an overseas club. Often projects run more smoothly when there is direct personal
contact.

Sometimes the club responds to appeals made through District 1100 or Rotary In Britain and Ireland (RIBI).

Here is a summary of the projects undertaken by the club during the past 25 years.

l 1505 Aquaboxes

These have been sent, via Rotary Club of Wirksworth, for use in both natural and man-made disaster
situations. This project has been led by Rotarians Peter Nesbitt and Ken Watson.

l 30 Rotary International Matching Grant projects

Matching grants (now replaced with Global Grants) are obtained by:

a) Finding a project which meets the Rotary Foundation criteria.

b) Establish links with a partner Club in the project country.

c) Obtain the support of District 1100 and the Rotary Foundation.

The minimum Global project cost is US$35,000.

l 6 District Grant projects

District grants (now known as Simplified District Grants) can be used, if approved for humanitarian aid
either internationally or locally.

l 1 transportation grant project

Rotary Foundation provided the finance to transport humanitarian aid equipment overseas.

l 8 emergency aid donations

These have been in response to appeals by District Governors.

Making a difference .... globally

l ‘End Polio Now’ in support of the joint initiative of Rotary International and the Gates Foundation
to eradicate polio from all countries on the earth.

Below is a complete list of where these projects were enacted, what needs they addressed, how much they
cost and how they were funded.

Date Location Project Value Partners
1994/5 Fistula Hospital, Ethiopia $10,000 R.C. of Rodez, Glos Royal
1996/9 Provision of Hospital $2,400 Hospital, HMS Gloucester
1996/7 Lautoka, Fiji Equipment $3,100
1996/7 $3100 Rtn Roy and Mrs Iris Lewis
1997/8 Wairaka Institute of Provision of Rotahome $8,470
Technology, Jinja, Uganda and 50 Rotastoves Donations
1998 $4,400 Donations, Caravans
1997/98 Taurages, Lithuania Provision of workshop $4,435 refurbished by Rtn Martyn
1999/2000 equipment $100,000 White, RC of Cambridge
Chief Mukuni’s Village,
Zambia Provision of surgical $6580 Donations from City Schools
equipment
Taurages, Lithuania $25,000 Donations via The Citizen
Provision of teacher $1125 newspaper
Wairaka Institute of accommodation and $10,000
Technology, Jinja, Uganda RCs of Cheltenham,
school equipment $3520 Malvern, Wotton Bassett,
Greece and Turkey $16,000 Swindon, South Cotswolds,
Provision of hospital
monitoring equipment $23,466 Portishead
RCs of Lautoka, and Rodez
Provision of workshop $34,660
equipment Donations
$10,000 RCs of Cheltenham,
Provision of 16 caravans $18,250 Malvern, Wotton Bassett,
for earthquake survivors Swindon, South Cotswolds,
$10,000
1999/2000 Chief Mukuni’s Village, Refurbishment of Portishead
classroom and provision of RC of Bristol Breakfast
1999/2000 Zambia materials and equipment
2000/1 Lautoka, Fiji
2002/1 Provision of five
Scotland Rotahomes
2000/1
2000/1 Book Aid International, Support for families of
Africa, Middle East, fishermen lost at sea
Caribbean, Asia
Wairaka Institute of Books to support learning
of children in third world
Technology, Jinja, Uganda
George, South Africa countries

Tools for workshop

Provision of surgical
microscope for hospital

2000/1 Lautoka, Fiji Refurbishment of
School for intellectually
2001/2 Lautoka, Fiji handicapped children

2001/2 Sousse, Tunisia Provision of three
2001/2 George, South Africa Rotahomes and 55 water

tanks

Provision of walking aids

Provision of Lithclast
equipment

2002/3 George, South Africa Provision of buggies for
disabled children

Making a difference .... globally

2002/3 Santa Domingo de los Provision of equipment $5,765 In support of RC of Rodez
2003/4 Colorados, Ecuador for centre for terminally ill
2004/5 Santa Domingo de los $13,270 RCs of Gloucester North
2004/5 Colorados, Ecuador children $1600 and Severn
2005/6 $1600
2005/6 Burkina Faso Provision of safe water for $50,000 RCs of Worcester and
2006/7 Sri Lanka, Tsunami Appeal schools and community Bristol Breakfast
2006/7 $11,735
George, South Africa Provision of well Beaufort Venture Scouts,
2007/8 $32,108 District 1100
Santa Domingo de los Provision of replacement $16,864
2007/8 Colorados, Ecuador fishing boats (including RCs of Worcester and
2007/8 George, South Africa travel costs for Bristol Breakfast
2009/10 Bahia de Caster, Ecuador Provision of $5.5m lifeboat scouts)
2009/10 to Wilderness National $50,000
George, South Africa Sea Rescue Institute
2009/10
2009/10 Provision of safe water
2010/11 and sanitation equipment
2010/11
for local schools
2010/11
2011/12 Encology Equipment for
hospital

Provision of safe water
and sanitation facilities for

four rural schools

Provision of fitted
ambulance for Bethesda

Children’s Home

Gloucester Provision of six mobility $5,100 District 1100
Gloucester scooters to replace those $57,000
$13,970 RCs of George and Rodez
Tonga damaged in floods $17,474
Tallinn, Estonia RC Bristol Breakfast
Provision of four inflatable $15,754
George, South Africa lifeboats with motors for $6,000 The Salvation Army
Lucknow, India $31,843 Gloucester
Glos Fire & Rescue $25,000
George, South Africa RCs of Worcester and
Tallinn, Estonia Refurbishment of school $20,000 Bristol Breakfast
facilities and equipment $25,001
Vatualeva, Fiji RCs of Bretby Titsey,
Tallinn, Estonia Provision of exterior Wellingborough Caterham
emergency staircase &
refurbish medical centre Hardstome
Donation
for homeless
The Famous (Cheltenham,
Provision of transit vehicle SATCo, Yellow Box Co.,
for ‘up and down’ school Joseph Rice (Hauliers,
Rowlinson Timber Ltd
Provision of toilet block
and school equipment The Salvation Army,
Gloucester
Provision of equipment for
women’s health outreach

