THE ROTARY CLUB OF EXMOUTH & DISTRICT
CHARTERED 15TH DECEMBER I925
90 YEARS of SERVICE ABOVE SELF
Page 1 Acknowledgment and Credits Dear Reader Initially, starting to compile a History of our Rotary Club over 90 years seemed a daunting task. However with the help of club archivists many of our records have been preserved and have enabled us to put together what we hope will be an interesting document for your enjoyment. The early years were recorded by President Eric Delderfield (President 1935/36; 1946/47;1955/56 and 1971/72 with Secretary, Willian Godfrey (President 1930/31) From the 25th Anniversary up to 1975, the 50 years of Service was researched by Bill Trigger OBE (President 1966/67 ) and Club Correspondent Glyn Spooner. Moving into more ‘Modern’ times the records from 1975 until 2000 were compiled by Rotarian (archivist) Douglas Battersby (President 1992/93), transcribed (and occasionally edited) by Rotarian Derek Taylor (President 1996/97) printed and published by Rotarian Cliff Lenn (President 2000/01). The final editing was by Rotarian Eric Watts (President 1982/83). So most of the work had been done, a few more photos have been added from lost albums and with the help of Rotarian (Archivist) Dick Bishop (President 2010/11) and Rotarian Frank Hart-Venn (President 2004/2005) who has researched the last 15 years and Rotarian Michael Weathrall-King and Sandy Lenn who had the unenviable task of having to proof read the whole document. Thank you to all of these Rotarians for their hard work and giving of their time to recognise this very successful Rotary Club, my job was made easy and collating all of the old documents together into this booklet was comparatively straight forward. My final thanks to Rotarian Tony Alexander who as the Principal of the Exmouth Community College enabled us to use many of their facilities in compiling this new document. Rotarian Malcolm Pressey (President 2006/2007; Hon Secretary 2015)
Exmouth Community College : 2015 A K Alexander BA Hons (Principal) Was appointed Principal of Exmouth Community College in January 2002 his third Headship following one in Birmingham and then Plymouth. Exmouth Community College is a very large (2500) 11-19 comprehensive school with 170 teachers and 175 support staff. The sixth form numbers over six hundred studying for a variety of exams mostly A Levels. Last year over ninety students went to university including Russell Group and Oxford and Cambridge. The school caters for children of all abilities, interests and aptitudes, recent Ofsted Report (2013) said it is ‘A good school with many outstanding features – where the behaviour is exemplary and it is a remarkably harmonious school’. The College enjoys a good reputation locally and are the first choice school for the fifteen feeder primary schools and is now also renowned for its sporting prowess and its excellent music, drama, art and dance all of which are regularly exhibited in a wide range of fixtures, concerts, performances and productions. Tony Alexander joined the Rotary Club of Exmouth in 2003 the school and individual students have benefited enormously from this support both as a community and individually. In total Rotary have contributed over £10,000 to the college, but equally importantly have included the College in a wide variety of sponsorships and competitions. These have included sponsoring awards evenings, hosting Youth Speaks, Young Musician of the Year, Young Chef of the Year and Young Photographer of the Year,. The Rotary Club have supported students going abroad to work as community volunteers in Africa, the Himalayas and Moldova. Helped our sports teams, sponsored large summer concerts at the Pavilion and provided funds for a variety of equipment. It has been a most fruitful partnership and one that I am very proud to be part of. AK Alexander
Page 2 Exmouth Grammar School The Grange in 1926
President 1928-1929
D’Arcy Hughes
MR. D'ARCY W. A. HUGHES, BA(Cantab), BA(London). (President 1928-1929) The first Headmaster of the Exmouth Grammar School, who for 28 years "fathered" its growth and development; one who, from the beginning, guided the transformation of "The Grange" from a private residence into an up to date school, and, what is more, gave the pupils the ideas and ideals implicit in a Grammar School education.
Mr. D'Arcy Hughes moved to Exmouth in 1921, and on May 3rd he commenced his life's work as Headmaster of the newly formed Grammar School. He came in the prime of life, fresh from a Headmaster- ship in Yorkshire, to bring fine gifts of scholarship and first class administrational ability. The School continued to grow and Mr. Hughes was able to secure the addition of the Gymnasium in 1925, followed by the Woodwork, Domestic Science, and Art rooms, and finally with 1938 the New Building. The thriving Preparatory Department filled an important part in preparation for membership of the Senior School, but this valuable adjunct was "snuffed out" by the terms of the new Education Act in 1945 and the School was the poorer for its loss, as Mr. Hughes was the first to admit.
He will be remembered for the many facets of his character and interest. To many he was a martinet who set a high standard and would not move from it, to others an Historian absorbed in the cycle of events, and the pattern of man's cultural progress. To some, the President, who long after school days were over still kept a lively interest in the careers and lives of his old pupils to all pupils, past and present, the Headmaster who always demanded, expected, and believed, the best of each. The Staff saw him in a different relationship, one of firm friendliness, asking no more than he was always prepared to give, and setting a high standard of achievement in front of them, and ever encouraging those who may have been dismayed by his idealism. His devotion to School was a byword, scarcely a day of any holidays passed without the Head being seen on the premises.
To him the School owes its beginnings, and its present virility, a great Headmaster, a great Teacher, and a great Friend to many. He also found time to support the newly chartered Rotary Club in Exmouth and formed part of the formation Committee.
Page 3
President's Message
As a newcomer to Exmouth, and President of this club during its 90th year celebrations it is indeed an honour and pleasure for me to pen these few words on behalf of the Rotary Club of Exmouth & District.
Ninety years of service of any club is bound to be filled with many projects combined with many hours of personal service.
Our club was formed during 1925 by a group of local businessmen and has flourished over the years. Each and every Rotarian has contributed in his or her own way.
During these ninety years the world around us has seen many changes, and Exmouth continues to grow. Organisations like Rotary are here to help those less fortunate than ourselves within this growing society.
In these days of rapid change, it is up to us to maintain the highest traditions, and be ever mindful of the needs of others, and whilst enjoying the present years, we must all look forward with optimism for the next fifty years.
Yours in Rotary
Simon P. Wood President 2015-2016
Page 4
A MESSAGE FROM RIBI PAST PRESIDENT BRIAN STOYEL District Governor 1175 As e po de the futu e e e ship of ou g eat o ga isaio , ho pleasa t to a k o ledge the th i thda of a lu , ith o i ui g a hie e e ts i hi h its e e s, past a d p ese t, a jusiia l e p oud. Thei se i e i p o oi g pea e a d good ill, du i g that pe iod, has see the dist i t i ke ed ith fo easo s p e aili g at the i e. We sta ted i as Dist i t ith the Rota Clu of E outh i augu ated i . Dist i t u e s e e ha ged i ith the addiio of the ase , thus Dist i t . E outh, uite p oudl , has st o g li ks ith the Dist i t – F o - Ji ie Southo as Dist i t Go e o ; I Rota ia Ke A to , although o igi all f o Ho ito , late e a e a e e a d P eside t of E outh; sa the lu p odu e its se o d Dist i t Go e o , E i Wats, o e seei g the di isio of the dist i t i to , i hi h E outh esides, a d . A othe eight ea s passed he a othe E outh Rota ia , D Ad ia Lu o , took the Dist i t Go e o ’s hai . No , he e e a e ele ai g du i g the e o iliaio of fu the ha ge, a e e sal to Dist i t , i the guise of Dist i t . The lu is a g eat edit to the Rota I te aio al o e e t fo p o idi g leade ship i RIBI a d dist i t; its isio a d p oje ts suppo i g i te aio al, aio al a d lo al o u iies; its fu di g fo ou Rota Fou daio a d, ot least, E d Polio No . Th ough this lu , a Rota ia s, pa t e s a d f ie ds ha e e jo ed so u h fello ship, f ie dship a d fu hi h ill, I a su e, o i ue. O ehalf of ou Dist i t, please a ept o g atulaio s a d si e e ishes fo a o e o dial a d f uiful ea s. Si e el
President Simon and members of Exmouth & District Rotary Club. The members of the Inner Wheel Club of Exmouth are delighted to join me in congratulating you and your members on reaching your 90th Anniversary Well done ! We have been strong supporters in your many successful activities in Exmouth and District and we shall continue to work with you as appropriate. One of your recent and very successful innovations has been the annual Kite Festival. We look forward to more good results together at the 2016 event in August. We wish you well with your membership drive, we are also constantly looking for new members to join our club. Congratulations Rotarians...keep up your good work.
President
Page 5 Founder Members of The Rotary Club of Exmouth
FORMATION AND CHARTER Agenda from W T Godfrey (Interim Secretary): At meetings of the Preliminary Committee, held 19th and 30th October 1925, It was resolved to submit the following recommendations for approval: 1. President H A Law (Clothier) 2. Vice President W A D'Arcy Hughes (Education) 3. Hon. Treasurer H St A Sims (Banker) 4. Hon Secretary W T Godfrey (Accountant) 5. Council of the Club: Rev E Peters (Minister of Religion (Non—Conformist) Messrs: F E Drawer (Poulterer); B T Vine (Solicitor); F Tucker (Draper); B Beney (Local Government) and J Nicholson (Chemist) 6. Honorary Member: F A Farleigh (For the valuable services he has rendered to the Club). 7. Membership Committee : The Council of the Club 8. Business Methods Committee: F Creedy (Bootmaker); R J Grigg (Tailor); S Hutton (Town Surveyor) and F Tucker (Draper) 9. Programme Committee: J Delderfield (Newspaper Proprietor); W T Gorfin( Journalist) & H G Clift (Dentist) 10. Fraternity Committee : H J Gay (Builder); V H H Pankhurst (Mechanical Engineer) & HG Clift (Dentist) 11. That the President and Secretary be ex-officio Members of the Committee 12. That the entrance fee for active and associate members be £2.2.0d 13. That the annual Subscription be £1.11.6d for Active Members and 15s.9d for Associate Members 14. That the weekly luncheon be held on Tuesdays at the Imperial Hotel 15. To adopt the Constitution and Bye-Laws as furnished by Rotary International of Great Britain and Ireland 16. Delegates to vote at the Annual Council of Rotary International Great Britain and Ireland : W A D’Arcy Hughes (Education) and B T Vine (Solicitor) 17. Representatives of District Council No 10 : H A Law (Clothier) and W T Godfrey (Incorporate Accountant) 18. That the time of future weekly luncheons be arranged at the Members’ Luncheon on 10th November 1925
Page 6 FORMATION AND CHARTER The Rotary Club of Exmouth was inaugurated on 10th November 1925 and the following members were elected under the original charter of the Club which was granted on the 15th December 1925 under the presidency of Rotarian H A Law
FOUNDER MEMBERS
Officers: President : H A Law (Clothier) Vice President : W A D'Arcy Hughes (Education) Secretary : W T Godfrey (Accountant) Treasurer : H St A Sims (Banker) Members: B Beney (Local Government) J E Brooks (Auctioneer) H G Clift (Dentist) R J Coward (Hairdresser) F Creedy (Bootmaker) W J Delderfield (Newspaper proprietor) F A Drawer (Poulterer) A W Gaze (Postal Service) W J Gay (Builder) W T Godfrey (Accounting Service) W T Gorfin (Journalism) R J Grigg (Tailor) D W A Hughes (Education—Secondary) S Hutton (Town Surveyor) R H Jones (Meat Retailing) J Nicholson (Pharmacy) V H H Pankhurst (Mechanical Engineering) Rev E Peters (Religion) H St A Sims (Banking) G M Thompson (Dock Operating) F Tucker (Draper) B T Vine (Solicitor)
The annual subscription was £1.11.6d and the entrance fee £2.2.0d. Weekly luncheon meetings were held on Tuesdays at The Imperial Hotel, Alexandra Terrace, Exmouth. E. R .DELD ERFIELD
Club Members Name Badges
Page 7 An extract from ‘The Rotary Club of Exmouth’, South Devon. A Celebration of 21st Anniversary Granting of our Charter on December 15th 1925. Presented with the Compliments of President Eric Delderfield
Rotarian Eric Delderfield (1930) President in 1935, 1946, 1955 and 1971 Officers of the Club in 1946-7 Headquarters : 20, The Beacon, Exmouth President: E R Delderfield Vice-President : J W Edwards 2nd Vice President: H W Stocker Hon. Secretary: F N Beckhart Hon. Treasurer: G F Twigg Club Editor: E S Riley
CLUB COUNCIL : Officers of the Club and Rotarians: Baker; Ellis; Barnetson; Kerslake; Sansom & Vine. From the time of the Charter in December 1925 there are still remaining in the club Rotarians : R J Grigg; H S Kerslake and B T Vine. FIRST PRESIDENTS: Forming part of the preliminary committee, held on 19th & 30th October 1925. Prior to the adoption of the Constitution in December 1925.
