Douglas was the first club to be formed in the Isle of Man, following an inaugural meeting held on August 20, 1923 attended by 9 people from Douglas together with Rotarians from the mainland from Liverpool and Manchester. This resulted in the formation of the Rotary Club in 1924, with all meetings being held in the Peveril Hotel, Douglas.

The joining fee was 2 guineas (£2.10) and lunches cost 2/6d (12.5p) with a further 3d (1.25p) as gratuities for waitresses.

The first President was Charles Fox who remained as President for the next two years. Among the club's early projects were the introduction of wireless facilities at a local hospital, a gym club for boys from the "poorer classes" and two annual outings with entertainment for crippled children. During the 1930s, the most notable activity was the sponsorship of a creche for unmarried, working mothers.

During the war the main activities of the Club were providing parcels for the forces overseas and providing hospitality for the many servicemen stationed on the Island. Post-war, the efforts of the club were to provide employment for many of the unemployed young men in Douglas with the construction of a large glen in the town, known as Summerhill Glen.

In 1946, a float featuring Rudolph the reindeer was initiated and, to the present day, has remained very popular with the public. The original intention was to provide sweets and fruit to the poorer children of the town. Such luxuries were rationed in those days and beyond the means of low income workers and the unemployed. The Club's Charity Dinner was also established to provide funds to purchase the little luxuries and finance for the effort. Both ventures were highly successful and have endured to the present day.

The club was also instrumental in initiating the Island's 'meals on wheels' service for the elderly and house bound. Inter schools public speaking competitions at junior and senior levels have also been sponsored by the club for many years. The club has also raised funds for the provision of a mini bus for a Children's Home and last year the club, as lead club, raised with the other Island clubs £4800 and obtained Isle Of Man Government assistance of £3200, totalling therefore £8000 to purchase a Uhuru and provide 5 years maintenance. Projects currently underway include fund raising for the WaterAid charity to help bring safe domestic well water to rural Zambia.

Patron for the Club's fund raising event is the Island's Lieutenant Governor, the Queen's representative on the Island, who is also an Honorary Rotarian of the Douglas Club.

From a population of c75000, the Douglas Club has sponsored the establishment of a thriving Round Table club and three further Rotary clubs on the Islands.

Based on material supplied by Harley Corkill of the Douglas R.C.

History Fellow, Basil Lewis 4 July 2003