Rotary District 1040
Officially the District covers part of the East Riding of
Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
A total of 79 Clubs,
from Richmond in the north, Holmfirth to the south,
Scarborough in the east and Settle to the west.
The area is approximately
125 miles north to south and 110 miles east to west. It is a
region of outstanding natural beauty with the contrasts of moor
land and shoreline never far from the industrial heritage around
Bradford and Leeds.
These cities were both major
centres of the woollen industry in the past and are bustling major centres of commerce and trade today.
District 1040 was spawned out of the original Northern District of
British Rotary. It then became District 19 until 1923 when the British system of Districting came into place,
Yorkshire became District 4 until
with part of District 7, formed
District 104.
Administratively the district had built up to have over eighty
five clubs. We ceded
a few clubs in south Yorkshire to help form the new District 1270.
It was not long before the formation of new clubs took us back up
to the upper 70 mark in what is a very compact District.
Later with the advent of computerisation at Rotary International we
became District 1040.
The march of the development and expansion of
Rotary in these islands is well chronicled in the book “Rotary
International in Great Britain and Ireland” by Roger Levy
and lists in
an appendix the Charter years of Clubs through till 1975.
Rotary came to Yorkshire in 1916 with the formation
of the Rotary Club of Leeds it being the eleventh club to be
formed in Great Britain and Ireland.
The mother club of Leeds
is the Rotary Club of Edinburgh, Scotland, which was the
sixth Club to be formed in Great Britain and Ireland in1912.
Without
doubt the Leeds Club is the solid foundation upon which the
District has been built and expansion included Sheffield (1919)
and Rotherham (1921) both of which are now in our neighbouring
District 1270.
As far as the History is
concerned the extension led to the formation of the Harrogate
Club, the York Club and the Wakefield Club all in 1921 and in 1922
the lateral spread of Rotary took in Huddersfield, Halifax,
Bradford and Dewsbury. An interesting facet is that the first
seven clubs mentioned above have all extended Rotary within their
own town or city limits with the formation of Daughter Clubs
meeting as breakfast, lunch or evening Clubs.
Another interesting fact is that the York Club became the
1000th Club to be granted its Charter by Rotary
International.
In preparing this brief history of the District, it
would be very tempting to catalogue the many events and projects
undertaken by Clubs throughout the District, but suffice to say
that in common with other Districts almost every conceivable idea,
has been devised or adapted to raise funds with which to
carry forward the ideals of Rotary in Community, International and
Youth activity. Naturally good ideas have been copied, modified or
adapted to meet the needs in the local community in which a club
exists.
But Rotary is about people who have shown a high
level of commitment in the past and those who follow the spirit of
the motto “Service Above Self” through to this day. In that respect
I will focus on certain names of Clubs and personalities who, in
my humble opinion, are deserving of special recognition for their
efforts to advance Rotary in this District.
Similarly it would be easy to fill paragraphs with names
of Past District Chairmen, Governors and Club Presidents, but
realistically these would mean very little to future readers of
this epistle.
The foundation of this District was in fact laid on the
17th February 1916
when the Inaugural luncheon of the Rotary Club of Leeds, was held.
It is on record as being a marathon meeting with seventeen
speakers. The fledgling club was addressed by the Honorary
Secretary of the British Association of Rotary Clubs who spoke on
“Service not Self” ( which was later amended to Service above
Self ) His audience
proved their tenacity and endurance for it was on the 8th
of May that the Charter was granted to the Rotary Club of Leeds.
Three Founder members came through to some prominence in
Rotary ………. John
C. Innes became Treasurer of R.I.B.I. (Rotary in Great Britain
and Ireland) The Rev. Thompson Elliott became a President of R.I.B.I. when a member of the Liverpool club and William Moffatt
who was District Chairman in 1924-25 and District Secretary went
on to be a Director of R.I.B.I. in 1928.
These three Rotarians had the honour of being received by
His Majesty King George V at
Buckingham Palace on July 2nd 1927 in recognition of
their sterling Service to the Rotary movement.
Another fact which is worthy of note, is that Paul
Harris, the Founder of Rotary spoke to the Club on 8th
June 1928, his only visit to a club in the then District 4.
I can find no record
of his speech, though one
imagines that it would have been highly motivational.
Another Founder member
Charles Davis, left the Club for a short period but returned to
become a very well respected District Secretary, serving from 1927
to 1971 apart from the year of his Presidency in 1946 –47.
He gave wise
counsel and advice to
all and was highly regarded for his interpretation of
constitutional matters.
William Moffatt was also at various times, Chairman
of RIBI Club Service Committee and of the RI ( Rotary
International ) Education Committee
and became Club President after holding these other Offices
He was bold enough to argue against Paul Harris who
believed that Rotary should focus on Children`s Work. Moffatt
believed that Rotary should focus on the Community. It was the
subject of debate at the St. Louis Convention. Resolution 34 was
defeated and as a result Community Service was taken on board.
He
is also credited with putting forward the idea of an Information
Meeting for prospective members and for suggesting to Paul Harris
that Rotary could expand further
by permitting more than one club to be formed in a City or town.
Both of these ideas were controversial but were adopted
throughout Rotary. In District 1040 for example the Rotary clubs
of Crossgates, Roundhay, Headingley and Rothwell were all
conceived. All are towns around the City of Leeds and further
expansion has followed in similar fashion with formations at
Aireborough, Calverley, Pudsey,
Osgoldcross & Elmet, Leeds Elmete and Leeds White Rose.
Tadcaster & Wetherby also came into the Leeds
grouping, but in recent times has changed to being known simply as
the Wetherby & District Club. Situate between Leeds and
Wetherby is the effective Club of Lower Wharfedale within a very
affluent commuter area.