President 1925,1926,1934 President 1927 President 1928
H A Law P J Dixon D’Arcy Hughes Page 8 Twenty One Years: A twenty-first birthday is a notable milestone, perhaps the most notable birthday of all, for in the days that have fallen behind, an organisation, like an individual, has travelled a switchback trail to maturity. And the Exmouth Rotary Club can now safely be said to have attained maturity. In the following pages the story of its growth and development is traced, necessarily in broad outline. A reader may judge whether the Club has earned its Birthday Key. After the Club’s introduction to Community service work, President Law’s term of office was devoted to raising £500 for the Boy Scout’s Hut at Marpool Hill, which was at the same time a memorial to a beloved Exmouth Schoolmaster, the late President 1931 Mr Joslin. H S Kerslake The Original Exmouth Charter was granted under the Presidency of Mr H Law on December 15th 1925. An initial period of consolidation followed and it was not until 1932 under the guidance of President H S Kerslake that we find the club thrusting outside it’s immediate base into a wider field of activity. In that year much useful work was achieved in connection with the big bazaar scheme sponsored by the Exeter Club. To raise funds for scholarships with the University College of the South West, President Percy H Wills made strenuous efforts to ensure that the scholarships should be confined to the 17th District and not, as originally suggested, to foreign students. President Wills was enthusiastic for an exchange of Students, and got the co-operation of firms like Lever Bros for his project. It was President Wills who inaugurated the Open Lunches, which have since proved so popular. President 1932
P H Wills The Slump: In 1933 world depression was reflected in the Exmouth area by mass unemployment. Under the leadership of President L J Clapp the club instituted a Community Spending Service, a scheme which endeavoured to obtain from householders undertakings to carry out work in the field of building and decorating. As a direct result of this effort many local workmen found employment to tide them over the slump. 1934 sounded a more cheerful note. Rotary made a strenuous effort in connection with the local carnival, organised on behalf of charities. How many present members recall the famous coach and four, with the Rotarian E W Peters as coachman?. President 1933 There was an International flavour about 1935’s activities. In that year President E R Delderfield took office for the first time and the club displayed an active L J Clapp interest in foreign students at the University College, Exeter. Several groups of Continental victors were entertained here and taken around the East Devon countryside, in the summer months. Later, at Christmastide, the club held a memorable party where an odd but painful incident occurred.— Rotarian Grigg broke his arm during a wheelbarrow race at the Royal Beacon Hotel! Entente Cordiale. In 1936 hobbies played an important part in the club’s endeavours. That year, under the Presidency of A J Marcom, Rotary organised its initial ‘Hobbies’ Exhibition which was a huge success. Under President S J G Southon the following year association with foreign students was carried a stage further, and there were more fraternals, all aimed at promoting a spirit of international goodwill which Hitler shattered in succeeding years. One luncheon was almost a peace conference… Poles, Swiss, Bulgars and Czechs were represented at the tables. In the same year in 1937, the club entertained two Czech boy scouts for a fortnight and it was from these two lads that the club received a pathetic appeal for succour in the tragedy of 1938, when Munich failed to stem the approaching tides of world war.
Page 9 With the fateful September 3rd still a few months away the Club launched its third Hobbies’ Exhibition, which proved an even greater success than its predecessors. It was in this dismal year that Rotarian Marcom introduced a gleam of sunshine by founding the Junior Operatic Society. The club took over the business side of the young organisation and in the years 1940-45, when the society brightened the war years with their excellent productions, Rotarians helped to build the reputation of the movement in the box office. The War Years President F N Beckhart was leading the club when the war broke out and the first of Rotary war efforts were directed towards the reception of close on 1,000 President 1939, 1941, 1942 evacuees that descended on the town during that first chaotic week. The war years District Chairman 1950 and their attendant efforts, merged into one another. Club activity was ceaseless, despite the fact that constant movement of personnel among Rotarians hindered, but F N Beckhart quite failed to check, the collective efforts of the club. 1940, the most dangerous year in the history of the British Empire, happened to be the busiest on the records of the Exmouth Rotary Club. In conjunction with the Council, the club took the responsibility of making Marpool Hall habitable for some 70 mothers and 50 children from the most shattered areas of the East End of London. Following this, the club opened and equipped the hostel at Alexandra Terrace for evacuees who arrived late at night and had nowhere to sleep. As conditions improved the M.O.H. took these over but the initial period was the Clubs’ responsibility. Throughout this exceptionally strenuous period, which continued through 1941-3, President F N Beckhart held office and activities were manifold. Three trawlers were adopted one after the other: troops were entertained; convalescent soldiers regaled; and club members acted as host to Canadian and other overseas soldiers. Practically the whole of the successive Executive Committees arranging Evacuees’ children’s parties were composed of Rotarians, and the chief executive positions on the big Saving Weeks were also held by Rotarians. In 1941, at the request of the Y.M.C.A. the Club conducted an appeal for a mobile tea car, which raised over £400. Towards the end of the War 1943-45 a great deal of reorganisations took place, and it was in President S J G Southon’s year of office, President 1937,1943,1944 in 1945, that many new members joined the Rotary movement in Exmouth. District Governor 1957-1959
Rotarian C Mitchell’s year of office will chiefly be remembered for the S J G Southon magnificent fishermen’s scheme, which has proved a success. His interest in the Whipton Boys Home, on behalf of which the club have put in an immense amount of vocational service work, has borne much fruit.
Page 10 President 1935, 1946 President 1936
E R Delderfield A J Marcom
The FUTURE (as at December 11th 1946) “We are now in a position to look back on the past and to assess the future; we do so with satisfaction and complete confidence. Our membership is at record strength and the team spirit existing among those members has never been keener. The future of the club is safe in the hearts and hands of its present members. The scheduled programme for the next six months is an active one– It includes the raising of £250 of the Club’s £500 target figure for the Victory Thanksgiving Fund. Another ‘Hobbies’ Exhibition is billed for March and a series of vocational talks to junior organisations will run through the present winter. War conditions have given way to those of troubled peace. Much has been done. Far more remains to be done. Action Stations, Rotarians— you are now legally of age!” E R Delderfield (Second Term of Office as President of the Rotary Club of Exmouth while celebrating the Club’s 21st Anniversary of the granting of the Charter.)
The Programme for 1946-7 includes: Party for the three remaining Ministry of Health Hostels at Christmas. Raising of £250 towards the Club’s £500 target for the Town’s Thanksgiving Memorial Hall. Hobbies Exhibition for the Youth of the District, March 15th—20th. Vocational Talks Series at Youth Centres.
Page 11 The First 21 years have been recorded in Eric Delderfield's Charter Notes on Pages 8—11. For the 50th Charter Meeting a Handbook was created by Glyn Spooner and Bill Trigger to recognise the work of the club from 1925 until 1975. Bill covers the first 21 years again but with some updated facts so we decided to leave this as additional information although some points are repeated up until 1946.
1925 TO 1950 THE FIRST 25 YEARS PRESIDENTS 1925/27 Harry Law 1927/28 Percy Dixon 1928/29 D'Arcy Hughes 1929/30 Stanley Hutton 1930/31 William Godfrey 1931/32 Herbert Kerslake 1932/33 Percy Wills 1933/34 Leslie Clapp 1934/35 Harry Law 1935/36 Eric Delderfield 1936/37 Arthur Marcom 1937/38 Jimmie Southon 1938/39 A L E Berlyn 1939/40 Francis Beckhart 1940/41 George Twigg 1941/43 Francis Beckhart 1943/45 Jimmie Southon 1945/46 Cyril Mitchell 1946/47 Eric Delderfield 1947/48 Jack Edwards 1948/49 William Lewis 1949/50 Jerry Collacott During President Harry Law's term of office, £500 was raised for a Boy Scouts hut at Marpool Hill, which was, at the same time, a memorial to a well loved Exmouth schoolmaster, the late Mr. Jepson. This was an excellent start for the first year of Rotary in Exmouth. A period of consolidation followed, and it was not until 1932, under the guidance of President Herbert Kerslake, that the club entered into wider fields of activity. In that year much useful work was achieved in connection with a series of bazaars, supported by the Exeter Club, the purpose of which was to raise the necessary funds for the granting of scholarships in connection with the University of the South West. Later on, President Percy Wills made strenuous efforts to ensure that the scholarships should be confined to the 17th District and not, as originally suggested, to foreign students. President Wills was enthusiastic for an exchange of students, and obtained the co-operation of firms such as Lever Brothers for his project. It was President Wills who inaugurated "open lunches" which have since been so successful. In 1933 world depression was reflected in the Exmouth area by mass unemployment and, under President Leslie Clapp, the club got busy. It instituted a Community Spending Service, a scheme which The Exmouth Rotary Carnival Float outside the Imperial Hotel. endeavoured to obtain undertakings from house holders to institute a programme of building and decorating their properties. As a direct result of this effort, many local workmen found employment which helped to tide them over the slump.
In 1934 when Harry Law was again elected President, Rotary made strenuous efforts in support of the local carnival, organised on behalf of local and other charities.