programme at hospital

Clothes, bedding,
toiletries, sewing machines

etc for homeless

Provision of borehole and
water facilities at high
school

Provision of 10ton lorry for
Hope House rehabilitation

programme

Making a difference .... globally

2012/13 Mubanga, Tanzania Provision of equipment for $7,840 RC of Gloucester Severn,
village medical centre District 1100, Gloucester
Salvation Army Songsters
2012/13 South Africa Provision of minibus to $32,970
Orphaids S.A. (choir)
2012/13 $13,725 RCs of Gloucester Quays,
2012/13 Colombo, Sri Lanka Equipment for $1600
2013/14 Zambia Thalassemia centre $5,000 Sutton Coldfield Vestey,
Pantiles, George (S.A.)
2013/14 Mubanga, Tanzania Three Literacy boxes $5,000 RC of Colombo Midtown
(Literacy in a Box Trust)
2013/14 Rjanjenu, Kenya $600 Rtn R Lewis
2014/15 Provision of malaria nets, $5,000 RC of Gloucester Severn
George, South Africa haemoglobin measuring
2016 Dornakal, India equipment and biopsy gun $750 Vale, District 1100
2016 $2,034
2016 Venuatu for medical centre $1,200 RC of Gloucester Severn,
2016 Nepal $375 St Catharine’s Church,
Solar equipment for Gloucester, District 1100
2017/18 Ecuador school, Classroom and $28,200 Support for RC of
2018/19 Gloucester $2,600
play equipment Gloucester Quays project
2019/20 Koriopita, Lautoka, Fiji $1950 RC of Severn Vale, District
Koriopita, Lautoka, Fiji Provision of minibus for
2018 Bethesda Children’s Home $950 1100, The King’s School
Bengal, India
2018 Replacement of sanitary $1,050 RC of Gloucester Quays,
2000/15 Kerala, India and kitchen facilities at $32,000 District 1100
1992/2018 $225,000 District 1100
2018/2019 Indonesia School for the Deaf $6,300
Rotary International Polio District 1100
Total Cyclone damage appeal USD
+ Project 1,068,714 Joseph Rice (Hauliers)
Aquaboxes Earthquake disaster Downtons (Logistics)
Aquaboxes appeal

Shelterbox appeal
following earthquake

Support to Gloucester
Association for refugees
and Asylum Seekers for
housing Syrian refugees

Provision of equipment for
medical centre

Provision of pure sterile
water from the atmosphere

using solar power

Provision of training for
two students with leprosy
at the Bankura Vocational

Centre

Provision of walking aids,
including prosthetic limbs

for flood victims

Relief for victims of
earthquake and tsunami

End polio now campaign

Provision of 1505
emergency aid Aquaboxes

200 aquafilters

Making a difference .... globally

Here are some examples of significant international projects
the club has initiated during the past 25 years:

EMERGENCY AID AND AQUABOXES – EMERGENCY BOXES AND AQUABOXES 1981 – 2018

IN 1981 the Club began filling emergency boxes. The boxes were tea chests filled with clothes for a
family of four, along with practical items such as pots and pans, nails, plastic sheet, rope, toiletries,
etc. which enable a family who have lost everything to continue to survive in extreme conditions.

However by 1993 tea chests were difficult to obtain
and the Rotary Club of Wirksworth developed
aquaboxes into which the emergency supplies
were placed along with a filtration kit to provide
safe drinking water in areas devastated by natural
or man-made disasters.

The project began in a small way so that the

necessary funds could be raised to cover the

cost of the boxes and the transport to emergency

scenes around the world. Funds were raised

by giving talks to a number of community groups l Here we see a group of Rotarians with some
some of whom sponsored whole boxes. of the original aquaboxes.

As the Club’s fund raising improved, more
aquaboxes were ordered and filled – clothes were donated but all the equipment was purchased.
After 25 years the Club completed the 1500th aquabox and at the celebratory dinner, the former Chief

Executive of Aquabox congratulated the Club on this wonderful achievement.

Whenever a disaster strikes, there is always an urgent need to provide safe drinking water to those
affected. Water supplies are typically severely disrupted and are often contaminated. In these
circumstances people have no choice but to collect water from available local sources, such as
streams, rivers and wells. Such water is often contaminated and unsafe to drink. Water-borne
diseases such as cholera will spread rapidly and will affect particularly the more vulnerable young
and older members of a community.

At the end of 2018 it was decided to end the Club’s involvement in filling aquaboxes. However it was
recognised that about 1 in every 8 people in the world do not have access to clean, safe drinking
water. Almost 1000 children under 5 die every day due to diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor water
and sanitation. The Club is now purchasing aquafilters to meet this challenge.

1997 – 2013 CHIEF MUKUNI’S VILLAGE, ZAMBIA

Following a visit to Chief Mukuni’s village near the Victoria Falls in Zambia by Rotarian Roy Lewis
and his wife Iris, they decided that help was needed for the village school. This was bereft of
equipment and facilities including teachers due to a lack of accommodation.

In celebration of their golden wedding, Roy and Iris asked for donations for the school. Some of the
money was used to provide accommodation for teachers. The remainder was given to the Club and
along with Club funds a matching grant was obtained for desks, books and other equipment. Today
the school has been ‘adopted’ by SAGA.

In 2012, Roy, with the support of local schools, sent three boxes of books to the school through the
Book Aid scheme.

Making a difference .... globally

1999 – 2000 CARAVANS FOR VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKES IN GREECE AND TURKEY

In August 1999, the region of Marmara in north
west Turkey experienced an earthquake lasting 45
seconds and measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale.
300,000 people were left homeless and a large
number were killed.