Moffatt was a regular contributor to the District
magazine “Rotary In the Ridings.” In April 1947 the series of
articles, which he had written on what were often regarded as
problem areas of Club Service, were published in the book “Spotlight
on Rotary” by William Moffatt,
under the auspices of the District Council.
In the Foreword he was described as a giant in the Rotary
movement of the calibre of Paul Harris.
Moffatt would not have thought himself worthy of such an
accolade.
Without doubt these persons had brought a considerable Yorkshire
influence to bear upon Rotary International.
The dedication, commitment
and enthusiasm of William Moffatt working with John Innes,
had very successfully furthered the extension of Rotary in
the North of England.
Another note worthy fact is that a member of he
Leeds Club namely
Frederick William Hedges, 1898-1954
Classification
Insurance Services
Served in the Great War 1914 – 1918
and
Was
awarded the Victoria Cross by King George V on 15th May
1919
For
conspicuous bravery at Bousies, France,
on
24th October 1918.
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The
Rotary Club of Harrogate was Chartered on the 8th
January 1921 and immediately set its standard by involvement with
the Community. The Town Mayor was elected to Honorary Membership
for his or her year of Office, a practice which has continued to
be adopted to this day and which has been taken on board by many
other clubs too.
Very detailed records show
that care in the community and the environment have been constant
considerations for the Club. The members have planted tens of
thousands of spring flowering bulbs and a novel “Trees in
Remembrance” scheme started in 1981, has done much to enhance
the beauty of this original Spa town.
A key project for
many years was the Holiday Camp for Poor Children, first opened in
1921. A new camp was opened by the Mayor on the 8th
June 1928 in the presence of the Mayor of Leeds and of Paul Harris
after his speech at the Leeds Club.
The camp continued through till 1956.
An unusual story
exists about the distinctive Presidential regalia, inscribed
“Service not Self" which was housed in the club meeting
place but in April 1947 it could not be found !
Its whereabouts remained a
mystery until early June of the following year, when a labourer
walked into the police station and confessed to the theft.
He apparently had a few
drinks too many and later the theft preyed on his mind. The
magistrates viewed his confession favourably fining him just £5.
The regalia was recovered from the roof of the Corporation
laundry.
The Club also
organises the Nidderdale Walk of three distances amidst beautiful
scenery. There
is also a special route for the Disabled, who with their carers,
greatly enjoy the whole event.
The Club has hosted
the RIBI Conference in 1928 and has hosted
nine District Conferences between 1932 and 1974 since when
the District confers by the seaside at Scarborough.
Extension has been with the
formation of the Rotary Clubs of Tadcaster & Wetherby and
Knaresborough. In 1980 and within the town itself, the
Rotary Club of Harrogate Brigantes was formed.
The
Club has produced many Rotary stalwarts, one of whom was Arthur
Mortimer OBE who served the original No 1 District well. He left
Harrogate for London, becoming President of the St. Pancras Club,
then Chairman of District 113 and President of RIBI in 1948.
Many
others have served on District Council and RIBI Committees but I
will mention Harold Rhodes who was District Governor in 1964-65
and Harold Taylor who was honoured by the Club for his enthusiasm
and contribution to the environment in Harrogate.
If you visit the town in
spring and summer, you will see
a magnificent living memorial to him in the trees and
floral displays and in winter the town becomes a fairyland with
lights festooning the trees.
If you are visiting
Harrogate be sure to enjoy the famous Valley Gardens just off the
Town Centre. You can then proceed through the
Rotary Centenary Pine Wood
and onto the spectacular Harlow Carr Gardens of the Royal
Horticultural Society.
Having
mentioned the Rotary Club of Tadcaster and Wetherby above, it
would be remiss of me were I not to highlight the name of Jim
Watts as President of RIBI in 1984-85.
He became heavily
involved with the International Committee of the club and went
on to serve as District International Chairman and subsequently
Chairman of the RIBI Committee. He also served on the District
Club Service Committee and the RI Membership Development
Committee. During his Presidency of RIBI was the difficult move
of RIBI Headquarters from London to Alcester, Warwickshire.
He was described
as a very friendly bear of a man who, with an engaging grin
could charm his audiences. His vast administrative knowledge
stood him in good stead at whatever top table or committee
meeting he attended. His personal encouragement to me as I
started out on the District Team was very much appreciated.
_
The third key Club
currently in District 1040 is the Rotary Club of York which was
also chartered in 1921
with the Lord Mayor, Alderman Teddy Walker becoming the first
President of the Club.
( Note : An
Alderman is next in dignity to the Mayor of an English City or
Borough)
From
the outset the club became thoroughly involved in care in the
community by providing help for crippled and orphaned children.
The York
Boys Club, the York Companions Club and the York Community Council
were formed. The welfare of the blind was also a main concern. As
many other clubs have done since, the transport of the elderly and
the disabled to and from hospital has continued to this day.
The
York Club has extended Rotary in the City by the formation of the
Rotary Clubs of York Ainsty and York Vikings. In recent times the
Club produced “Rotary News” as a regular monthly feature in
the local Yorkshire Evening Press covering the activities of the
three Clubs in half page features.
Such
publicity has attracted the attention of adjacent Rotary Clubs
and I was
pleased to draw it to the attention of other district clubs during
my term as Governor.
The
first Interact Club in the District, for young persons of
secondary school age was formed at Fulford School and has been the
flagship leader in the development of other Interact Clubs in
District 1040.
For
examples of community achievement the York Club is hard to beat
….. they have done it all and can wear the tee shirt with pride
!
The Club
has been committed to Rotaract which can best be described as a
Service oriented social club. These young persons become fully
involved in fund raising, but have great fun in doing so. To learn
about “Pubopoly” contact the York Ainsty Club. They recently
gave us Harry Windle as Governor who has now retired to Scotland.