Page 12 There was an international flavour to the club's activities in 1935. President Eric Delderfield took office for the first time and encouraged the club to take an active interest in foreign students attending the University College Exeter. Several groups of continental visitors were entertained and escorted round the East Devon country-side. In 1936 hobbies played a prominent part in the club's activities. That year, under the presidency of Arthur Marcom, Rotary held its first Hobbies Exhibition, which was a huge success. During 1937, when Jimmy Southon was President, the association with foreign students was carried a stage further when additional meetings were arranged, all aimed at promoting a spirit of international goodwill. On one occasion, during the weekly luncheon meeting, the club entertained visitors from Poland, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria. In the same year, two Czech boy scouts were entertained for a fortnight and it was from these two boys that the club later received a heart-rending appeal for assistance when their country was invaded by the German armies. Sadly, there was little or nothing that the club could do to help. In 1938/39, under President A L E Berlyn the club launched another Hobbies Exhibition and it proved to be an even greater success than its predecessor. It was during 1939 that Past President Arthur Marcom founded the Junior Operatic Society. The club provided the business and administrative support and, in the years 1939 to 1945, the society brightened the wartime scene with their excellent productions, which were:- 1939 - Dogs of Devon 1940 - Merrie England 1941 - Country Girl President 1938 1943 - Chu Chin Chow 1944 and 1945 - Pantomimes. A L E Berlyn President Francis Beckhart was leading the club when the war broke out and the first of the club's efforts were directed towards the reception of nearly a thousand evacuees who descended on the town during that first chaotic week. Club activity was ceaseless despite the fact that constant movement of personnel among the Rotarians themselves hindered, but failed to check, the collective effort of the club. 1940, the darkest year in the history of the British Empire, happened to be the busiest year for the club so far. In conjunction with the local council, the club took over the responsibility for making Marpool Hall habitable for some seventy mothers and children from the most bombed out areas of East London. Following this, the club opened and equipped a hostel at Alexandra Terrace for evacuees who, on many occasions, arrived in the town late at night and with nowhere to sleep. As conditions improved, the Ministry of Health took over the running of the two establishments but the initial period was the club's responsibility. George Twigg was appointed President for 1940/41, but no specific details of the Club’s activities have survived. President Francis Beckhart again took control of the Club in 1941, this time for two terms,1941/42 and 1942/43. Throughout this exceptionally strenuous period, activities were numerous. Three trawlers were "adopted", troops were entertained, convalescent soldiers regaled with hospitality and club members acted as hosts to Canadian and other overseas soldiers. The club provided practically the whole of the executive committees involved in arranging a succession of children's parties and a Rotarian was inevitably appointed to be in charge of the regular big "Savings Weeks" in the town. Page 13 In 1941, at the request of the YMCA, the club conducted an appeal for a mobile tea van, raising over £400. Jimmy Southon was President for a second and third term during 1943/5 and it was at the end of this period when the war was over that many new members joined the club. President Cyril Mitchell was elected for 1945/6 and his year of office will chiefly be remembered for the setting up of the highly successful Fisherman's Association. Commercial fishing had been in decline in the East Devon area for many years. The war brought a brief revival but decline returned with the arrival of peace. President Mitchell was instrumental in getting the club's support to suggest to the fishermen that an association should be formed to protect their interests. It was with some trepidation that the Club's Vocational Service Secretary sent out the invitations to an open meeting. His fears were groundless, however, as some fifty fishermen attended and elected their own committee with President Mitchell as chairman. Within a year the Association proved its worth and moved from strength to strength. Once it became firmly established, Rotary withdrew and left the Association to carry on the good work. President Mitchell also displayed much interest in the Whipton Boys Home and put in an immense amount of vocational work which bore much fruit. He presented the Club with a "Memorial" Album which was to contain photographs of members and important events. This album has survived and is held with the club archives. We have created a simple gallery of Image's from this Album covering many of the early years
Page 14
Page 15 In 1946 Rotarian Eric Delderfield started his second term of office and the club celebrated its 21st birthday. As part of the celebrations Eric produced a booklet outlining the club's history to date. It is from this booklet that much of the forgoing has been reproduced. The 1946/47 programme included the raising of £250 for the Victory Thanksgiving Fund. Another Hobbies Exhibition and a series of vocational talks at youth centres were features of the work undertaken during this period. A great deal of effort was put into making contact with overseas clubs and, for example, a party of Dutch children were entertained and were escorted round Exeter including a visit to the Cathedral.
Unfortunately, detailed club records for the period 1946 to 1966 are no longer available. In compiling the following accounts of the Club’s activities for these and some subsequent years, use has been made of the surviving International Committee minutes, (1946 to 1953), some Club Bulletins, (1955 to 1960), and of the Fiftieth Anniversary Booklet which was produced in 1975. From 1966 onward, copies of the Club Bulletin have also survived, complete for most years and in part for the rest right up to the present day. In addition, nearly all the Club Council Minutes from 1972 onward are still to hand.
During 1947/48, when President Jack Edwards was leading the Club, a party of Danish students were taken for a tour of Dartmoor and entertained to tea. Great interest was shown in international bodies such as UNO and UNESCO. The first reference was made to putting forward a student's name for a Foundation Scholarship. The contents of a number of food parcels donated by Clubs in America were distributed to twenty-four needy families in Exmouth. In 1948/49, the Club, under President William Lewis, organised a Carnival to raise funds for the refurbishment of the Exmouth library and a plaque was installed on the wall of the building which records the part played by Rotary. This was the first year that the club invited the district nurses to the Christmas luncheon. Further food parcels from America were distributed locally. The Club helped to place a young French farmer on a farm in North Devon. Much emphasis was placed on contacts with overseas clubs in 1949/50 and the entertaining of foreign students studying at Exeter University. Further food parcels were received from overseas clubs and the contents distributed. Many American students were taken on conducted tours of the Raleigh Country during President Jerry Collacott's term of office.
1950 TO 1975 THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY AND ONWARDS PRESIDENTS 1950/51 Tommy Maden 1951/52 Harry Stocker 1952/53 Harold Folland 1953/54 John Edwards 1954/55 Mennel Henshaw 1955/56 Eric Delderfield 1956/57 George Hawkins 1957/58 Leslie Johnson 1958/59 Tom Baker 1959/60 Reg Lunnen 1960/61 Charles Tate 1961/62 Fred Milford 1962/63 Donald Johnson 1963/64 Norman Grigg 1964/65 Jack White 1965/66 Cecil Buckingham 1966/67 Bill Trigger 1967/68 Dudley Matthews 1968/69 John Pankhurst 1969/70 Bill Urquhart 1970/71 Tom Roseveare 1971/72 Eric Delderfield 1972/73 Ricky Wheeler 1973/74 Tom Fogarty
Page 16 In 1950/51, Tommy Maden’s year, Past President Francis Beckhart was appointed Chairman (Governor) of District 17. When Harry Stocker became President in 1951/52, a "Christmas Tree of Friendship" was placed in the Strand Gardens and sufficient money was collected to buy 365 bags of coal for the needy. In 1952/53, Harold Folland was President and it was during his term of office that the Lynmouth flood disaster occurred. As soon as news of the disaster became known, the Community Service Committee got busy organising a series of collections and £725 was raised. A summer Fete, held in August in aid of charity, proved quite a success despite bad weather. Money was sent to the President of the Arnheim Club for the Dutch Flood Relief Fund. Parcels of clothing were also sent to displaced persons camps in Europe. President John Edwards was appointed for the year 1953/54. (No other records for this period are available) In 1954/55, under the leadership of President Mennel Henshaw, Rotary played a prominent part in the founding of a Round Table Club in Exmouth. During 1955, to commemorate Rotary's Golden Jubilee, the local Urban District Council was presented with a barograph which is now housed in the Town Council Offices. A most successful careers exhibition was mounted, and parcels of clothing were dispatched to refugee organisations.
30th Charter Anniversary L to R: Mrs Dora Delderfield; Rt. Rev. Wilfred Westall, Bishop of Crediton; President Rtn. Eric Delderfield, Mrs Edna Ray; District 17 Governor Rtn. Harry Ray
In 1955/56, Eric Delderfield was elected President for a third term. Work in the International field was very much to the fore and a party of six Rotarians visited three clubs in Holland. A donation of £20.6s.0d was sent to the organisers of the Hungarian Relief Fund and another of £50.11s.0d to the Anglo-Egyptian Relief Fund. Copies of British Medical Journals were sent to medical students in Ceylon. A Swedish Rotarian brought a party of fifteen children to Exmouth who were suitably entertained by the members. On the vocational side, a careers consultation service was set up and received much local publicity. The Community Service Committee started a service to transport visitors to Hawkmoor TB Hospital on Dartmoor and this scheme continued intermittently until 1978 when it was finally stopped after twenty three years. No other details are to hand, but it was clearly a longstanding and valuable service. Some residents of Kincraig Nursing Home were taken to a pantomime. The Charity Ball, which had been held at the Imperial Hotel for many years, was again held in November 1955, as was a mannequin parade. Further Christmas parcels were distributed, a practice which has continued until recent years. The Club won the attendance shield at the District Conference for the third year running. During 1956/57, under President George Hawkins, further youth exchanges were set up. Skittle matches were arranged with the Tiverton Club and these became a permanent feature. Another mannequin parade was held at the Imperial Hotel which raised £36.19s.3d. A Pantomime and Dancing Display was held in the church hall and funds benefited to the tune of £41.15s.0d. No records exist for the year 1957/58, other than the fact that the President's name was Leslie Johnson. In 1958/59, President Tom Baker’s year, Past President Jimmie Southon was elected as District Governor. A public speaking competition was arranged for pupils of the Exmouth Grammar School and proved to be a considerable success. The Vocational Committee discussed at great lengths the question of accidents in the home and the results of their research were published in the Exmouth Journal. Late in 1958, a decision was taken to set a target of £3500 to provide for a bungalow to be built in the grounds of Hulham House, the Salvation Army’s home for the elderly. A house to house collection produced £458 and further money was raised from a "Caledonian" Market, an Auction Sale and the Annual Charity Ball. The Vocational Committee turned its attention to the subject of the "unemployable". A donation of £100 was sent to the organisers of the Ockenden Venture, a national charity concerned with