The following month Greece experienced an l President Colin Dunford and SVP
earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale John Smith handing out Certificates of
near Mount Parnitha, north east of Athens. In the Appreciation to donors of the caravans.
region of 50,000 people were made homeless and l SVP John Smith
143 were killed. with HRH Crown
Princess Katherine
The Rotary Club of Cambridge made a nationwide of Yugoslavia
appeal. Following an article in The Citizen a total at a ‘thank you’
of 16 caravans were donated by people in and reception in
around Gloucester, one of the largest contributions Cambridge.
made by a single club anywhere in the UK and
Ireland.

The caravans were refurbished by Rtn Martyn
White and transported to Southampton by Forest of
Dean Caravans. Here they were shipped to Turkey
by a Greek shipping line which goes to show that
a good Rotary project can transcend traditional
enmities between countries.

2009 – 2012 PROJECTS IN ESTONIA
IN December 2009 ‘In Gear’ carried a story about the club’s plan to improve the lives of
disadvantaged people in Estonia by improving the Salvation Army’s Hope House in Tallin.
The project had come to us via former club president, Rotarian John Smith, a Salvationist. The initial
objective was to create a medical centre to cater for the needs of homeless people who used the
hostel.

With help from the Salvation Army in Gloucester,
from the club itself, from District 1100 and the Tallin
International Rotary Club a $17,500 matching grant
was made available to equip the centre.
Rotary’s intervention brought help to those who
numbed the pain of poverty and ill health by turning
to drugs and alcohol. The closure of a Cheltenham
outfitters also brought an unexpected bonus of school
uniforms and suits to alleviate the extreme arctic cold
in Tallin where temperatures can fall to –20oC.
But the good news didn’t end there. Rotary’s project
prompted the Salvation Army in Scandinavia to provide $120,000 to refurbish the rest of Hope House.
This prompted the SA Captain in Tallin to introduce a rehabilitation programme aimed at men with
dysfunctional lifestyles. While on the course they are housed and fed by the Army but in return have
to learn self -discipline and contribute positively to life at the centre.

Making a difference .... globally

Still Rotary’s involvement had not ended. Hope House has
established a wood cutting business as part of the programme of
rehabilitation. However, a ten ton box wagon with a tailgate was
needed for distribution of logs to customers, which is where the
club came in yet again. With money remaining in the Tallin fund
and with a matching grant their dream became reality (see picture
right).
The work of Rotary (and with the help of the Salvation Army both
here and in Estonia) is a heart warming story of how despair and
destitution can be turned into hope - at Hope House.

2012 – 2014 MUBANGA, TANZANIA

In 2012, the Club received a request for help in
providing medical equipment and supplies for a
village dispensary in Mubanga from Dr Alastair
Sammon, formerly a consultant at Gloucestershire
Royal Hospital. The building was funded by the
Gloucester Diocese.

With the support of the Rotary Club of Gloucester l The clinic was officially opened by Bishop
Severn, District 1100 and the Salvation Army, Michael of Gloucester during a pastoral visit
the funds were raised to provide a photovoltaic to Tanzania.
electrical system to provide a reliable source of
electricity, along with two standard beds and a
delivery bed, delivery instruments, a binocular
microscope, drip stands, baby weighing scales,
medicine trolley and trays along with various items
of furniture.

The following year the Club supported the R.C. of Severn Vale in another project for Dr Sammon who
asked for funds to supply malaria bednets for distribution to seven villages

2014 – 2015 DORNAKAL, INDIA

Following a visit to a twinned school in Dornakal, India, the Headmaster of The King’s School,
Gloucester approached the Club to ask if the Club would be prepared to support a project to refurbish
the sanitary facilities at the Shriver School for the Deaf which is ‘the Cinderella’ part of Dornakal
School. The Club was supported in this project by
R.C. of Severn Vale and District 1100.

The difference made in the facilities can be seen
from the photographs right which shows the toilets
before and after the refurbishment.

Following the conclusion of the project, the
Diocesan Treasurer expressed the thanks of the
Headmistress of the Shriver School for the Deaf.
He also wrote, ‘ No need to tell you about the
boys and girls who are very happy with their new
facilities.

Making a difference .... globally

1999 – 2018 LAUTOKA, FIJI

FOR many, Fiji with its golden beaches, clear water
gentle breezes and waving palms is a paradise on
earth. For an underclass who live there, things were
very different. Many lived in appalling shacks made
of anything which could be scrounged and without
fresh water or sanitation. There was no lighting,
cooking was on open stoves made from clay and
cows’ dung and in tropical storms the shacks were
often blown away.

Then New Zealand Rotarian Peter Drysdale l Before and after. Our picture above shows
promoted the concept of Rotahomes. These are well the appalling conditions in which may
built, had clean water, lighting and specially designed Fijians had to live. Such shacks were often
stoves and could withstand storms and hurricanes. blown away in tropical storms. These have
Immediately there was a tremendous improvement now been replaced by well built Rotahomes
in health and a reduction in the number of domestic with modern facilities including clean water,
accidents. sanitation and efficient cooking facilities.
In 1999/2000 the club provided five Rotahomes –
three double and two singles – to accommodate
more than 30 people. To mark our link with the
project each home was named after a Gloster aircraft
... the Javelin, Meteor, Gladiator, Gauntlet and
Grebe.

At the same time our club took the lead in
refurbishing a school for the mentally disabled. This
was a £16,000 project with £4,000 from our club, an
additional £4,000 from District and the rest from a
Rotary International matching grant.

More recently our club has revisited the Rotahome village and with the help of money donated at
Colin Eynon’s funeral we have equipped a medical centre – the envy of many on the island. It has
already proved its worth as a focus for prevention and treatment during a recent meningitis outbreak.

Although much of our work is here in Gloucester, our record on international projects, thanks
to Colin’s dedication, was second to none. At the same time as our work in Fiji, we had just

finished collecting caravans to provide
accommodation following an earthquake
in Turkey and were now appealing
through The Citizen for walking aids to
help the disabled in Tunisia.

We have outlined more of our
international projects later on in this
booklet.

l This health clinic in memory of Rotarian
Colin Eynon is the envy of many
Fijians and proved its worth in a recent
Meningitis epidemic when local people
received vaccinations.