York
Vikings brought forth the right man, for the right job,
at the right time, in the formidable shape of the late
Governor Raymond Burn. ( 1987-88 ) He was an inspirational leader
and through his personal enthusiasm, everyone who met him in
District became fired up for the Rotary International Polio
Plus Campaign
The
York Club had in its membership a holder of the Victoria Cross
namely Alfred Knight and had four other members who were awarded
the Military Cross.
Sixteen
members have served the city as Lord Mayor and seventeen have
served as Sheriff.
Distinguished Honorary members include Lord Halifax who went
on to become Foreign Secretary and all the Archbishops of York
from 1938 to the present day. Many have gone on to be Archbishops
of Canterbury.
The Club
also had as a member
Bert Keech who was an England bowler and who was captain of
England in 1953.
The skyline
of York is dominated by York Minster which is an outstanding place
of worship and well worth a visit. While you are in the city visit
the National Railway Museum and Jorvik, the Viking experience.
Plan to stay a while for there is much to see and enjoy in and
around York.
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The next
Club to be formed in 1921 was the Rotary Club of Wakefield, which
in 1925 produced the second District Chairman namely R.P. Dodgson.
( Chairmen were later to become
to be known as District Governors, who are in fact Chairmen
of the District Council ) As usual the club became heavily
involved with the Community and the local Pinderfields specialist
hospital. Extension
was continued with the formation of the Wakefield Chantry Club.
Renown
came to the Wakefield Club via Calcutta and Liverpool in the form
of an Anglican priest who was a Vicar at Holmfirth. His vocation
took him on to Brighouse and the Rotary Club. He was elected
Chairman of the District Aims and Objects committee and was
elected President for the year 1946-47 however he did not complete
a full term due to his appointment as Canon Missioner of
Wakefield. The Brighouse Club acknowledged his service and noted
two facets of that distinguished service.
1/ His
profound Faith and belief in Fellowship 2/ His ability to remember
the Christian names of countless Rotarians throughout the country.
He was
District Chairman for two successive years 1944 to 1946
when a member of the Brighouse Club and Chairman of the first post
war RIBI Conference. He was Canon Tom Cashmore who later became a
forceful President of R.I.B.I. in 1950-51 when a Wakefield member.
He went on to be Bishop of Dulwich and
was a much loved inspirational Speaker in Great Britain and
Ireland and in the United States.
In 1932
Wakefield Club together with others from across the UK,
contributed to a piece of Vocational
work, completed in 1936` entitled “Education for Industry
and Commerce” with the Board of R.I.B.I. and the Board of
Education. The Club was also involved in a Conference debate on
the value of the territorial unit of R.I.B.I.
Wakefield
gave us two more knowledgeable and popular Governors , George
Thompson in 61-62 and Frank Foley 82-83
Expansion
radiated outwards across the district with clubs being formed in
1922 in Huddersfield, Halifax, Scarborough, Bradford and Dewsbury.
The Huddersfield Club has a unique story to tell for it was
apparently formed in just an hour or two !
They knew exactly what they were about, for their first
meeting place proved to be just right as they met in that venue
for the following 56 years. There
were several other clubs in the district who met in their original
meeting place for similar periods of time.
Were they responsible for the old Club Service statement
that, a club which had continuity in its meeting place was built
on the right foundation?
Later
circumstances led to three changes of meeting venue in just one
year !
Of the
first eight Presidents, seven were Founder members and it is
surprising that after 1933 no other Founders went on to be
President.
Expansion
was continued with the formation of the Holmfirth Club in November
1935. Today Holmfirth is famed as being the location
for the Television series “Last of the Summer Wine”.
In
July 1939 the new President Dr J. Walker Hirst was installed but
by the end of August
he was on active service in the Royal Army Medical Corps serving
on the hospital ship “Paris” which was sunk at Dunkirk. After
further service overseas he returned to be President again in
1947.
District
sent out a copy of Rotary in the Ridings for each member at a cost
of four shillings per year. The members were not happy about this
approach and further objections had apparently been lodged in in
the late 30`s and again in the 70`s but they could do little about
the 100% allocation of
the magazine from District.
The
Huddersfield Pennine Club was chartered in October 1974.
Concern was
raised about the inflationary trend of Rotary costs between 1951
and 1981.
Subscriptions
then 3 guineas in
1981 ……..then to £25
(8 times)
Meal cost
20 pence ………
then to £2………(10 times)
Dinner
Dance 75 pence
……… then to £7.50
(10 times)
They
posed the question as the costs in the year 2011 !
Would they
be £250 , £20 and
£75 respectively ???
And will
there be anyone there to pay ?
As I
write this in spring 2005 all I can say is that they are heading
upwards and clubs have concern about the non paying, often
historical Guest list and the trend of lower number of attendees.
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At
Halifax the suggestion of a Rotary Club was floated in an article
in the Halifax Courier newspaper. The early days of the club were
used to consolidate and develop a good base in both Community and
International Service. Indeed there can not be many Clubs who in their first years would be
ambitious enough to entertain some 800 of the poor children of the
town.
In
1927 an international link was established by the presentation of
a silver mounted gavel and stand to the sister Rotary Club
of Halifax Nova Scotia and in the following year the Canadians
reciprocated by the presentation of a Ceremonial gong. The club
was instrumental in the formation of the Round Table Club in 1929
and the
Inner Wheel Club in 1935, a pattern followed by
many clubs since then.
In 1946
after the war, the Halifax Club restarted the
expansion of Rotary in Yorkshire with a club being formed
in Todmorden ( your scribes own Club )
This
continued throughout the Calder Valley with clubs successively
being formed in Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge, Halifax Calder,
Elland and Brighouse. The Halifax Calder Club being formed in the
75th anniversary year of the
parent Club.