Page 17 housing disadvantaged children and families from overseas. Twenty-five overseas students were entertained for four days. A party visiting Holland presented the president of the Rotary Club of Oosterbeck with a ribbon of office. By January 1959 the Bungalow Fund had reached £1000. In 1959/60, a Toy and Christmas fair coupled with the charity ball raised a further sizeable sum for the Old People's Bungalow. 1959 was World Refugee Year and the Club was busy organising collections as a result. A cheque for £224.9s.6d was sent to the Chairman of the Urban District Council by President Reg Lunnen. For a number of years the club members had been involved in the writing of letters for the blind, and this activity continued. The Community Service Committee helped in transporting children from Bristol to the annual tented camp at Orcombe Point. Plans were prepared for the construction of a "Wishing Well" on the sea front and submitted to the Council for approval. A suggestion that the club should advertise for farthings and unwanted foreign currency realised £9.6s.6d. Members entertained twelve foreign students in their own homes. President Charles Tate took over in 1960/61. The Vocational Service Committee had another busy year, discussing the possibility of setting up a workroom for the elderly of Exmouth. The International Committee continued their efforts to arrange for a speaker on "Russia Today" to attend an Area Rally. They were eventually successful after obtaining approval in principle from the Soviet Embassy. The Committee wished to widen their knowledge on the problems of racial segregation and were in touch with South Africa House in the hope of obtaining a speaker. A prospective visit by a party of young people under the Youth Exchange Scheme did not find favour with the Club. It was felt that those who came in the previous year could just have well have made their own arrangements for travel and accommodation instead of making use of the Rotary organisation. It was also felt that the element of "exchange" was missing. Many members, led by the President, attended a service in Exeter Cathedral to mark the 50th Anniversary of RIBI. A further series of functions were arranged to raise funds for the Old People's Bungalow. During 1961 the West Country suffered disastrous flooding which brought enquiries from Rotary Clubs all over the country as to the nature of help required by the victims. At Exmouth alone, donations received from other Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs amounted to nearly £400. During 1961/62, The local council accepted the Club's offer to construct a Wishing Well on the sea front. It was constructed by the members and presented by President Fred Milford to the Chairman of the Urban District Council on the 18th December 1961. It was hoped at the time that this would be a permanent fund raiser for charity, and this it has proved to be. During 1962, the Vocational Committee discussed :- 1. The question of how best to help school leavers to find employment. 2. Leadership in industry. 3. The furthering of better staff / management relations. A supply of books was sent off to the organisers of the Ranfurley Library scheme. During 1962/63, the bungalow for the old people at Hulham House was completed and handed over to the Salvation Army on 27th August 1962 by President Donald Johnson. Photographs of the opening ceremony are contained in the Mitchell Memorial Album held with the Archives. Whilst all members had a part to play, particularly with the fund raising effort, it was Rotarian Howard Williams who played the key role in the construction of the building. Medical supplies were sent out to a Miss Susan Andrews, the niece of a Plymouth Rotarian, who was in charge of a hospital out-station in Portuguese East Africa. Miss Andrews subsequently attended a club meeting as guest speaker. A Spring Fair was held during March 1963. The Club organised a garden party to raise a donation for the Exmouth Disabled Fellowship Building Fund. Assistance was given with the purchase of a television set for the Hulham House bungalow. No records exist for the year 1963/64, other than the fact that the president was Norman Grigg. In 1964/65, a wine tasting party realised £40.5s.0d for Community Service funds. The Vocational Committee prepared a paper entitled "Preparing for Retirement". President Jack White and seven Rotarians and their wives attended a meeting in Exeter, at which the President of RIBI was present. A book week was held in April to collect books for the Ranfurley Library and a report on "Learning to Earning" was sent to the press for publication. 1965 marked the Diamond Jubilee of RIBI and many members attended a special service in Exeter Cathedral where the Dean of Exeter delivered an inspiring address on the aims and objects of Rotary. A cheque for £15 was sent to the Exeter Club in respect of an appeal for a kidney dialysis machine. One of the highlights of the year was a visit to Holland. Seven members made the trip, which was memorable for the hospitality received from the Dutch clubs involved. On the sporting side, a cricket match was played against the Round Table Club, and a skittles team of five members competed (unsuccessfully) in a challenge cup competition arranged by the Association for Guide Dogs for the Blind. The Vocational Committee discussed the question of "Co-partnership in Industry". Rotary International arranged for the Club to be "twinned" with Temora, a town in Australia. During 1965/66, the provision of a rose garden to benefit the town was the idea of President Cecil Buckingham. A site in the Salterton Road was chosen and the members spent many hours digging and planting. It was appropriate that the President was, at the time, also the Chairman of the Urban District Council and it was he who accepted the gift on behalf of the town. The garden effectively added to the Exmouth's reputation as the "Town of Flowers" An invitation was received from the Rotary Club of Cork to make a weekend visit to Eire but the Club was unable to accept due to lack of support. A successful visit was, however, made the following year. Contacts were established with the "twinned" New South Wales Club at Temora mentioned above. In 1966/67, during President Bill Trigger's term of office, much concern was expressed over a resolution to be put to the Denver RI Convention which would rob RIBI of its Constitution. The resolution failed to gain support however. Page 18 During the summer, the Club changed the venue of its weekly meeting from Clapp's Cafe, where they had met for many years, to the Fortes Channel View Restaurant and six months later to the Royal Beacon Hotel. A letter was received from St Helena seeking help in the provision of children's clothing. The Vocational Committee visited Clark's shoe factory in Exmouth to investigate quality and reliability in manufacturing. The International Committee made representation to the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on behalf of an Exmouth family who were emigrating. Ten foreign students from Exeter University were entertained. During February, the members attended a most successful President's Church Service at the Holy Trinity Church. Such services had traditionally been held for many years and would continue for some time in the future. During President Dudley Matthews' term of office, 1967/68, the International Committee was very active despatching further bales of clothing to St Helena and entertaining twelve foreign students from Exeter University. The Club participated in a group study exchange visit. In December the Club returned to the Fortes Restaurant for the weekly meetings as the Royal Beacon Hotel proved to be too small. The Community Service Committee helped with the Hospital Fete and arranged a trip to the Black and White Minstrel Show in Paignton for a group of old people. Rtn Bernard Greenaway organised a collection on the sea front in connection with a visit by Gypsy Moth IV which raised £75. Rtn Ray Moxey organised a concert for the blind. A new wishing well was built and brought into use at Whitsun and other money raising events during the spring included a jumble sale, a "Petticoat Lane" plus a series of comic football matches. The latter raised £260 the majority of which went to Resthaven. The RIBI President visited Exeter in June and a number of members attended the meeting. In 1968/69, President John Pankhurst's first message in the club bulletin consisted, (in total) of :- "I am not one for codswallop so read on!". The Club moved to the Manor Hotel on the 30th September 1968 and has continued to meet there ever since. The Past Rotarians club was formed. The Vocational Committee was joined with the Community Service Committee until such time as they could be "revitalised". District refused permission to make it a permanent sub committee of the Community Service Committee. Help for the people of St Helena continued in the shape of a further 121 pounds of clothing. The Club formed a twinning association with the Rotary Club of Aire-sur-la-Lys, and after an exchange of correspondence, an interchange of children was planned. A shop for the blind was set up at Kingdon Hall, Douglas Avenue, which opened for one hour a week and was staffed by the members. In June, some Cheshire Home patients, as in earlier years, were treated to a boat trip, and Rotarians gave some of their time to pushing wheelchairs along the sea front. A Californian GSE party were escorted to Hayes Barton, the birthplace of Sir Walter Raleigh, and on to East Budleigh Church. During 1969/70, for ten days in July, the Club hosted two boys and two girls from Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden respectively, under the Rotary Youth Exchange Scheme. The main event during the latter part of 1969 was a most successful "Pageant of Dress Through the Ages" at the Cranford Club in September. In October, a Cheese and Wine Party raised £27 which, in part, funded the provision of a ton of coal and 85 bags of kindling wood for distribution to the needy at Christmas. Following a poor response to correspondence with the Aire-sur-la-Lys Club, it was decided to abandon the twinning arrangements. It was in 1970 that President Bill Urquhart, learning that the scout hut at Marpool Hill was badly in need of repair, decided to raise the necessary funds. The first major effort was the promotion of the first "Top to Top" race organised jointly by the Club and the Exmouth Round Table. This was a great success and the Club’s share of the proceeds was over £400. Three further such races were run until 1974, when the organisation was taken over in its entirety by the Round Table. In June, the Club held a Flower Festival at St John in the Wilderness Church attended by two to three thousand people and which produced a profit of over £200. For the third year running, clothing was sent to St Helena. The Exmouth Carnival Procession float, entered by the Club, won the first prize. President Tom Roseveare was elected in 1970/71 and the year began in July with the Club helping out at the Salvation Army Garden Party at Hulham House. Later on the Club again hosted a party of Cheshire Homes residents for a week. For many years, it had been the practice of the Club to arrange a day's outing for a party from the various local old people's homes. This year was no exception when thirty five such people were entertained. The Club was busy, as usual, helping with the Carnival and assisting the Round Table with their Traction Engine Rally during August, and, later in the year, a Firework Display at Stoke Lyne. The Club's scheme for providing agricultural training for two young men from St Helena progressed a step further when a letter was received from the Governor of the island expressing his support. Further parcels of clothing were sent off to the islanders. Work started to clear the undergrowth and brambles in the private graveyard at St John in the Wilderness Church. A decision was made to present a new set of gates to the burial ground. It was agreed that a premium bond draw should be held at the luncheon meetings. It was also decided to establish a President's Discretionary Fund whereby local hardship cases could be speedily dealt with. First mention is made of the planned formation of a Probus and a Rotaract Club. It was decided to stop providing Christmas parcels for the disadvantaged although twenty two bags of firewood were chopped and prepared for distribution. A jumble sale was held in December. At the end of 1971, the Club membership stood at 43 with the average age of 56. Eric Delderfield, at that time, had been a member for 40 years. A scheme was approved whereby a number of sweet jars, suitably labelled, should be placed in specially chosen public houses for the collection of trading stamps and cigarette coupons. Entries for the Top to Top exceeded 100 and, this year, the local military assisted with the stewarding. The highlight of President Tom Roseveare's year was the Flower Festival which was held over three days in June and received a great deal of praise from local and overseas visitors.