Making a difference .... globally

ECUADOR 2002-2007

In a unique venture to mark 100 years of scouting and 25 years of Beaufort Venture Scouts, the
Rotary Club of Gloucester helped the scouts to provide and build a water system at a school in a
deprived area in Bahia in Equador. This involved providing fresh water and sanitation facilities and
redecoration of the school. Each scout had to raise £1,300 but this was supplemented by a grant
from the Rotary Club. The project was a successful thanks to headmaster Tony Tetley, then a club
member and Rotarian John Sargent. A picture of the scouts’ work in the summer of 2007 can been
seen below right. This project was a ‘continuance of two previous successful matching grant projects
undertaken by the Club and District 1100 in providing water and sanitation facilities to rural schools
and villages in Ecuador. John’s interest in Ecuador began with a visit he and his wife Wendy made to
a project fair in Quito.

CONCLUSION:- The Rotary Club of Gloucester International Committee is justly proud
of the achievements during the last 25 years in delivering the Club’s humanitarian aid
programme throughout the world. Much of this would not have been possible without
the support of members of other Rotary Clubs, friends and companies.

The Trust Fund for Young People

This Trust was set up in 1998 with the Officers of the Club as the Trustees. This proved unworkable
as Club Officers had to give priority to Club business and did not have sufficient time to devote to
the administration of the Fund. So, to avoid the yearly changes of Trustees and to provide continuity
the Trust Deed was amended in 2008 to provide for all members of the Club to be nominated as a
Trustee. The new Trustees were appointed and the first grant was awarded in November 2008.

The aims of the Trust are to help young people between 14 and 24 living or working in Gloucester
and its surrounds, to develop as individuals. This is encouraged through a grant, up to £500, to
enable them to undertake a project or activity when circumstances, such as family hardship, may
deter them taking an “opportunity of a lifetime”. Since 2008 and up to January 2020 the Trustees
have awarded 43 young people with grants totalling £15,200.00.  There are 3 more with grants of
£1,250.00, approved to be paid in the months ahead.

So in The Centenary year this totals 46 young people helped with grants totalling £16,450.00. The
Trust has been a beneficiary of donations from The Tree of Light. One of the conditions asked of the
young people is that they give a talk to the Club about their experiences, many of which have been
in other countries. The past few years has seen a number of the young people display enthusiasm,
eloquence and appreciation.

Synopsis of the Club History
1920 - 1990

On 4th May 1990, to mark the club’s 70th anniversary, a book 210 pages long, telling of The Club’s
history was published. The author Barbara Drake had spent months researching ‘In Gears’, council
minutes and talking to members. Now only a few copies remain.
This synopsis picks out salient points for past, present and future members to enable them to realise
how the club developed in its first 70 years. These pages cannot do justice to the commitment made
by so many members to interpret and deliver ‘Service above Self’. Nor can the experiences and
enjoyment we have all had on local and international projects be put into a few words.
From its inception members have combined service projects with social activities since a club which
plays together works better together. Over the years social events have changed with increasing
focus on sports such as skittles, bowls, golf and, now, boules. Other ingredients have included Ladies
Nights, car treasure hunts, concerts, dinners and quiz and race nights to name but a few.
Many of our events have been enriched by members of Inner Wheel which, since its formation in
1931, has provided invaluable support to the club in its fundraising as well as raising much needed
funds for their own projects as well.
These pages covers only a selection of the club’s activities and achievements which I hope will give
readers an insight of the progress in the development of the Rotary Club of Gloucester, which always
seeks to move forward.

David Seed. February 2020.

THE BEGINNING 1920 - 1939

The 22 men who met on 9 December 1919 at The Docks Office are the founder members of the
Rotary Club of Gloucester and a blue plaque commemorating this event was fixed to the wall of the
Docks Office in 2019 as part of The Centenary Celebrations. The plaque was funded equally by
Gloucester Historic Buildings Ltd and the Rotary Club.
On Friday 1 May 1920 the club was chartered with 57 members. All their names and classifications
are set out in the first issue of ‘In Gear’ dated April 1920. Gloucester was the 756th club formed in
Rotary International since 1905 and the 27th in Great Britain and Ireland.
In just under 12 months – in March 1921 - the
number of members had risen to 86, then to
102 by 1925 with 123 in March 1928 and 125
in March 1939.
The first annual subscription was 2 guineas
rising to 2.5 guineas by 1927. A charity box
was displayed at every club meeting to remind
members to pay their weekly donation to
Charity. This box was discontinued in 1976 and
replaced by an annual levy of £5 per member.
The club moved swiftly to form Rotary clubs
in Cheltenham and Stroud, both chartered in
November 1921 and then Cirencester in March 1929.