The Club
has produced three District Governors in Norman Collins, Will
Patterson and Norman Ashton.
Paul Harris
Fellowships have been given to two distinguished Rotarians, namely
the late John Bearder M.B.E. founder of the Bearder Charity and to
the late Maurice Jagger, a recipient of the Rotary Service Award,
a former Mayor of Halifax and founder of the Maurice Jagger Centre
for the Disabled.
Again most
other clubs have recognised commitment to service by Rotarians and
others in the community with this award.
Extension
spread to the east coast with the formation of the Scarborough
Club which led to the formation of Whitby who hosted the first
District Conference in 1927-28 and another
in 33-34 .
Bridlington
and Filey were formed
later and within the town itself Scarborough Cavaliers.
As
mentioned this glorious seaside town is popular for conferences
not only for our District, but for other Districts too.
The club
decreed that meetings should commence at 1pm prompt and conclude
at 2.15pm sharp.
Canon
W.T. Elliott, the President of R.I.B.I. was an early speaker at
the Club and who apparently spoke “for a few minutes short of an
hour.”
Another
unusual speaker moment occurred in 1929 when the three
parliamentary candidates for the General Election were invited to
attend and speak with the proviso that politics was barred !
Community
Service in the town continued and International exchange visits
became a feature of activity.
Several
members of the Club have served on District and it is perhaps
surprising that no one has gone on to be Governor from such a
well organised club.
Rotary
House in Scarborough provided a welcome holiday retreat for
kidney patients and their carers. Patients and support came from
clubs across the District. Through advances in clinical
technology the necessary equipment has become very much smaller
and patients can be more readily treated at home.
Rotary House was taken over by the Wilf Ward Trust and is
today a half way house for patients with psychiatric problems as
they work their way back into the community under daily care.
The next of
my highlighted clubs
is Bradford. The City was the major centre for the woollen
industry. Today it is estimated that one sixth of the population
are of ethnic origins and integration into the greater community
is steadily and progressively
happening.
Community Service has always been to the fore
and in 1953 they completed a mammoth task whereby some 1010
(one thousand and ten ) persons over the age of 65 and who were
said to be living alone, received gifts as part of the Coronation
Celebrations, Each person received a gift of jam, tea, sweets,
tinned meat and biscuits etc. delivered personally by individual
members of the Club.
Another
fine piece of community service was the organising of evening
concerts in local residential care homes and this was recognised
and acclaimed by Rotary International at Evanston. Taped messages
from residents to relatives in Canada were also greatly
appreciated by the recipients.
The
club members have been active debaters in the Ulrich Atkinson
Debating competition. Ulrich
was a member of the Shipley Club and what was initially a contest
between local clubs is now District wide and the Bradford club
team, have made it through to the semi-finals and to be Final
winners on many occasions.
The
club has enjoyed the services of Fred Lee as Club Secretary for
some twenty five years. His display of Rotary Information at Club
meetings was quite amazing and if members did not pick up on
Rotary events and changes, it really meant they had missed much of
the material put before them.
Extension
in the city led to other formations of Bradford Blaize, Bradford
West, Idle & Greengates and most recently Bradford Bronte, our
first dual gender club, meeting for breakfast at 7-15am.
This was an
introduction to a different style of Rotary with a prompt
start, a
satisfactory meal, slick business and a speaker and a departure to
the members places of business
all done by 8.30am.
The clubs
of Shipley, Keighley, Bingley and
Bingley Airedale are also within the Metropolitan Borough
of Bradford as is the Rotary Club of Haworth and Worth Valley who
were the 2005 winners of the R.i.B.I. Environmental Trophy.
Haworth is a very popular tourist attraction with its steep
main street with some of the quaint old style shops still in
evidence and one must not miss the Bronte Parsonage and Museum
filled with the treasures and writings of the Bronte sisters.
The
Bradford Clubs most recent lady President, Rotarian Valerie Binney,
of just two years ago will become Lord Mayor of the City in May
2005.
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My final
featured early club is Dewsbury formed in 1922 out of the towns
flourishing textile trade. In the dark days of the depression of
the early thirties the club formed the Dewsbury Community Service
Council. Local businessmen were encouraged to find work for the
unemployed in Odd Job Week and it is on record that the dole queue
of the unemployed was
temporarily reduced by 500.
In
1937 the Club received the “Club of the Year Award” from
Rotary International.
Community
activity continued through the war years by the hosting of Belgian
refugees and they gave hospitality to the Dunkirk
military evacuees from the beaches of France.
Later food
parcels were sent to Holland, which had become a battlefield in
the later stages of the war.
The club
continues its work in Community and International Service today.
Several members have played a significant part in District
activity as Chairmen or Members on District Committees.
Norman
Cooke was District Chairman in 1946-47 and Clifford Turner
in 1955-56.
===================================================
In
the previous pages I have given a summary of the early pioneering
work of clubs in District 1040 as it now is, together with
mentioning some of the most dedicated Rotarians who have come to
particular notice in my research. The task now enters a more
difficult phase of trying not to offend some Club or Personality
by not having them included on the document.
However since only 15 Clubs submitted information in the
form of a Club History or other documents, I feel that should
there be some item which a club considers an outstanding
fact about their part in Rotary in Yorkshire, but
about which I
was not informed, then I tender my sincere apologies for any
omissions through lack of information to me..
I
will now mention some notable points picked out from other
contributing clubs.
The
Bridlington Club when only ten months old suggested to District
that they could host the District Conference and they did so in
1930-31 and again in 1949-50. Their member Harry Davis served as
District Chairman in 1927-28 and in 1928-29 and also served as
District Secretary. Charles
Harrop was a well respected Governor in 1973 who was given
considerable support by the Club.
In
1956 the Club recorded a 100% attendance on the occasion of the
visit of the RIBI President.