Page 19 During 1971/72, on the first Monday in July, Eric Delderfield became the President of the Club for the fourth time, thought to be, at the time, a record which would never be matched. Early in his year the President arranged a visit to Morwellham for members and their wives and, later on, two visits to the Tors Hotel at Lynmouth. Late July brought the usual activities connected with the Carnival and further clearance work at the burial ground at St John in the Wilderness Church. The old folk were again treated to a trip to Torquay with tea provided. An innovatory "New Members Day" was held to acquaint prospective members with the ins and outs of Rotary. In November the two young men from St Helena arrived and were met and escorted to Exmouth. There they remained before being placed on farms at Camborne and Barnstaple. By this time, some £300 had been donated to the cost of the project by the clubs in District 117. With the cost of transporting clothing to St Helena ever increasing, it was decided to send money rather than clothes to the island in future. Members continued their service of writing letters for the blind throughout the year. The Club organised a Carol Service aided by the Exeter Salvation Army Band In March 1972, a Hobbies Exhibition was held in the Exmouth Pavilion, preceded by eighteen months of planning and hard work. It was the third such exhibition staged by the Club over a period of thirty years. The exhibits were of a very high standard and the event proved to be an outstanding success. The Inner Wheel Club's contribution consisted of a Wheel of Flowers containing some 10,000 white and gold carnations which formed a striking centrepiece. In April, the Club acted as hosts to a party of American students who, as in previous years, were taken for a tour of the Raleigh Country. Assistance was given to the Mencap Fete in June, and the usual arrangements were made for entertaining a group from the Cheshire Homes. In 1972/73, new President Ricky Wheeler's fund raising efforts were directed towards the cost of the new Exmouth Inshore Lifeboat. September saw the now customary old people's trip to Torquay and a party of members visited Appledore to inspect a partly built replica of the Golden Hind. A Cheese and Wine party was held in October in aid of the Lifeboat Fund and during the same month members of the International Committee visited the farm near Camborne where the young man from St Helena was under training. Later in 1972, a plaque was installed at St John in the Wilderness Church noting the fact that the private burial ground had been renovated by the Exmouth Rotary Club. A "Going for a Song" auction, chaired by Eric Delderfield, and assisted by two experts in antiques was held in December at the Cranford Club and raised just over £100. Early in 1973, the President handed over the Club's second contribution to the rebuilding of the Scout Hut, a sum of £240 to add to the launching contribution of £400 made in 1970. Lord and Lady Roborough officially reopened the building in April. A Caledonian Market was held in May and, in June, the President was able to present a £500 cheque to Admiral Sir Wilfred Wood as the Club's contribution to the Inshore Lifeboat Fund. In 1973/74, President Tom Fogarty began preliminary discussions regarding the Club's forthcoming fiftieth anniversary celebration due in 1975. In July, Past President Eric Delderfield and Jim Cobley (President 77/78) attended a Royal Garden Party. A Rotary float was entered in the carnival procession. Six Rotarians erected a sectional summer house in the grounds of Hulham House. The District Governor announced a project to raise £10,000 for an endowment fund for the Rotary Boys' Home at Weston Super Mare. The Club decided to contribute its share, £200, at the rate of £6 per member. This was a surprising decision, as the Club had, for many years, complained about the poor organisation and management of the Home. In October, a cheese and wine party was held at Danby House and a decision was taken to cease manning the shop for the blind at Kingsdon. The Christmas Service was held at Glenorchy Church. The two young men returned home to St Helena in November, after a two year stay, bringing to an end the St Helena Project. The final report, compiled by the International Committee, claimed that the project had been a great success. President's Night in January, followed a new format in that there was no band and, therefore, no dancing. President Tom Fogarty, in the February Bulletin, wrote that the evening had been an unqualified success, as far as he was concerned, as, for once "chatter could reign supreme". In March £280 was raised at a Caledonian Market. Later in the spring, the Club entertained a party of six Americans. The future of the annual Christmas Service was discussed as the previous one had not been well attended. Work to repair the paths at Danby House was completed, and the Rotary year ended with a visit by residents of the Cheshire Homes. 1974/75 began by President John Baxter declaring in the July Bulletin that "I have only one service objective and that is to see that we get our Fiftieth Anniversary project off the ground." Later in the year, it was decided to seek permission to develop a public picnic area to mark the event. During the autumn, a group of Rotarians, armed with shovels, completed the preparation of a raised flower bed at Danby House. The wood chopping service continued and a waste paper collection was started. The Christmas Carol Service was held at the Tower Street Methodist Church. In the spring the customary Caledonian Market raised £356 and the Top to Top added a "substantial" sum to the club funds. Following a successful appeal by the International Committee, 400 paperbacks and 1,200 hardbacks were despatched to the Ranfurley Library. At the April business meeting, it was decided by a substantial majority, that the Club should no longer pay the District 117 dues in respect of the contributions to the Rotary Boys' Home, Rotary Foundation and the Group Study Exchange Scheme. Since the running of the Wishing Well had been taken over by the Club in 1966, the proceeds had amounted to some £1200. In June, the Donkey Derby raised £142. Throughout the year, the Hawkmoor transport rota and the letter writing at Kingsdon both continued.
Page 20 1975 TO 2015 RECENT YEARS PRESIDENTS 1974/75 John Baxter 1994/95 John Jessup 1975/76 Bernard Greenaway 1995/96 Dickson Tolman 1976/77 Royd Dawkins 1996/97 Derek Taylor 1977/78 Jim Cobley 1997/98 Bob Cochrane 1978/79 Stanley Chandler 1998/99 Ian Winks 1979/80 Adrian Lunnon 1999/00 David Capel-Jones 1980/81 Alan Parker 2000/01 Cliff Lenn 1981/82 Steve Staveley 2001/02 Courtney Richards 1982/83 Eric Watts 2002/03 Alan Symes 1983/84 Ken Acton 2003/04 George Maddaford 1984/85 David Scott 2004/05 Frank Hart-Venn 1985/86 Bernard Greenaway 2005/06 David Matthews 1986/87 Peter Chapman 2006/07 Malcolm Pressey 1987/88 Mike Glaister 2007/08 David Brunwin 1988/89 Edwin Halliwell 2008/09 Chris Stevens 1989/90 Graham Kirby 2009/10 Gerald Garraway 1990/91 Albert Streat 2010/11 Dick Bishop 1991/92 Ray Newcombe 2011/12 Norman Hawkins 1992/93 Doug Battersby 2012/13 Keith Turner 1993/94 Bill Williamson 2013/14 Brian Drake 2014/16 Simon Wood
Handover to President Bernard Greenaway
1975/76 saw Bernard Greenaway's first term of office as President. The application, made the previous year, for permission to develop a picnic site to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Club's formation, had been approved and the site chosen was on Francis Danby's House on the Maer. The site would consist of ten permanent benches and tables, a barbecue and a series of litter bins, all within a screen of specially planted trees. The East Devon District Council accepted with grateful thanks. In early November, the first working party ventured forth to be followed by a regular series of others. The project was completed in less than six months and was formally opened by Lord and Lady Roborough on 14th April 1976. Previously, the fiftieth anniversary of the Club's charter Night was celebrated at a dinner held at the Devoncourt Hotel on 15th December 1975 attended by 47 Rotarians and their wives. The principal guest was the President of RIBI Eddie Cotton. In March 1976 a further celebratory dinner was held at the Pavilion.
Page 21 To fund the construction of the picnic area and, presumably, the various other activities, a whole series of fund raising events were organised. These included a Wine and Savouries evening at Rolle College, another Caledonian Market, the Top to Top Race, a Sponsored Swim and a Donkey Derby at Sandy Bay, the last mentioned being the eighth such event organised by the Club. The grand total raised is not recorded, but it could well be in excess of a thousand pounds as the Top to Top and the Market alone raised over six hundred. It was about this time that the first mention of the possibility of allowing women to join Rotary was recorded. In March, the various Districts involved voted unanimously to close the Rotary Boys' Home at Weston Super Mare, a decision which was greeted with great satisfaction by the Club. During 1976/77, the wood chopping programme continued and in July the Club entered a float in the Carnival Procession. In August, occupants of the Cheshire homes made their annual visit to Exmouth. They were taken on a river trip, visits to Powderham Castle and Dawlish and enjoyed a barbeque. In October, a fashion show was held in the Pavilion. Despite these initiatives, President Royd Dawkins expressed his considerable concern at the lack of support for certain events. The Vocational Committee was very active during this period and was instrumental in setting up a Craft Centre Committee which established itself in Lower Fore Street. The now traditional Top to Top race and Caledonian Market were held although income was down on previous years. The collecting jars in the public houses continued to yield a steady income however for the Community Service fund. The club members enjoyed an outing to Arlington Court in North Devon and a luncheon at the Bath Hotel Lynmouth in May. In June, the Club combined with the Lions, the Inner Wheel and the Past Rotarians Clubs to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee. A Barbeque was organised on the Maer Picnic Ground with side shows, music and dancing. It finished with a firework display. The last event of the year was a cheese and wine party to raise money to provide a local blind person with a hearing aid. Throughout the year, sufficient articles were collected to fill two emergency boxes. President Jim Cobley's year, 1977/78, began and finished with sponsored swims, the first in aid of Orcombeleigh and the second for the Devon Life Saving Association. The latter event raised £100. The Club again assisted in the Carnival arrangements and entered a bed race which raised £30. In late August, the Cheshire Homes group arrived and were entertained for ten days. The following month a party of local old people were taken on a coach tour and treated to a cream tea. More trees were planted on the Maer during the autumn. The Christmas season was marked by a carol concert at the Tower Street Methodist Church and the distribution of Christmas trees, donated by Clinton Devon Estates, to the local old people's homes, a practice that had begun some years previously. The President and his lady visited Hulham House on Christmas day and distributed presents to the residents, a practice that continued to 1998. Early in the new year, support was given to the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind sponsored walk and £100 was donated. Another Caledonian Market and a Top to Top race were organised, and another three day Hobbies Exhibition was held at the Pavilion. In June, ten Kenyan students from Rolle College were entertained for drinks and supper. During the year, other activities included the filling of a further two emergency boxes, the provision of nearly a thousand books for the Ranfurley Library and more wood chopping. After many years, the transportation of visitors to the Hawkmoor Hospital was finally dropped due to lack of demand. The wishing well continued to be a good source of revenue. Stanley Chandler’s year as President, 1978/79, got off to a good start by the members helping with the Carnival Side- Shows and the Craft Centre. A party of old people was taken on a tour of East Devon culminating with tea at Honiton. The usual party from the Cheshire Homes arrived in late summer and were looked after for two weeks. This was followed by the Top to Top Race organised by Rotary and the Round Table. The Club’s share of the proceeds was £156. In support of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Scanner Appeal, the Club organised a two day “Old Exmouth” exhibition at the Imperial Hotel which raised £200. The Vocational Committee set about the formation of the first Probus Club in the area which was up and running by late November. December saw the usual activities; a Carol Service, the distribution of parcels, Christmas trees to the local old People’s Homes and the provision of parcels for Hulham House. A Wine and Pâté evening was held at the Imperial Hotel where £87 was raised for an “Eye Camp” in India. Some under privileged children were treated to a Pantomime outing in January. The Vocational Committee carried out mock job interviews for fifth formers at the Exmouth School with great success. Fund raising activities included a Caledonian Market (£240) and a “Maer Fayre” (£150). Throughout the year, a number of social events were organised, including a visit to Exeter Cathedral, a golf competition and a skittles evenings. The year 1979/80 started, as ever, by providing help with the Carnival Side shows. President Adrian Lunnon was keen to promote friendship and fellowship during his year 1980 Exmouth Youth of office so, partly to this end, it was decided not to invite guest speakers for the whole of August to give members more opportunity to welcome and to get to know visiting Tattoo Rotarians. It was during August that a Sunday lunchtime barbecue raised £110 for the Programme Cheshire Homes Appeal. A Wine and Pâté evening raised another £150 for an Indian Eye Camp. Organized by The Rotary Club of Exmouth The Christmas programme, with one exception, followed the usual pattern. The tree Page 22 collection in the Magnolia Centre raised in excess of £250 which enabled the Club to donate £200 to the Hulham House Lift Appeal as well as to present thirty five Christmas parcels to the inhabitants. Seven Christmas trees were installed in the local Old People’s Homes. The exception referred to previously concerned a number of refugee Vietnamese, the so called “boat people”, who were being settled in the UK and were temporarily accommodated at Bystock House. The House had been provided with wood burning stoves and the Club provided a number of wood chopping parties to supply the necessary fuel. Additionally, the Club presented Christmas stockings to the children. In the spring another Old Exmouth Exhibition was arranged, and £285 was raised at a Caledonian Market. A tremendous amount of work went into the preparation of a Youth Tattoo in late June that proved to be a great success. Socially it was an active year. Three country walks were arranged and a visit was made to North Devon. Parties of members toured the new Countryside Museum at Sandy Bay and the Exeter Maritime Museum. A party was held at the Imperial Hotel to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Rotary International. The members also found time to collect some 1200 books for the Ranfurley Library as well as fill and despatch another emergency box. Alan Parker became President for 1980/81, and in his opening message in the bulletin, he stressed the need for effective teamwork. Two Donkey Derbys were organised, in conjunction with RAFA, at the Sandy Bay Holiday Park and the club’s half share of the £800 profit was donated to a local Kidney Research Appeal. The Twickenham Multiple Sclerosis Society brought a group of patients to Exmouth to stay at Orcombeleigh and the club drew up a rota of members to act as wheelchair “pushers”. It was noted that, for the next year’s visit, the rota would be more on a voluntary basis ! In September the Club arranged for the Band of the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary to present a concert at the Pavilion in aid of the Exmouth Disabled Fellowship Ambulance Appeal. Later in the autumn, the Club was honoured by a visit by the President of RIBI (Eric Firby). During the year, a great deal of effort was expended by the President in conjunction with other local organisations, including the police, to secure a piece of land in the Dalditch area for use as a motor cycle training ground. The object was to ensure that young, inexperienced motor cyclists would receive proper professional instruction both for their own and other people’s safety. Unfortunately, although the search for a suitable site continued through the following Rotary year, it all came to nothing. The Christmas tree collection raised £442, £100 of which went to the Kidney Research Appeal and sixteen parcels were distributed to the needy families. Wood chopping continued throughout the winter. The Community Service committee began a project to publish an access guide to local amenities, places of entertainment, toilets, etc which were found to be user friendly, for the disabled community. It appears, however, that little progress was made during the year. Further mock job interviews were staged at the Comprehensive School. The skittle matches continued to attract a following but success was reported as only “moderate” ! 1981 was designated as the Year of the Disabled and Steve Staveley, President 1981/82, appropriately presided over a very active year devoted mainly to helping the disabled community. In partnership with Round Table, the Club staged two Donkey Derbies at Sandy Bay which together raised £650. In August a family of five were sent on holiday to Somerset and arrangements were made to send another family to Cornwall the following summer. Two highly successful Youth Tattoos, in October and June were organised. In September, the Dartmoor Chair Push proved to be a good day out for the disabled. Eight chairs were pushed by the members and tea was taken at the Okehampton Army Camp NAAFI. An Autumn public meeting was called in an attempt to stimulate interest in the production of the Access Guide for the disabled first mooted by the club the previous year. The Christmas tree collection produced £406. In February, £180 was raised for the Indian Eye Camp Appeal by holding another Wine and Pâté function. In May the Club hosted a Group Study Exchange party from Hawaii, by all accounts, a memorable visit. For a number of years, the Club had been involved with other groups in an attempt to establish an Exmouth Museum, and, at last, it was announced that a suitable building had been found for the purpose. The Club was reminded that they had originally promised to contribute £1,000 towards the project ! A dozen or so boxes of books were collected for the Ranfurley Library and another Emergency Box was filled and despatched. The latter now seems to have become an annual event. The Club put aside £40 to renovate the wishing well and the wood chopping exercise continued. The year closed with a flower show at A la Ronde.