MEETINGS:- The first meetings took place at The Ram Hotel later known as The New County. Then
followed a move to The Spread Eagle Hotel and in 1927 to the reconstructed Mercers Hall in Cross
Keys Lane. In March 1932 meetings were held on Tuesdays due to a number of resignations from
members unable to commit to a regular Friday meeting. The experiment was short-lived as by June
1932 meetings had reverted to Fridays. In September 1920 a club speaker was a Mr. Ernest Bevin.
IN GEAR:- This was the title chosen by members for the club bulletin. The art work was executed by
a club member. It suggests the Club is mobile and should always be ‘In Gear’. The first issue was in
April 1920 and published monthly. Then in 1922 it became fortnightly and adverts introduced to pay
for the publication. Some adverts were sponsored by firms whose names are still familiar – Beavens,
Norvilles, Bakers at The Cross and Winfields.
By the mid-1920s club members were experiencing the impact of the General Strike on their
businesses and revenue from adverts declined. It was distributed widely with a world wide
distribution. Due to loss of revenue the last edition, number 243, was published in December 1932.
Each year’s copies are in bound books in The Record Office, Alvin Street. Postcards were introduced
in January 1933 to replace the publication. They were printed fortnightly until War broke out. No
copies of postcards have been found. Soon postcards were replaced by a leaflet.
THE DISABLED WARRIORS BUREAU:- This was the club’s first major Community Project.
Members persuaded places of entertainment to give free passes to disabled ex-servicemen. These
included theatres and cinemas and the rugby and football clubs. The Bureau opened on 31 January
1921 at The Cross. In the first month 306 passes were issued. It operated for five years and over
20,000 passes were issued. By 1926 local youths had obtained admission to places of entertainment
by the fraudulent use of passes. In consequence the scheme was closed but the club received
commendations for being the first Rotary club to organise such a scheme.
FATHER CHRISTMAS:- The first Father Christmas activity took place in 1920. About 80 of the
poorest children in the City received a toy, not exceeding five shillings. A moving report entitled “
Christmas morning in the Slums” written by a rotarian comments ‘It was the most joyous day and in a
way ,the saddest in my life. The spirit of Rotary was exemplified by the toys for the poor children but
sad because of the dirt, squalor and abject poverty which confronted one everywhere. I was delighted
the Rotary Club could bring a little sunshine into the dull and drab existence of a few poor children.’
A CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS TREAT:- A party for 1,500 children was held at the Public Baths at
Christmas 1921. The size of this event led to a re-think and in 1923 groups of members visited and
entertained under privileged children in the various Poor Law Institutions, The Children’s Hospital,
and Over Hospital. These treats continued until 1927 when it was decided to send donations to
young people’s organisations in the City.
ROYAL INFIRMARY APPEAL:- The club was asked in 1925 to carry out the entire arrangements for
a £10,000 Appeal. The main prize was a motor car. Sadly only £2,000 was raised.
OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS:- Members were very vocal about issues and problems
such as the lack of playing fields: support for the Children’s Hospital in Tewkesbury Road; creation of
a Rotary Trust Fund for Sick Children; City War Memorial; Public nursery for the care of children of
working women; the need for a bus station. In the Club the formation of a Boys’ Welfare Committee
was chaired by the Founder President.
THE BIG BROTHER MOVEMENT:- This was inaugurated in Australia House, London in 1925 and
was adopted by the Gloucester club in 1927. Its objective was to extend friendship and help boys
whose fathers had been killed in the war. It also encouraged idle boys and youths to improve their
unhappy state of affairs. One illustration is that a son of a resident was sponsored to work on a farm
in Australia. On his return in 1980 he spoke to the club about his experiences.
ROTARY BOYS HOME:- After an initial decision in 1923 not to support the provision of a Holiday
Home in Weston-super-Mare for poor and ailing boys the club sent its first boys in 1925. The first
Boys’ House was opened by the RIBI President in 1924 and was the first such home founded and
supported solely by Rotarians. There was accommodation for 14 boys in 1925 increased to 19 by

1926. The management of the Home became a District responsibility in 1926. In 1926 the club, at
its own cost, sent 17 boys then 21 in 1927 and 12 in the three months in 1928. The Gloucester club
claimed to have sent more boys than any other club.
A ROTARY SONG:- This was written by H. Godwin Chance (President 1921-22) with music by
Cathedral organist Sir A. Herbert Brewer for the Gloucester Club. The then Secretary- General of the
International Association of Rotary Clubs said “ in his humble opinion it was unusually good .”
CLUB REGALIA:- A USA flag given by The Rotary Club of New York to Rotarian H.G.Norman, City
High Sheriff, in 1920 was displayed at club meetings for 30 years. A USA flag together with a Union
Jack flag now hangs above a plaque, recording this event, at the north entrance to The Cloisters in
The Cathedral. The original gavel, purchased in the City of Jerusalem in 1921 was later lost.
ST. PANCRAS CLUB VISITS:- The club’s involvement with the Rotary Club of St.Pancras dates
from 1928 when Past President Jack Venmore ( 1926/27) left Barclays Bank, Gloucester for an
appointment in London and joined the St Pancras Club. In 1929 John Venmore brought 20 fellow
rotarians from London to a Club meeting.
DAUGHTER AND SONS DAYS:- A pioneer Daughters’ Day was held on 8 October 1920 and the
first Sons’ Day on 26 October 1923. Daughters wrote verses on their experiences/impression. A
father’s comment about the daughters day was:- ‘Altogether it included a talk about Rotary Clubs for
women what I say is, mixed Rotary Clubs for me every time.’
INNER WHEEL:- The Gloucester branch of Inner Wheel was started in 1931 with 40 members. One
of the first events was a Bridge drive in aid of the Rotary Boys’ Home. Nearly 140 attended and a
profit of £10 was made and in 1932 the Club raised funds for the Children’s Hospital in Great Western
Road. Attendance at District Conferences started. Their next public event was to organise a Rotary
refreshment tent at The Three Counties Show – nearly 300 teas provided over three days.

THE WAR YEARS 1940 - 1959

The club continued to meet every Friday, 1 pm at Mercer’s Hall. Some members served in the Armed
Forces but many were on duty on the Home Front. Attendance was waived as members were on
shifts. Some were transferred to Honorary Membership. No member was killed during the war. One
member’s son was captured by the Japanese but survived his long period of captivity.
Service personnel, very often walking wounded from the Great Western Road Red Cross Hospital
units and others stationed locally regularly attended club lunch as guests. These included personnel
from the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Information is scant but in 1944 the number of
guests recorded at one lunch was 59.
The club and Inner Wheel adopted a minesweeper “Our Kate” during the war providing the crew
with basic comforts. In 1945 the skipper of six years wrote to confirm the vessel was returned to its
owners in Great Yarmouth and thanked the club for all the kindness shown to himself and his crew.
Much time, energy and funds were expended gathering clothing for the devastated countries of
Europe. There were lengthy discussions at meetings about the plight of German POWs but the club
decided not to get involved.
CLUB REGALIA:- The Honours Board was presented by W.T Nicholls - President 1942/43. In 1947
Rotarian B. Cooke, who operated barges on the River Severn presented a Bell salvaged from S.S
Sandford wrecked at Sharpness. Rotarian Barren restored the Bell and had it mounted.
SOME COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:- Hartpury House. This was a convalescent hospital for wounded
service personnel needing plastic surgery. The 4,000th case was admitted in January 1947. Club
members visited and a number of activities were arranged at the hospital.
Children’s Hospital. The club raised £2,100.00 in 1939 for this hospital based in Kingsholm. When it
closed the balance in the accounts of £1,433.00 was invested in War stock and reverted to the Club
which set up a Trust Fund.