I noticed two items which appear to be unique in the
histories which I have seen. One was they organised as “Pageant
of the Empire” to
celebrate the Coronation.
Secondly,
members helped a
blind student of the Classics by reading
Plato`s “Republic” on to tape to assist with his
studies. The result was he gained a BA Honours degree.
The
Bridlington Club is a popular visiting place for Rotarians for the
quality of the catering is superb and one is made most welcome as
a visitor from “foreign parts” of Yorkshire and further afield.
The
Rotary Club of Batley was the second Yorkshire club to be formed
after the war and for its Golden Jubilee in 1996 produced a very
attractive club
history which is a combination of year by year detail coupled with
quality photographs.
The
Morley Club formed in 1950 is typical of many clubs in the
District being both highly involved with the community and is
greatly appreciated by the community. It too has a splendid
record in great detail of the year by year activity of the Club.
The
Rotary Club of Pontefract chartered in 1926 is also noteworthy for excellent club records and for the manner in
which the early members “kept a close watch on what was
happening in Rotary.”
The
early records feature topics which must have been of great concern
to Rotarians at that time. Some
of the titles reprinted in the Annual Club Bulletin were “The
Birth of a Notion”, “Into the Future”, “The Controversial
Note”, sub titled “Tinkering with Rotary Activities” and
“Moving toward Rotary Ideals”.
Pontefract
joined with the Wakefield and Castleford Clubs to form a loose
combination of Clubs with the intent of fostering inter-club
fellowship. Later they were joined by Normanton, Hemsworth and
South Elmsall to form the Joint Six group of Clubs.
Similar groupings of neighbouring clubs have occurred
across the District.
There
has been no Governor from Pontefract but there is currently an
Assistant Governor from the Club.
Castleford
Club formed in 1924 has produced Arthur Gregory (two years)
1932-34, Edgar Riley 1965-66
as Governors. ( See PDG List )
The
Hemsworth Club have met at the very choice venue of Rogerthorpe
Manor Hotel for many years as did the South Elmsall Club which
sadly closed down at the end of June 2004. Both Clubs had small
membership totals, however the Hemsworth Club carries on and is
again highly regarded in the community as evidenced by the
magnificent support and coverage of their activity by the local
press.
However
having spoken of the loss of a club a new formation occurred at
Helmsley in spring
2005. It already has the distinction of having currently the
youngest Lady President in R.I.B.I. at the tender age of just
Twenty Four and so we once again have 79 clubs in District 1040.
In
2004-05 we changed
from five Groups to eight Groups each with an Assistant Governor
as “carer” for clubs in proximity to his or her home Club.
with the idea of spreading
the workload and giving better support to the Clubs.
In earlier times we did have
six Vice Chairmen in the District with the
most senior progressing through
to become next on the list to become
Governor if he so wished.
Alas in the
late eighties early nineties the system which had worked
successfully for years started to break down as some very fine
prospective District leaders
either passed to Higher Service or they had to move to
progress in their chosen vocations.
A similar
situation happened at Club level with the succession through to
the Presidential chair. Clubs have had to fill the gaps with
Officers and
Committee Chairmen who have been thrust into the jobs, having only
minimal experience or knowledge behind them. This was never
considered to be a possibility some twenty years ago
To combat
that problem, the need for some Training in fundamental Rotary
affairs and practices became of greater significance with better
programmes to help men and women into their new leadership roles.
Your scribe was pleased to be nominated as the first Trainer in
District 1040 and subsequently our Training Manuals for Club
Presidents, District Officers and Assistant Governors were sent to
R.I.B.I. and to R.I. This
position was held for five years. Rotary Training in these islands
has progressed still further with the training starting earlier
and training modules being developed for use in every district so
creating a more uniform standard and which benefits the R.I.B.I.
Assembly.
2004-05
saw more of the District news being communicated electronically
though it
has to be said that not all members are connected to the internet.
( See my notes in PDG List )
This may be
due to the age of the current membership for very many clubs have
a predominance of members past retirement age and who feel that
the internet is not for them.
The risk is
that members in Clubs could have and possibly do have, the
information from the District Secretary, almost censored by the
Club Secretary, as being “not for us” and that will not
be good for the membership at large. If he ( the club secretary )
decides not to download pages then it may have a detrimental
effect throughout Rotary.
While
many clubs have recruited younger members
in recent times, that too has brought about change in
Rotary. The availability of time is the greatest factor facing the
young executive who departs from home early in the morning to
commute to work and returns late in the evening.
Family time is therefore limited and does he or she really
want to attend a Rotary meeting after a tiresome stressful
journey. This in reality means that they are reluctant to take on
the role of Committee Chairman or President.
The
young executive has to consider relocation as a necessity if they
wish to progress in their vocations. The family has to come first
and sooner or later the ever increasing cost of Rotary has to be
balanced against the costs of the mortgage, tax and the
general cost of living.
I have added
the above notes as being relevant to how these factors have
affected the membership and succession to Office in the clubs and
in the District and it is true to say that clubs do have
difficulty in filling the Offices on occasion. ( see first entry
in PDG List )
Other
factors have also influenced changes in Rotary practices in the
Clubs - Health and
Safety regulations, Risk Assessment and Child and Vulnerable
Adults Protection Policy have all caused Clubs to re-assess
Community Service projects particularly concerning Catering
at outdoor
events such as long distance walks which may also have a risk
factor for consideration. Even Senior Citizens parties demand more
care in planning …… transport of the elderly and ease of
access for the disabled must be carefully thought through today.
====================================================
That Happy
Breed !
At this
point I will include the list of Past District Governors who are
currently members of District 1040 Clubs. They served the District
welI & I note their Club & particular interests or
achievements
Roger
Bouvet
Cross Gates
Governor in 1974-75 is again serving as Club President in
2004-05. District was awarded the RIBI Connecticut Trophy for
International Understanding.