Page 23 Two unique events occurred in 1982/83 when Eric Watts took over the presidency. The first, and perhaps the most important and far reaching, was the receipt of a substantial anonymous donation, in the form of Government Stock. The donor requested that the income generated by the investment be used at the club’s discretion for charitable and benevolent purposes. Before the year was out, a Trust Fund was established and the ground rules for the use of the income were formulated. The second event involved the Club members, supported by other local service clubs, entertaining thirty nine families and relations of Royal Marine casualties, killed or wounded, in the Falklands War or the Northern Ireland conflict. The families stayed for a week in local homes and enjoyed a pleasant spring holiday. A letter of appreciation from the Commandant General, Royal Marines is held with the Club Archives. Yet another significant event occurred during this particular year. The club decided that there was a niche in the market for the sale of transparent plastic sheets carrying a variety of different sizes of coloured Rotary emblems which could be peeled off and stuck to papers, notices, vehicles and so on. John Pankhurst undertook the task of designing the product and finding a manufacturer. An application for a licence from RI was applied for. Other main fund raising events included no less than four Donkey Derbies, two Wine and Pâté evenings and an antiques road show. The Museum management committee suffered a set back when the East Devon District Council refused to fund more than one third of the costs. Ken Acton’s year, 1983/84, started with three Donkey Derbies which raised some £1,200. In August, the licence for the manufacture of Rotary emblems was received from RI and, by October, the first batch was ready for sale. Among the autumn activities was another youth tattoo involving 500 youngsters and the sponsoring of a sea cadet on an Outward Bound training trip on the TS Royalist. The Christmas tree collection produced £225 for food hampers for the needy and another Wine and Pâté evening at the Imperial Hotel raised £300 for the Indian eye camps. Other activities included wood chopping, the filling of another disaster box and a coach trip for a party of disabled people. At a Charter Night in October, a Rotaract Club was formed and thirty members were enrolled. This was another “first” for the Club Early in the new year, the Club received the news that the Trust Fund’s application for charitable status had been approved by the Charities Commission thus freeing the fund from the requirement to pay income tax on the investment interest. In 1984/85, President David Scott’s first duty was to congratulate Eric Watts for the well merited award of a Paul Harris Fellowship. Three young men from Bahrain and a party of GSE students from Queensland were successfully entertained at club meetings. On the social side, a car treasure hunt, a River Otter walk and sherry party (arranged in conjunction with the Inner Wheel Club) were all enjoyed by the members. Work was begun on the structural alterations to the Exmouth Museum building. Two beach huts on the Exmouth sea front were renovated and decorated and then handed over for use by the residents of Bystock Court, Orcombeleigh and Stallcombe House. Funds raised during the year included £600 from the Christmas Tree collection, £500 from a Wine and Pâté evening at the Imperial Hotel and an undisclosed sum from three Donkey Derbies at Sandy Bay. Beneficiaries included the British Commonwealth Society for the Blind, the Exmouth Disabled Fellowship and the residents of Hulham House. Agreement was reached to form an evening Rotary Club in Exmouth as well as a second local Probus Club, the latter to be established in Budleigh Salterton.
60th (Diamond) Charter Anniversary
Back Row: Ken Acton, Ken Baker, Chris Stevens; Keith Mitchell, Geoff Phelps, Albert Streat, Dyson Flint, Bill Williamson, Alan Parker, Stanley Chandler, Tony Corbett, Doug Battersby, Ray Newcombe, John Delve. Row 3: Bill Trigger, Unknown, Tom Fogarty, Unknown, Eddie Cuff, Jerry Collacott, Harry Stocker, Tom Roseveare, Bob Skidmore, Bill Handford, Jim Cobley, Reg Lunnen, Royd Dawkins, Unknown, John Baxter. Row 2: Adrian Lunnon, Bill Frost, Ricky Wheeler, David Scott, Peter Chapman, Bernard Greenaway, Eric Delderfield, Mike Glaister, Eric Whittle, Steve Staveley, Derek Blundell, John Jessup. Front Row: Dickson Tolman, John Pankhurst, Bernard Hughes, Alister Young, Ted Herbert, Eric Watts, Charles Tate, Graham Kirby, Ted Halliwell, Brian Steadman, Bob Chandler. (Highlighted Names—Attended the 90th Charter Dinner or still serving members of the Rotary Club of Exmouth & District)
Page 24 1985/86 was the Club’s Diamond Jubilee Year, being chartered on 15th December 1925. Bernard Greenaway was elected as President. This was his second term of office, the first being in 1975/76. On 14th December, a Diamond Jubilee Dinner was held at the Imperial Hotel to celebrate the granting of the Charter, and, later on, work began on the creation of a garden layout on the approaches to the recently completed Exmouth Sports Centre. The garden was completed in June. The Club also hosted a special Ladies’ Night Dinner at Bicton Park to complete the celebrations. Other social events included regular skittles matches throughout the winter and a sports evening at the London and Manchester Assurance Social Club. The Club organised the Exmouth Tattoo in July, reported to be an evening of “thrilling” entertainment by the personnel from the Royal Marine establishments at Lympstone and Poole. In addition, £1,800 was raised for a number of chosen charities. Two Donkey Derbies were held, £740 was collected round the Christmas tree and the Wine and Pâté International Evening raised £358. During the year, a major fund raising effort was initiated by Rotary International. It was to be called Polio 2005 and the aim was nothing less than the eradication of poliomyelitis from the whole world by the year 2005 to coincide with Rotary’s centenary. This operation was later renamed “Polio Plus” and was extended to include five other major diseases. All clubs throughout the world were asked to take part and to be prepared to continue the effort for many years. During December, the Club decided to institute a “Citizen of the Year” award to be presented annually at the Christmas Lunch. The first recipient was Mrs Marjorie Moore for her work with the disabled, and this practice has continued to the present day. The new Exmouth Evening Rotary Club was duly formed at an Inaugural Dinner in November and a Charter Night Dinner the following March. The name chosen by the members, was the Rotary Club of Exmouth Raleigh. In July, the Exmouth Museum building had at last been made habitable and during the coming months, numerous working parties were set up to complete the internal decorating work in time for the opening by the end of February 1986. In 1986/87, Peter Chapman took office as President and immediately became involved with the “Devon Glorious Devon” project held over two days at Bicton Park. At the invitation of the Park management, the Club, together with the Raleigh and the Rotaract Clubs organised, manned eight stalls and several items of showground equipment. For a variety of reasons, not least the bad weather, the project was not a financial success. Later in the year, the Club organised a big band concert by the Herb Miller Orchestra in the Exeter University Great Hall. This proved to be a great success, the proceeds going to the Cheshire Homes. Later on, eighteen members and their wives attended the District Conference at St Ives when the Club won the attendance Shield for the eighth time. The Christmas tree collection raised almost £900 this year resulting in the distribution of fifty two parcels and hampers. Miss Hilda Buckett was nominated Citizen of the Year for her personal local fund raising activities. The now traditional Wine and Pâté evening raised £450 St Ives District Conference (1986) for LEPRA plus the Commonwealth The Rotary Club of Exmouth win the attendance shield for the 8th time Society for the Blind and an informal social evening in support of Polio Plus was held. Other functions included a Safari Supper for Foundation, a sponsored cliff walk, and a St George’s Day Dinner. Three emergency boxes were despatched and more books were sent to the Ranfurley Library. Skittle evenings maintained their popularity. Bernard Greenaway was elected as an honorary member of the Raleigh Club in recognition of his extensive efforts in the formation of the club and for his continued and regular support ever since. Ken Acton, twice a club president as well as a past District Governor was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship. In 1987/88, President Mike Glaister set his sights on reaching the Club’s target of £4,500 for Polio Plus and thus the majority of the Club’s activities were inevitably connected with fund raising. Any number of small projects were pursued, but the main impetus came from assisting the Sidmouth Club (originally formed by the Exmouth Club) to sell raffle tickets for a new motor car. The car was on view at the Imperial Road Sports Ground for the best part of a week where the tickets were sold in conjunction with a motor show mounted by The Exmouth Chamber of Trade & Commerce. Many other clubs in the area held similar events and the raffle raised, in total, £22,500. The Exmouth Club’s share of this total was, evidently, quite substantial. Despite being given three years to meet the target figure, the Club reached it in just one year due , in the main, by the efforts of Bernard Greenaway who had master-minded the whole effort. For this and other services to the Club over many years, he received a Paul Harris Fellowship. Other events included two band concerts, a Wine and Pâté Evening with a “Race Night” at the Elizabeth Hall. Not all these