Other activities during this period was to start the annual Old People’s Party in 1951; a Young
Student’s Celebrity Concert in March 1953 and to draw up a panel of hospital visitors from members.
MEMBERSHIP:- Numbers in 1942 were 107 then 104 in 1949. Numbers remained above 100 in the
1950s with 108 in March 1959. There had been a flow of resignations and new members over this
period. Rotary worldwide was 6,565 Clubs with 320,000 members in July 1948. The club continued
its involvement in generating new clubs with the formation of the Tewkesbury in April 1948; Ross-on-
Wye in August 1950; Dursley in December 1950 and the Royal Forest of Dean in 1958.
IN GEAR:- The club agreed to re-start the club bulletin and the first monthly issue was published in
October 1945- No. 244. Issue No. 400 was printed in June 1958.
INTERNATIONAL THEMES:- The Committee with The Mayor launched an Appeal “Help Holland
Now” in October 1945. The appeal raised 17,004 items of clothing packed by Rotarians and staff at
the Bon Marche. Monetary contributions raised £2,582 less £99 for typing and sending 5,387 circular
letters. Visits were arranged for 34 Dutch girls and boys in March 1947. In addition the club sent aid
to refugees and displaced persons and there were many speakers about Anglo/American relations.
SPEAKERS AND VISITORS:- These included Sir Ben Smith KBE, Minister of Food- October 1945;
Peter Scott MBE DSC, in January 1948 followed by a visit by 32 members to Slimbridge and Admiral
Sir Richards Beavan KBE – Chief Scout Commissioner for Gloucestershire.
There were also visits by RIBI Presidents Tom Brown in November 1945 and John Mackie in
September 1947.
ROTARY BOYS HOME:- During 1946/47 the club sent 33 boys. In 1947/48 23 Gloucester boys
spent a total of 72 weeks there and in 1950, its silver jubilee, the home received its 10,000th boy
guest.

1960 - 1979

RAVEN TAVERN. After years of involvement and fund raising by the Club a site for an Old People’s
rest centre was found. This was the old Raven Tavern in Hare Lane, next to the Sainsbury’s store. It
was bought for £2,000.00 in 1960 and was officially opened on 19 March 1964.
WAR MEMORIAL. After many years of discussion by various interested groups, including the Rotary
Club, a memorial was erected in the Park in the 1960’s.
THE STORY OF THE FLAGS. This refers to the USA flag given by The Rotary Club of New York
to Rotarian H.G Norman, then The Gloucester City High Sheriff in May 1920 and is referred to in
the 1920-1939 section of this
synopsis. Rotarian Norman
then gave the Club a silk Union
Jack flag. Both flags were
raised at the weekly lunch on
September 1920 at the Spread
Eagle Hotel. These flags were
displayed weekly for nearly 30
years when it was felt that they
would deteriorate if such use
continued. These old flags
were refurbished by the ladies
of Gloucester Inner Wheel
and on the 26th August 1977,
during the 250th Anniversary
of The Choirs Festival and the
bicentennial year of the USA
they found a permanent home
in Gloucester Cathedral.

HELP FOR THE DISABLED. In 1961 the Club launched various activities including visits to
pantomimes and late night shopping.
GOLDEN JUBILEE – 1970. As part of the Club’s celebrations a fountain was installed at the Old
People’s home “ Trevone” 22 Denmark Road. The total cost was £688 and was funded through Club
members offering their professional and building skills and a “ 200 Club “ raffle. In addition the Rotary
Club of Gloucester North, now known as Rotary @ Kingsholm, was Chartered on 14 October 1971.
HOME FARM TRUST. The Trust was a self supporting charity running a residential home for mentally
handicapped. The main house was Frocester Manor, and from 1972 the initial support was to provide
urgently needed equipment and commodities, this was changed in 1980 to annual cheese and wine
parties just prior to Christmas., with the Nailsworth Silver Band performing. The thanks from The
Manager, staff and residents can be summed up by these words :- “ ....you have contributed to the
happiness of residents, encouragement to the staff and a dent in the wall of silence which too often
surrounds the mentally handicapped...”.
SHELTERED GARDEN at G.R.H. An appeal was launched in 1979 to raise £20,000 to cover the cost
of a sheltered garden at the Gloucester Royal Hospital. The long slog of fund raising started with the
collection of Green Shield and other trading stamps. A book of 500 stamps took some licking to raise
only 50p, but £400.00 was raised. This with donations from The City, Hospital League of Friends, sale
of 3,000 secondhand books, tractor push, Old Tyme Music Hall and the first of many Race Nights, a
donation from RC of Gloucester North, sponsoring garden seats by local Rotary Clubs & Inner Wheel,
a float in the 1979 Carnival amongst many efforts raided £17,400 by the opening of the Garden in
June 1980 by The Duke of Beaufort.
ROTARY BOYS HOME. The Club continued its support including the purchase of a larger house
in Weston-super-Mare in 1953. However by 1976 the number of boys being sent by families had
declined and the Home was closed. The property was sold and the proceeds invested in a new
scheme called THE ROTARY CHILDRENS HOLIDAY TRUST. The objectives were for Clubs involved
to provide holidays for children in need and to this day, Clubs like Gloucester who participate receive
a proportionate share of the investment income to offset costs incurred.
PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITIONS for local secondary schools were launched in 1974 and
continued for many years.
CAREERS FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS. This had been a recurring topic of discussion within the Club
since 1954. By June 1967 33 members had agreed to help. Council agreed to offer 2 to 3 guineas
to a boy or girl volunteering for work experience for one year but this took time for the appropriate
bodies to approve the arrangements. By 1977 this had developed into a Careers Seminar when 16
schools were represented.
ROTARY CLUB OF NEWENT & DISTRICT. This formation was led by two Past Presidents and
the Charter Dinner was held on 21 November 1977. This close liaison led to a silver tray being
presented called “The Ivan Houston Memorial Trophy” to be competed for annually at a skittles match
between the 2 Clubs.
PROBUS CLUBS. The first one in Gloucester was started through an initiative of the Rotary Club
President in 1972/73 and met for the first time in February 1973.
IN GEAR. Issue No. 501 was published in April 1967. In 1976 the issue had increased in size to
8 pages. Several Editor changes in this period with “Who’s Who” biographies of new members
introduced - the first in issue No. 600.
CLUB REGALIA. In 1959 PP Graham Choyce presented a lectern.
MEMBERSHIP. Numbers at March 1960 were 111 then a dip to 92 but by March 1969 and the a
further drop to 82 by March 1979.