Laurie
Ramsay
Cross Gates
Governor in 77-78 Founded
Medicaid ( The collection and distribution of drugs for use in
Third World countries.) His sterling work
was recognised
with
a Paul Harris Fellowship Award on 16th
Nov `91 presented
in Leeds Town Hall.
Terry
Knowles
Harrogate Governor 81-82 when a
member of the Ripon Club and as far as we know the youngest
DG. Raised funding for Foundation awardee to go to the Philippines
to set up a dental practice. Aid also sent to Poland after
liberation from Communism.
Jim
Wootton
Idle & Greengates
Governor 85-86 Keen to support Youth Activities including
Rotaract. The “You are the Key” year.
The
launch of the Polio Plus campaign.
George
Locke
Elland
Governor 86-87 Long serving Assessor
for Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme over 35 years. Keenly promoted
The Caravan Fellowship of which he was Chairman.
Edward
Robinson Aireborough
Governor 88-89 Long serving District Archivist Keenly
promoted Rotary Fellowships of Scouting and Stamps of which he too
was Chairman.
Bass
Ikoku
Normanton
Governor 89-90 very active and successful in raising the
profile of and promoting Youth Exchange.
Pat
Beeson
Elland
Governor 90-91 key motivator
on Adult Literacy and the Kwa Zulu Natal
3-H
Project COL
Representative. Chairman RIBI Magazines & Publications
John
Neasham
Ilkley
Governor 91-92 Keen
promoter of Rotaract, Interact and Youth Exchange.
COL representative ( Council on Legislation
Recipient of RI Presidents Award. Served on 15 RI Task
Force Committees
since 1992
Gordon
Rowling
Leeds
Governor 92-93
A
believer that Club Service is fundamental to a good Club.
Representative
of RI President.
Trainer
at International Assembly
Harry
Gordon
Todmorden
Governor 94-95 Keen on
Club Service and District Training. RIBI Rotary/Rotaract
Banner awarded to District Received RI Ideas Bank Plaque one of
only 22 awarded throughout the world
Leslie
Clarke
Settle
Governor 95-96 Keen to promote better communications but
battled against
e-mail
reluctance but achieved success which was carried forward
progressively
Peter
Hart
Leeds
Governor 96-97 Received RI Award for Increased Membership.
2
disabled youngsters given a very worth while sailing experience on
a tall ship. Both selected from PHAB.
Gerald
Newsome
Todmorden
Governor 97-98
Excellent
District Interact Chairman. keen promoter of Interact and Hope
& Homes for Children which has received tremendous support
from district Clubs.
Allan Jagger
Elland Governor
99-00 raised the profile of Foundation went on to be R.I.B.I.
Foundation Chairman,
Trainer
at International Assembly
Roy
Watson
Ilkley
Governor 2001-02 Recruitment was a key promotion.
Met RI target of 100 new members. Leeds White Rose Club
formed , $100,000 raised for Foundation
Ewen
Cameron
York
Governor 02-03 Thoroughly
enjoyed the opportunity to enhance his knowledge of Yorkshire.
Highlight of the year was the continuing support of Polio Plus
Milton Frary
Castleford
Governor 03-04
Outstanding
ideas man and Foundation Fund Raiser. “Spread and Save”, the
Rotary Tea Pot, &
“Yorkshire Tea” Caddy. Amazing
response from clubs to many diverse challenges set during the
year.
Robert
Jackson
Birstall Luddites
Governor 2004-05
The Centennial Governor > District was presented with
the RIBI Connecticut Trophy for International Understanding last
awarded to District in 1974-75 ( see that entry ) Presented at
Manchester Conference.
The above
list shows that in
addition to those Governors mentioned in the main text, Castleford
has had an additional Governor, Leeds has had two others and York
has had one other.
In the past
twenty years, five of the Governors have come from the Calder
Valley clubs namely three from the Elland Club and two from the
Todmorden Club and there is another from the Hebden Bridge Club
who is about to take up Office in July.
June 30th
2004 brought to completion a period of nineteen years of
Service by Harry Gordon on the District Executive. After serving
as President of the Todmorden Club he went on to be Vice Chairman
West Group, District Club Service Chairman, Governor, then
District Trainer, Membership Development Officer and ended as
District Secretary. All Offices were served for the full terms.
His Service was recognised by presentations of a leather bound,
gold tooled book “A
Century of Service”, a print
of a Painting
of Paul Harris and a gold watch inscribed “For Service Above
Self” given by his fellow Past Governors.
He served as
Club President twice and Club Secretary and was the Clubs
first Paul Harris Fellow.
He also served on the R.I.B.I.
Public
Relations Committee.
Concerned
that he would have nothing to do, the outgoing Governor nominated
him to write this History !
The
Year 2005 was the Centenary of Rotary International on the 23rd
February and the
District marked the occasion in with a Service of Thanksgiving in
York Minster. At Club
level trees were planted, commemorative beds of roses were planted
and there were numerous Celebration Dinners and special meetings.
This however
was against the background of the Tsunami tragedy which decimated
vast areas of south east Asia with the loss of hundreds of
thousands of lives caught up in the overwhelming tidal surge in
the last days of December
Rotary as a
whole was quick to respond and in the District the amount raised
by clubs exceeded £250.000. This was applied to the purchase of
227 Shelter Boxes providing shelter for 2,270 people and 229
Aquabox 30s which can provide safe drinking water.
In addition
funds were raised for a further 71 Aquaboxes and some £57,000 was
made in direct contributions.