Page 25 events were in support of Polio Plus however. The proceeds from one of the band concerts went to Hospiscare and part of the Wine and Pâté takings were given to International Rescue. Christmas was marked by the usual round of activities. The tree collection produced £864 to finance sixty six parcels and Mrs Enid McIlvern was hailed as Citizen of the Year for her work in Lympstone over many years in connection with the Britain in Bloom competition. Her efforts were crowned by Lympstone winning a number of awards in the best village category. The Foundation Committee held another very successful Safari Supper, a function which now has a permanent place on the calendar. It is of note that, about this time, it became established that members could make their personal donation to Foundation by a deed of covenant via an annual standing order payment to the newly constituted Trust Fund. This allowed the latter, now a registered charity, to reclaim the tax element from the Inland Revenue. President Ted Halliwell was duly elected in 1988/89. An inaugural Summer Fayre was held in the grounds of the Elizabeth hall in August. The members and their families searched their lofts and cellars looking for anything which could be sold to the holiday makers and the locals. Stalls were built and manned by the members and the most encouraging profit of over £1,000 was the result. Items disposed of included clothes, books, garden produce, bric a brac, furniture and anything else which was saleable and, by all accounts, some items which were not! The proceeds were augmented by the sale of snack lunches and afternoon teas provided by the ladies of the Inner Wheel Club and by the sale of ice creams and hot dogs. This Fayre became an annual feature boosted by the hire of a “Bouncy Castle”, the provision of music and the inclusion of some “try your skill” side shows. It would appear that this particular operation took up where the so called Caledonian Markets left off some years previously. Later in the year, the Club supported an Army Benevolent Fund Concert at the Pavilion performed by the Devon and Dorset Regimental Band and, in the spring, the Club entertained the members of the Exmouth Disabled Fellowship to a dinner at Sandy Bay. Finally, the club ladies were entertained to a St George’s Day Dinner. All the rest of the functions worthy of comment were annual occasions and were all concerned with fund raising. These included the Christmas collection, the Safari Supper and the Wine and Pâté Evening. 1989/90. In his opening address, President Graham Kirby said that his hope for the year was for the Club to look to the youth of the community and asked that all the service committees should work towards this end. The result was the formation of an Interact Club and the sponsoring of two young people, one to take part in an Operation Raleigh expedition and the other, a young lady, to go on a similar expedition to the Arctic Circle. This was the first of many such projects supported by the Club. In addition, the Vocational Committee reinstated the scheme whereby certain members visited the Exmouth Comprehensive School (since renamed the Community College) to advise school leavers on what to expect when they were subject to employment interviews. They also (for the second year running) helped out once a week at the Probation Service Day Centre giving advice to young offenders. It is of note that the establishment of the Interact Club completed the full spectrum of Rotary associated clubs as far as the Exmouth Club was concerned. The others were an Inner District Governor Eric Watts with President Graham Kirby Wheel Club, a Rotaract Club, a and their guests at Bicton Round Table and three Probus Clubs. Exmouth had also, over the years, founded two other Rotary Clubs; Exmouth Raleigh and Sidmouth. This was surely a record of which the members could be proud. It was during this year that District 117 was split into two districts based broadly on Devon and Cornwall and the Exmouth Club found itself in a newly named District 1170. The first Governor of the new District was Past President Eric Watts so the Club had a busy year supporting him in his many District activities not the least being a massive involvement in the organisation and running of the Adventure Trust for Girls Presentation District Conference in Plymouth. 1989 was the start of the Exmouth based charity, Adventure Trust for Girls, and President Graham was pleased to be able to present a donation of £1500 to Judith Telpher to help their organisation. For the first time in the Club’s history, two breakfast meetings were held. Fund raising followed the familiar pattern with a successful Summer Fayre, a Police Band Concert, a Christmas Collection and a Ham and Hock International Evening, the latter being a change of name for the Wine and Pâté function. Seven boxes of books were delivered to the Ranfurley Library and two disaster boxes were filled and despatched. Albert Streat’s Presidential year (1990/91) started with yet another new venture. A national motor scooter rally was to be based on Exmouth for two days in July. As most of the riders were to be camping out, the Club decided to provide them with “all night breakfasts” on the sea front. This turned out to be a great success and, as well as providing a well received service, resulted in a lot of “fun and fellowship” for the members. Also in July, President Albert attended the Inner Wheel Page 26 Diamond Jubilee Dinner and presented the club with a President’s dress chain of office. In early August, the Club, at an extraordinary meeting, debated the resolution that the Club would “Continue to opt out of the provisions of RI Enactment 89/54 and remain single gender”. The resolution was carried. A major fund raising function was arranged in October with the Club staging the second Devon Festival of Male Voice Choirs at the Exeter University. Eight choirs took part and the guest soloist was Elisabeth Flint daughter of club member Dyson and Betty Flint. The beneficiaries were the MS Society and the Exmouth Disabled Fellowship. In December, the Community Service Committee set up teams of members to survey the town to identify places where trees could be planted. A Ham and Hock Evening was held and the usual round of Christmas activities was added to by the addition of a Variety Evening at the Manor Hotel. The Spring saw a successful Youth Speaks Competition at the Elizabeth Hall and a special evening to entertain a Group Study Exchange Team from America was held at the Banqueting Suite. In 1991/92, President Ray Newcombe’s year began, now by tradition, with the Summer Fayre at the Elizabeth Hall where over £1,000 was raised for the community and benevolent fund. Ray was particularly keen on the so called “fellowship” aspect of Rotary and organised a number of successful informal social visits to other clubs in the District. During the summer, the Club sponsored the attendance of a local disabled young lady and her carer at a “Handicamp” in Denmark organised by Foundation. She and her carer subsequently attended a club meeting and gave a talk on their experiences. The December programme got off to a good start with a Ham and Hock evening which raised £483 for the International Committee. Part of this money was earmarked for a Water Aid project for next year. Other activities included the Carol Concert and the preparation and distribution of Christmas parcels paid for by the collection of over £1,000 at the Christmas tree in the Magnolia Centre. The President personally delivered gifts to the residents of Hulham House and a calendar plus a small gift to those widows of Rotarians who were still living locally. In the new year, an empty shop in Exmouth was taken over for a week for the sale of goods donated by the members and, although not a huge amount of money was taken, a great deal of fellowship was enjoyed. Another Youth Speaks Competition was organised and a Country and Western Evening at Sandy Bay was held. Other social functions included a river cruise with the ladies, a golf competition and dinner, skittles, a quiz, a theatre visit, treasure hunts and so on. It was a busy year. It is, perhaps, of interest to record that a note of caution was sounded in the Bulletin when a past president, in an open letter to the editor, suggested that the club was slipping in its application of “Service” as enshrined in Rotary’s motto “Service above Self”. He pointed out that the last major service project was some years previously when a large number of locking chains were installed by the members to the front doors of houses occupied by elderly and other vulnerable people in the town. He also reminded the members that only three people turned up to help dig out the foundations for two permanent barbecues at Budleigh Salterton and that the club took credit for the planting of one hundred trees on the Maer without actually digging the holes themselves. He suggested that the Club should return to more practical activities so that we could once again claim to be a Service Club. Judging by later events this appears to have been a timely and successful reminder. 1992/93. As President Doug Battersby’s career had been in water engineering, it was agreed that the Club’s major fund raising was to be directed towards a Water Aid project in Africa. This involved the rehabilitation of a defunct borehole at Dzaone, a village situated a hundred miles from Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, and the reconditioning of its non- functioning Climax water pump. The money raised at the Summer Fayre, the Ham and Hock Evening and a specially organised Barn Dance, together with part of the money raised at the previous year’s Ham and Hock function produced the necessary £1,500 for this project. Initially, attempts were made to involve the Rotary Club of Lilongwe, but it later transpired that Dzaone was outside the club’s catchment area and little interest was shown. The work was eventually undertaken by a Save the Children Charity water rehabilitation team. Other activities included a Youth Speaks Competition when seven teams of three took part, and a new competition for Young Inventors which produced a good entry. A band concert at the Holy Trinity Church resulted in £500 for the Friends of Norman Lea. The Christmas period produced the usual round of activities. During the year, the Club was well represented by four members who were invited to take part in a Forum looking at the future development of Exmouth. The previous year’s practice of groups of members attending other clubs’ meeting continued successfully. A group of twenty seven members and wives attended the District Conference and the club duly received the best attendance trophy, which the Club had first won in the mid fifties. A Foundation Safari Supper was well attended and much enjoyed. In 1993/94, President Bill Williamson’s year followed the usual pattern starting with the Summer Fayre in August. This was followed by the Ham and Hock evening in early December, the Carol Concert for the disabled and elderly and the Christmas tree collection to finance the annual distribution of parcels to the needy. In the New Year, the Youth Speaks Competition attracted a good entry and an outing was arranged for children with special needs. In June, the Club organised a week’s programme for a Group Study Exchange party from Canada which included participation in the annual Foundation Safari Supper. Once again, the subject of single gender was discussed and the status quo maintained. Three reports which appeared in the Bulletin during the year are worthy of note: 1. The year marked the tenth anniversary of the Emblem project which since it’s inception had produced a profit of £10,000 from sales amounting to £22,000.