1980 - 1990

THE ATLAS BELL. This bell
now hangs on the corner of the
restored North Warehouse. It
is inscribed “Atlas 1812 “ and
was made by a firm in Hull.
The fully rigged ship “ Atlas”
with 28 guns and 170 ft long
was launched near Hull in
October 1812 and was used
by The East India Company on
9 voyages to India and China
before it was broken up in
1832. The Bell was acquired
by the Gloucester & Berkeley
Canal Co. and was used to
indicate when dockers should start and finish work. In 1941 it was installed on a light tower
at Shepperdine to guide ships to safety. The Bell was found following the publication of “ The
History of Gloucester Docks 2 in 1984. Following efforts by the Rotary Club supported by the
Civic Trust, the City Council and Gloucester Harbour Trustees the bell was restored and officially
handed over to the City Council on 15 January 1987.

TURBO CHAIR FOR DISABLED CHILD. The Club found a suitable recipient and the chair was
needed urgently. Club members generously made interest free loans to purchase the chair at a sum
of £2538.00. The Club & family signed an agreement as funds were needed to insure and maintain
the chair. To raise funds to maintain the turbo chair and provide equipment for Chamwell school the
Club organised a sponsored bike ride with riders in fancy dress. This took place on 17 May 1987 with
20 cycling members in teams of 4 to cover a 10 mile course. The total raised was £6,190.00.
HOME FARM TRUST. The emphasis changed in 1980 to annual cheese and wine parties just prior to
Christmas, with the Nailsworth Silver Band performing and leading a carol concert at the end of the
evening. The thanks from The Manager, staff and residents can be summed up by comments made
in 1988 to the Club “ …. you have contributed to the happiness of residents, encouragement to the
staff and made a dent in the wall of silence which too often surrounds the mentally handicapped….”.
ROTARY CLUB OF RODEZ. This link started in 1982 when 3 Gloucester members and wives
went in April for 3 days followed by a return visit by 10 Rodez in October. In 1987 some of Rodez
members took part in the Fun Bike Ride. The exchanges settled into annual visits which continue
today.
HMS GLOUCESTER. This ship was commissioned in September 1985 and 24 rotarians from
Gloucester visited the ship. The Club presented with a tantalus. This led to a sustained relationship
and links with all the Captains and crew members until the ship was de-commissioned. One of the
Captains now a retired Rear Admiral, Terry Loughran was the main speaker at both the 75th & 90th
Anniversary Dinners to mark the Club’ Charter. At the 75th dinner 9 Past Captains were present.
HMS GLOUCESTER -STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN THE CATHEDRAL. The 9th HMS Gloucester
was sunk off Crete in 1941 with the loss of lives. The Club raised funds to provide a memorial
window in the Cathedral and a special service was held on 24 May 1986.
ROTARACT. A joint venture between the Gloucester Club and Gloucester North led to the formation
of a Rotaract Club whose charter dinner was held on 5 June 1981. The Club had an extensive diary
of events during the 1980’s.
CHARTER OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF GLOUCESTER SEVERN. To implement a decision of the
Club to “make available to a wider cross section of business people the opportunity of belonging

to the Rotary movement … “ a small group led the formation of the Gloucester Severn Club whose
Charter is dated 12 May 1983.
TOPOGRAPH. To commemorate the Club’s 60th Anniversary in 1980 the Club agreed fund and
provide a topography to be erected at Barrow Wake, a popular viewing point to see a panoramic
view of the Vale of Severn and Gloucester Cathedral. Again professional and vocational skills were
offered by rotarians and the opening ceremony took place on 30 April 1981. The site is now in the lay-
by off the A417.
OPERATION DAFFODIL. This environmental project took place in 1982 with the planting of 18,000
daffodil bulbs cover two roundabouts - Elmbridge Court and Longford. Many rotarians,wives ,
children were the planters. Regrettably due to highway improvements the bulbs have disappeared.
This project led to the creation of an Environmental Officer attached to The Community Services
Committee and a succession of activities in the years ahead.
FATHER CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR. One member suggested that the Club’s Christmas
festivities should have a spectacular launch - the idea was welcomed and funded by The Chamber
of Trade. The first event was in 1984 in conjunction with the switch –on of the City’s Christmas lights.
A sleigh and reindeers were made with fantastic lighting. Santa arrived via a Fire Brigade vehicle
and spot lights as he was lowered to the ground near to The Guildhall. In 1987 some of the largest
crowds seen in King’s Square witnessed the arrival of Father Christmas from the roof of Debenhams
with his assistant Grottbags. Tin rattling and gifts enabled 200 children to receive toys.
SEVERN SOUND MONEY MOUNTAIN APPEAL. This took place on 28 December 1984. Charities
were asked to be included in the draw with 40 applicants. The sum raised through street collections
was £1,752.77 and 15 charities shared the proceeds.
CHRISTMAS CAR PARKING. The Gloucester Municipal Charity offered land in Park Road for use
as a car park in 1981. This continued up to 1984.
ANNUAL FUN DAY FOR SPECIAL SCHOOLS. Started in 1982 at Chamwell School, Longford for
disabled children from all over the county. In 1983, 300 children attended.
YOUTH EXCHANGE. In 1980 Gloucester sent 50 youngsters to a camp in Kiel and The Rotary Club
of Kiel Eider provided assistance to make the boys stay interesting and educational. Over the next
few years hosted a number of young people from Europe.
POLIO PLUS SUGAR LUMP PROJECT. Through the auspices of Gloucester Chamber of Trade
& Commerce and five Store Managers, space was offered in the stores over 15 & 16 July 1988, and
manned by rotarians to sell 2 sugar lumps in special wrappers showing the Polio Plus and Rotary
logos. This opportunity to promote this life saving immunisation, of 2 drops, raised £1,665 .
INNER WHEEL. The Golden Anniversary ,during 1980/81, was celebrated with a service at St.Mary
de Lode Church followed a tea party at The Fleece Hotel. In 1986 at a District 10 rally the funds
raised of £841 was presented to the Beaufort Venture Scouts for their work in a water, sanitation
project in Kenya.
IN GEAR. Monthly publication continued with photographs appearing in 1982. In 1984 it was judged
to be the 3rd best Club magazine at the National Conference .
MEMBERSHIP. During this ten year period club numbers generally stayed in the high 70’s, to mid
80’s.