The
Todmorden Club renowned for its consistent support over the past
16 years of the Emergency Box Scheme, received cash donations
from the
public of £3,700 for the purchase of Emergency Boxes plus massive
donations of brand new goods with which to pack the boxes from the
local and neighbouring communities. In total the club packed 117
boxes which was a remarkable unequalled effort estimated to be
worth in excess of £35.000.
In addition surplus goods which were not suitable for the
boxes were sent by the carload to the International Aid Agency and
to the Salvation Army.
This club
started the distribution of International aid in its first year in
1946 and is still doing so today.
The
District Executive will be seeking approval at District Council in
May, to
start a micro loan scheme to help people rebuild and restart their
livelihoods together with a sponsorship scheme to rebuild a school
in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.
In the
text I have mentioned a few of the “different” Club projects
giving direct aid to certain countries, but Community Concerns is
to the fore throughout the District. Funds have been raised to
benefit the young, the elderly and the disabled, equipment has
been given to nurseries,
playgroups, youth clubs, hospices, care homes and hospitals.
The
local environment has been improved everywhere with the planting
of hundreds of thousands of trees,
shrubs, bulbs and plants.
This has
been achieved by funds raised from Walks, Fun Days , Carnivals and
Dances all organised by clubs in
their Communities, with the profits being put to use and to
the benefit of the Community.
In this
respect the Rotary Wheel commands huge support.
The
Lions Clubs and Round Table Clubs which in many instances
were formed
with Rotary influence are also very well supported in their
communities throughout the District and on occasion the individual
Service organisations work together in joint projects for an even
better result.
Reciprocal
fellowship is enjoyed by the Presidents and Chairmen at special
charter functions of the three organisations.
Some clubs
also maintain strong links with the Soroptomist Clubs.
The key link
organisation however is the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs whose
members have given unstinting support to their Rotarian husbands
and Rotary Club projects and events over very many years.
Sadly the number of clubs has fallen over recent years but their
endeavour as an independent organisation remains undiminished.
Although
Interact and Rotaract Clubs have a floating membership through age
and the progression of students through to Universities Rotary
Clubs do recognise the enthusiasm and contribution of these
youngsters who in many instances brought a fresh vitality to an
event.
Many have
gone on to be worthy Ambassadors through Rotary Scholarships and
Group Study Exchange visits to other countries.
To witness
the benefits to them is always a delight for in D.1040 we have a
pre-travel presentation and a follow up report on their
experiences after they arrive back.
Their personal development makes the programme very
worthwhile.
I will
now pick up on the other Clubs not mentioned in the main text
and working
inland from the coastal clubs on the east of District are
Driffield, Pocklington & Market Weighton, Malton & Norton
and Pickering . These are small market towns all with thriving
Rotary clubs which play a key role in their respective
communities. Clubs throughout the District came to the aid of
Malton & Norton, when the town was devastated by severe
flooding.
To the North are Knaresborough, Northallerton, Northallerton
Mowbray, Richmond, Thirsk and a small but very effective club at
Wensleydale which has for very many years been on the R.I.
critical list … it may have been small in membership totals but
is a real force in the rural community.
They had for very many years a weekly rota of members who
went out to play dominoes at Seniors Clubs and Groups. The club
met in two or three different village locations but has now
settled for one central venue.
Also in this
grouping are the Clubs of Ripon and Ripon Rowels both based in
this city. The two
clubs work well together but the Ripon Club has been stars on
environmental matters with the “Rotary Way” into the city,
planted with tens of thousands of daffodils is a sight to behold.
Their efforts have been rewarded as winners of the Environmental
Trophy in 1999.
Ripon has
the oldest Cathedral in Yorkshire and has parts of the building
which place it amongst the oldest Christian buildings in the
British Isles…….. it is well worth a visit.
And if
you want to go horse racing then you can certainly enjoy racing at
Ripon, Thirsk. Caterick, Wetherby and York.
Richmond
is a club which used to meet at an Inn just off the main square
which is said to be probably the largest in the British Isles. The
alleyways off the square are known as “wynds” and the town is
dominated by the hilltop ruins of an 11th century
castle.
There is
also a theatre dating from 1788.
Today the
Club meets at the more “upmarket” Richmond Golf Club.
This
trend has occurred over recent years as part of the changes
introduced to encourage younger members to join Rotary.
Regretfully numbers continue to fall slightly each year in the
Clubs inspite of these “better venues”.
In this
respect I recall visiting the small Rothwell club which met in a
tiny pub……… the attendance was always high simply because
the quality of the food was superb.
In the
Dales there are Rotary Clubs at Ilkley Wharfedale and at Ilkley
where there was another care home for Kidney patients set up by
the Rotary Club and well supported by District Clubs.
Nearby are
the Otley club and the Otley Chevin Club which is the home of our
popular District Quiz.
The market
town of Skipton well known for its street market, is the base for
the Skipton and Skipton Craven Clubs At the end of the main street
is the famed Skipton Castle which is a 13th century
fortification steeped in history. Alongside the castle is the
Church of the Holy Trinity with artefacts of the 14th
to 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.
In the
south west of the District three clubs not mentioned are Denby
Dale, Elland and Sowerby Bridge.
Elland
commands its place in District History by having three Past
District Governors currently serving as members ……..
any new President or Secretary will obviously have to tread
carefully !
Denby Dale
is one of our smaller clubs but fulfils a community need on a
rural area between Huddersfield and Sheffield.
Sowerby Bridge just gets on with the job in a very efficient
manner. They have just celebrated their 50th
Anniversary in May 2005, in the presence of the President of
R.I.B.I. One of their most successful ventures is a Sunday Carved
Lunch supported by at least 120 persons who strip a gigantic
Tombola bare, during the run up to the lunch. Tickets are almost
becoming a family heirloom, such is the popularity of the event.
And
that leaves me with a group of Clubs known as the Inner Nine.
Together with those already mentioned namely Batley, Birstall,
Mirfield, Morley, Wakefield and Dewsbury these all operate within
short distances of each other. As a result inter club fellowship
is strong.
Cleckheaton,
Heckmondwike, Ossett.
Horbury & Ossett Phoenix all play a part in supporting club
events within the group of high density populated towns and which
were mainly associated with the textile industry of the past.
The Ossett
Club has strong links with a Club in Sweden and reciprocal
exchanges have been in place for
many years and good solid friendships established.
One of our recent Governors has moved to Sweden to be with
his Swedish lady friend. Both had lost their respective husband
and wife quite suddenly so romance blossomed through the
friendship exchange visits.
The Ossett
club has one of the best Charter Anniversary Celebration evenings
in the District, enjoying great support from their neighbouring
club members.
It is
worthy of note that the Mirfield Club was formed
and Chartered on the 7th November 1939 just
after the outbreak of the second world war. At Mirfield they
embarked on a community service project to give Treats to children
whose fathers were in the armed forces, this continued throughout
the war years and by the sixth they were entertaining over two
hundred children with gifts and a meal.
They also
did parcels of cigarettes and tobacco, games, playing cards
and books
to the crew of a minesweeper and to merchant navy ships.
Parcels were
also sent to Rotarians and to the sons and daughters of members
who were serving in the Forces.
The
Normanton Club was the only other Club formed in the District
during the war years.
I have mentioned several methods of Fund Raising throughout
the Text but will just add a few more of the regular happenings.
Garden
Parties, Dances, Rail trips, Country Fairs, Barbecues, Car
Rallies. Long Distance Walks, Carnivals ……… I could go on
and on but whether large or small events, the proceeds
have been used to provide Holidays for needy families,
Benefits for individual young people, Christmas trees and Festive
lighting, Equipment for schools, hospitals, ambulances and Sports
facilities together with support
for all well known Rotary programmes.
In
this respect the Clubs in District “Ten Forty” have an
exceptional record in the support given to the wide range of
Rotary projects.
That level
of support is inevitably carried through into another Rotary Year
due mainly to new programmes being announced after the Clubs have
held their Club Assemblies and available monies have already been
allocated to other deserving causes.
There is no
doubt that Rotary is Yorkshire
is flourishing due to the remarkable spirit of fellowship which
abounds in the Clubs, so do pop in to see it for yourself.
A very warm welcome awaits you !
I
mentioned the area as being one of great natural beauty and will
now give a taste of some places of historic and visual interest
which will certainly delight when you visit the District.
The
area is served by the Leeds Bradford International Airport with
excellent services to and from a wide range of countries.
By
road the county is dissected north to south by the M1 Motorway
which is a fast but extremely busy road with the “A” Road
network taking you to all parts of the District
By
rail there are excellent services carrying you north to Edinburgh
and beyond to London in the south while the
east to west trans
Pennine routes will carry you from Blackpool to Scarborough
Primarily
the great stately homes of Castle Howard, Harewood House and Newby
Hall are outstanding historic homes filled with beautiful works of
Art and furnishings. These fine buildings are set amidst beautiful
scenery and each with large landscaped park lands and gardens of
international repute.
Other places
of interest are :
Sewerby Hall
and Gardens near Bridlington.
Nostell
Priory near Wakefield
East
Riddlesden Hall near Keighley
Shibden Hall
near Halifax
Benningborough
Hall and Gardens near York
Many
of these feature various aspects of life in bygone days all set
out in accurate reflections of how hard life was in the past.
There
are countless beautiful Gardens which are open to the public
including the Walled Garden at Helmsley and
Scampton near Malton and these can be checked out through
the famed Yellow Book of Homes and Gardens which is updated
annually.
Places
of Historic Interest include Whitby Abbey, Bolton Abbey, Fountains
Abbey & Stoodley Royal Water Gardens and Rievaulx Abbey and
Terrace. There are
very many ancient fortifications and castles which have been
restored and preserved as being
sites of great significance and are therefore worthy of a
visit.
The area is
rich in places of great architectural interest ….. with
distinctive and beautiful buildings located in the cities and
towns throughout the region
The
gigantic Salts Mill at Bradford will amaze and fulfil the senses
of how things were in the past, together with uplifting the
spirits with a view of the famous David Hockney Art Collection.
The Lister Mill and Crossley Carpet Mill at Halifax have all been
adapted to modern usage.
If it
is the great outdoors which stimulates you, then surely a visit to
Hardcastle Craggs will certainly please.
Hebden
Bridge is nearby and is a popular location for filming period
dramas for television. The small communities of Heptonstall and
Howarth are just minutes away
The visitor
is well catered for by top quality restaurants in the cities and
by local Inns and hostelries out in the rural areas so the range
of cuisine is truly amazing and is there to enjoy.,
For a bit of total relaxation and fun there are two main Theme
Parks ………. Flamingoland
near Pickering and Lightwater Valley near Ripon, both are certain
to please the younger visitor and those who are still young at
heart.
Up to
date information on all local attractions is available to the
visitor at any of the local Tourist Information Centres who in
many instances may also be able to assist in finding
accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets.
The area is
now well served by top grade modern Hotels owned by the best
companies in the land and as a result the quality of service and
facilities is outstanding.
There are
many Guidebooks available at the Information Centres and these are
updated annually and give brief summaries of the featured
locations and facilities available, together with times of opening
and contact numbers.
For
details of all Rotary Clubs in these islands, use the R.I.B.I.
Club Directory again
with District and Club contact details and times of meetings.
In all cases
it is wise to make contact prior to a visit since Clubs may have
special meetings or functions arranged for the time of your
proposed visit.
I have
no hesitation in saying that the visitor will find much to enjoy
in District 1040.
PDG
Harry Gordon
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