NATIONAL HONOURS:- For most of the last 100 years, the club magazine “In Gear”
recorded and informed members about events either past or upcoming. On two occasions
during the editorialship of John Lovell it also won the award for best club magazine in the
whole of Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI). In addition, the magazine also won the District
competition three times.

90th Anniversary
in focus

l A group of Past Presidents taken at the Club’s 90th Anniversary celebrations held at Hartpury
College.
l Another photograph taken
at the 90th Anniversary.
From left to right is Rotarian
Richard Graham (also
MP for Gloucester), Mary
Weygang, Rotarian John
Weygang, Pauline Smith,
Anthea Graham and
Rotarian John Smith.

Treasurers/Secretaries since 1990

Treasurers Secretaries

1986-1991 N J C Gooch 1986-1991 N S Powell
1991-1996 R E Lewis 1991-1993 F R Price
1996-1998 R A Ring 1993-1997 C F Dunford
1998-1999 A J Knight 1997-2001 C C Peak
1999-2004 N J Halls 2001-2006 A Holloway
2004-2007 R A Ring 2006-2007 D W Seed
2007-2012 J S Weygang 2007-2008 A J A Fox
2012-2016 M J Henshaw 2008-2013 P Wilkinson
2015-2016 J S Weygang 2013-2019 J A Lovell
2016- J H H Keck 2019- A Seddon-Hill

Rotary Club of Gloucester Family Tree

Great Great Great
Mother Daughters Grand Daughters Grand Daughters Grand Daughters

1920 Gloucester 1921 Stroud 1952 Dursley 1971 Thornbury 2002 Severn Vale
1921 Cheltenham 1958 Royal Forest of Dean 1984 Cotswold Tyndale
1929 Cirencester 1965 North Cotswold 1990 Chipping Campden
1950 Ross on Wye 1967 South Cotswold
1971 Gloucester North 1980 Stonehouse
1977 Newent & District 2007 Nailsworth
1983 Gloucester Severn
2010 Gloucester Quays

Note: The Gloucester Club was formed by the Bristol Club who were Chartered in 1917.

Rotary Club Presidents1990-2020

The following Past Presidents are still active members of the Club. They are R.V. Morris 1981-82,
T.G. Picken 1982-83, P.F. Nesbitt 1985-86,D.W. Seed 1986-87,

1990-91 D L Parsons 2000-01 J H Smith 2010-11 C Peak
1991-92 D T Foyle 2001-02 K M Watson 2011-12 A W Hurley
1992-93 G G Howell 2002-03 M J Westbury 2012-13 A M S Chamberlayne
1993-94 D G Corbett 2003-04 C Kingscote 2013-14 J S Weygang
1994-95 E C Eynon 2004-05 A Seddon-Hill 2014-15 C G Hannis
1995-96 N J C Gooch 2005-06 H Johnson 2015-16 R I Stuart
1996-97 M White 2006-07 A J Tetley 2016-17 M J Henshaw
1997-98 C M Rogers 2007-08 R Hall 2017-18 S E Smith
1998-99 C J Lees 2008-09 J Sargent 2018-19 C Soane
1999-00 C F Dunford 2009-10 J Keck 2019-20 M Cass

Paul Harris Fellowships since 1990

1994 – D W Seed * 2005 – R V Morris * 2008 – J H Smith
1997 – L Soble 2006 – R E Lewis 2010 – J A Lovell
1998 – K M Watson * 2007 - N Halls 2010 – C M Rogers
1998 - A W Hurley 2007 - T G Picken 2015 - M White
2000 – W Murray 2007 – E C Eynon 2015 – C F Dunford
2004 – P F Nesbitt 2007 – G G Howell * 2017 – M J Henshaw

*indicates the award of a second PHF for continuing services to the community.

Two wives of Rotarians mentioned above – Caroline Watson and Iris Lewis – received Paul Harris
Fellowships for their individual contributions to projects also undertaken by their husbands. In
addition the club has also awarded fellowships to non-Rotarians living in Gloucester whose significant
contributions to the community has been considered to be in keeping with Rotary’s guiding principle
of ‘Service Above Self’.

My thanks to David Seed and John Smith who have written in this publication, to the
Ecclesiastical Insurance Group who have sponsored the printing of it and Mike Smith who
has provided many of the photographs along with fellow Rotarians, Colin Rogers and Trevor
Picken. Any views expressed are those of the editor as are any of the mistakes. John Lovell

Rotary
in focus

Raising the profile of Rotary in the
community is an ongoing mission. On this
page we have examples of the Rotary Club
of Gloucester working with schools (above),
Rotary Christmas street collectors (below
left), entertaining senior citizens at a party
(below right) or raising the flag at the annual
Gloucester Day march (pictured on the
right).
We are grateful
to Ecclesiastical
Insurance and Red
Admiral for their help
with this publication.