Page 27 2. A fourth Probus Club (Raleigh) had been formed in Budleigh Salterton by the club during the year. The first one had been formed in Exmouth in 1978 , the next in Budleigh Salterton in 1985 and the third later on in Exmouth (titled the East Exe Club). 3. The third report referred to the difficulties experienced in the recruitment and retention of members in the Interact Club which had been set up three years previously. At the Club Assembly meeting on 4th July, John Jessup took over as President for 1994/95. The annual Summer Fayre held in August raised some £1,200 and, later on, some members helped with the counting of the takings at the Exmouth Hospital Fete. Early September saw the arrival of another GSE party, this time from Namibia, and the Club assisted with the programme for the team’s visit to East Devon. The Youth Speaks final was held in November and the winners received their certificates at the Community College’s Annual Prize-giving. The final of the Young Inventors Competition was held later in the year. The newly inaugurated Young Photographer of the Year Competition (for Primary Schools) came to a successful conclusion with an extensive display of photographs at the Exmouth Town Hall visited by many members of the public. All three of the above were organised by the Vocational Committee as part of the Club’s youth involvement programme. A further 32 trees were planted at the picnic site on the Maer. In December the annual Ham and Hock evening, the Carol Concert, the Christmas tree collection and the Christmas Luncheon all followed the usual pattern and were enthusiastically supported by the members. On Shrove Tuesday, a pancake supper in Lympstone village hall followed by country dancing was organised in aid of Foundation and was so successful that it has, at the time of writing, became an annual event. Later on, a party of senior citizens were taken on a coach trip to the National Trust property at Killerton. Three Aquaboxes were filled and despatched during the year and 26 boxes of books were sent to the Ranfurley Library. The year saw the introduction of two new ventures. Firstly, the Club agreed to organise the distribution of 23,000 tins of surplus EEC beef to the unemployed and other needy persons in the area. This involved the taking over of an empty property in the town centre to store the tins and there to issue them to the applicants during the following week. The shop was manned by two or three members at a time and records were required to be kept. Despite the amount of effort required, the support by members was enthusiastic and the exercise was declared to be a success, so much so that the exercise was to be repeated twice more in later years. The second innovation was the organising and running of a “Last Night of the Proms” Concert at the Pavilion to mark the fiftieth anniversary of VE Day. It was extremely well attended and made a substantial profit which was to be used in part towards the erecting and maintaining a number of flag poles on the sea front where, every summer, a varied selection of national flags would be flown. The rest of the proceeds went to support the Club’s Community Fund. So successful was the concert, that two further ones were to follow during the next Rotary year. Dickson Tolman was the President for the year 1995/96. As ever, the year kicked off with the Summer Fayre which raised over £500, a significant drop when compared with previous years. As recorded above, two Last Night of the Proms concerts were organised, one in August to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of VJ Day followed by a Christmas Special in December. During the autumn, the Young Inventors gave a presentation to the Club and, in the spring, the second Young Photographer of the Year Competition was set in train, this time involving schools outside the club’s area. In the event, because of the complexities involved, including the scrutiny of over 1500 prints, the process extended into the next Rotary year. The Ham and Hock International Evening (renamed the Gammon and Grape) was, this year, in aid of the Commonwealth Society for the Deaf. The Christmas festivities began with a Carol Concert at Withycombe Church and the Christmas Tree collection in the Magnolia Centre received a generous response. Hampers were distributed to the needy and presents given to the residents at Hulham House. The Foundation Pancake Supper and country dancing social on Shrove Tuesday produced an excellent profit of £171. Later in February, members of the Disabled Fellowship were taken to see “Holidays on Ice” at the Westpoint Centre. A number of Aquaboxes were again filled and despatched. The first event in 1996/97, President Derek Taylor’s year, was a gentle stroll on Woodbury Common followed by a barbecued English breakfast. Despite a relatively poor turnout, £52 was raised for Foundation. Another milestone in the Rotary year, the Summer Fayre, despite appalling weather, raised £800. This was slightly better than the last year, but still not as successful as on previous occasions. Three boxes of unsold books were despatched to Book Aid International (formerly the Ranfurley Library). A new position of responsibility (Club Welfare Officer) was established. The International function in December was in aid of the newly established Bourgas Free University in Bulgaria, recently visited by a member under the auspices of This Photograph supplied by Eric Watts of the Exmouth Club shows what a BESO. The money raised enabled the Club to public spirited Club we have been over despatch badly needed overhead projectors and the years. other equipment including computer floppy diskettes. From Left to Right:- DGN Adrian Lunnon, The Christmas activities followed the now Club President Derek Taylor, familiar pattern of Carol Concert, Tree DG Ken Locke, PDG 89/90 Eric Watts Collection (£925 raised), Christmas Luncheon PDG 65/66 Ken Acton (including the Citizen of the Year Award) and the packing and distribution of seventy two hampers to the needy. In addition, Christmas
Page 28 gifts were delivered to the widows of Exmouth Rotarians and to the residents of Hulham House. The new year marked the conclusion of the Young Photographer Competition, the Vine Edwards Shield being presented to a pupil of Marpool Primary School. The Foundation Committee’s annual Pancake/Country Dancing Evening raised £195. A further successful Last Night of the Proms Concert was held in May and an equally successful Foundation Safari Supper in June. Just before he was appointed District Governor for 1997/98, Rotarian Adrian Lunnon was made a Paul Harris Fellow for his outstanding services to the Club over many years. At the same meeting, the President presented cheques of £200 to each of eight representatives of local charities and community organisations, nominated by individual members. They ranged from the young (Centre Stage) to the old (Age Concern) as well as the disabled (of all ages) and the Royal British Legion. The Town Concert Band and the Exmouth Museum also benefited. The first major event in 1997/98, Bob Cochrane’s year as President, was the ninth annual Summer Fayre, once again a great success. In early August, the club took delivery of another ten tons of European Community surplus tinned beef. A group of volunteers off loaded the tins into a small empty shop from which it was distributed to those eligible during the following week. As Rtn Lunnon had now been installed as District Governor, the club became very much involved with District affairs, mainly with driving him around on his many club visits but also by taking part in the planning and running of his District Conference at Weston Super Mare in September. Twenty two members attended the Conference. Later on, another fifty trees were planted on the Maer to replace those which had died or been vandalised. The Rotary picnic and barbecue site was refurbished and enhanced at the same time. During the year, two Aquaboxes were filled and despatched and a goodly number of books were sent off to Book Aid International. A new and very successful scheme was introduced whereby each club member was tasked with filling a shoe box with a variety of small but useful articles, food, household items, stationery, children’s toys and so on, for forwarding to Eastern European orphanages. It was announced that the weekly wine draw, introduced in July 1988, had, to date, raised a total of £3,359 for the Community and Benevolent Fund. During the year, a Millennium Group was formed, chaired by the President (elect) for 1999/00, to consider the Club’s contribution to the celebrations to mark the end of the century. On the run up to Christmas, a successful International evening was held at the Imperial Hotel in aid of the Simunye Art Foundation at Paarl, South Africa. This was followed by the traditional carol concert, parcel packing for the needy, supplying gifts for Hulham House and the Rotary widows and the collection of over £1,000 round the Christmas tree. In February, the now very popular Shrove Tuesday country dancing and pancake supper raised £227 for Foundation. A successful Youth Speaks competition produced eight lively speakers on a diverse selection of topics. The Vocational Committee organised a completely new event, a Young Musician of the Year Competition which was very well supported and most successful. The year ended, as did the previous year, with the presentation of another Paul Harris Fellowship, this time to Rtn Graham Kirby, whose commitment to the club had also been quite outstanding over a very long period. In 1998/99, Ian Winks took over the presidency. The year got off to a flying start in early July with the arrival of another load of surplus European Union tinned stewing steak. The Club again obtained the use of a small empty town centre shop as in 1994 and 1997 and, after a week of effort, when all the local recipients had been supplied, the surplus was stored by Rtn Francis Williams in his building warehouse until such time as the Community Service Committee could dispose of it to other deserving cases. There followed the now familiar Summer Fayre, enhanced this year by the inclusion of other organisations to fill the empty spaces at the Elizabeth Hall. £1150 was raised for local charities. Forty or so shoe boxes were again despatched to Moldova, Romania and other East European countries, under the auspices of “Christian Response to Eastern Europe” and forty elderly and disabled people were taken on an outing to Knightshayes. Members once again helped the Exmouth Hospital League of Friends by way of handling the cash takings at their annual Fete. In addition the Club assisted in the running of a successful campaign to enrol new members of the League. The Christmas functions followed exactly the same programme as in previous years. Another extremely successful “Last Night of the Proms” concert was organised and was supported by the public to the tune of £1,100. The Wishing Well was completely refurbished and a new eye-catching wrought iron sign was donated and erected by the Exmouth Raleigh Club. The Club members assisted the Macmillan Cancer Fund with their collection at Tesco’s Superstore and an estuary walk plus a barbecue raised a further £62. The third Young Photographer of the Year competition was brought to a successful conclusion in September after seven months of planning and operation. It was felt, however that the time and effort involved by many club members was disproportionate to the end result and that a rethink was required. A second successful Young Musician of the Year competition was held as well as the annual Youth Speaks competition. The International evening was in support of an orphanage at Mchinji in Malawi. The money raised was subsequently
Page 29 augmented by $25,000 from the Rotary The Manor Gardens Millennium Tree and Seat Foundation. The annual Foundation pancake Presentation by President David Capel-Jones to supper and dance was a success, despite the fact that the band failed to arrive! The popular Chairman of East Devon District Council, Cllr Bernard Hughes, annual Foundation Safari supper was again and Exmouth Mayor, Cllr Ron Mudge. very well supported. Throughout the year, an active social and sporting programme was enjoyed by the members. In July, David Capel-Jones took over the reins as President for 1999/2000 to lead the club into the new millennium. He began with a breakfast meeting. As in previous years, a number of members travelled to Kingsbridge to assist the local club with their “Rotaproj,” which annually provides approximately 600 disadvantaged and disabled persons with a day out including a series of fairground rides and other attractions. Another outing of senior citizens to Knightshayes was arranged. The last Summer Fayre of the century raised over £1,300 which, on this occasion, was matched with a similar sum by Camelot, the organisers of the National Lottery. December began with the International Evening at the Imperial Hotel where a varied array of international food was prepared by the members who were later treated to a wonderful display of African dancing by the students of the nearby University of Plymouth (Rolle Faculty of Arts). The proceeds went to the Mchinji Orphanage and to BESO. The Christmas activities followed the familiar pattern, although the parcels for the disadvantaged were increased in size to mark the Millennium and the Carol Concert was enhanced by the inclusion of a choir of children from the Beacon Primary School. The Christmas Luncheon guest list included all the local Rotary widows. On Shrove Tuesday, the Foundation Committee held its regular successful pancake supper and country dance evening. A few weeks later, parts of Mozambique were suddenly devastated by severe flooding sparking off an international relief programme. The Club, assisted by the Raleigh Club, obtained the use of a small local shop and made a public appeal for unwanted items to fill a series of Aquaboxes. Such was the overwhelming response that the Club were able to fill 64 Aquaboxes (four of which later went to the Turkish earthquake relief). In addition, many bags of clothing were passed on to other organisations, including the Inner Wheel Club, for national and overseas distribution. In May, to mark the Millennium, the President, on behalf of the Club, formally presented the East Devon District Council with three mature trees, planted in the Manor Gardens, and Strand Gardens, Exmouth, and on The Green at Budleigh Salterton. The trees in Manor Gardens and The Green were surrounded by circular timber seats and marked by suitable plaques. This presentation also marked the Club’s 75th anniversary. During the year, the Vocational Committee (now renamed the Youth Activities Committee) had been particularly busy. Three competitions had been successfully held. These were the Young Musicians, Youth Speaks and the Young Technologists. In addition the Club had been tasked by District to host the Regional Final of Youth Speaks, which took place at Bicton College. During the Autumn, the Community College asked the Club to reinstate the programme of mock interviews for their senior pupils. This task, involving 110 planned half hour interviews, was carried out by the members during October and November and a further series is being planned for next autumn. A second disco and supper evening for learning disabled adults was held by the Community Service Committee. Thirty six shoe boxes were individually filled by the members with small items of food, stationery and toys etc as in previous years and were despatched to Eastern Europe. The year ended with the breaking of two records. The Safari Supper was attended by 69 members and wives and the last luncheon meeting in June attracted an attendance of 47 members out of 49. Finally, at Club Assembly, the President was presented with a District Certificate for “Membership Development and Extension”. 75TH CHARTER ANNIVERSARY MEMBERS (15TH DECEMBER 2000) Officers: President: Cliff Lenn 1st Vice-President: Courtney Richards 2nd Vice-President: Alan Symes Secretary: Courtney Richards Treasurer: Albert Streat
Page 30 75th Charter Anniversary
Back Row: David Morris, Gerald Garraway, George Maddaford, Alan Symes, John Pankhurst, Ray Newcombe, Derek Taylor, Eric Diggines, Stanley Jeffries, Frank Hart-Venn, Charles Dodwell, Chris Stevens, Adrian Lunnon, Brian Gilder, Courtney Richards, Ted Halliwell, Dennis Turner. Middle Row: Charles Tate, Roger Ellis, Mike Glaister, John Danzelman, John Jessup, Cliff Lenn, Colin Mason, Bill Williamson, George Cowling, David Matthews, Doug Battersby, David Capel-Jones, Peter Moodie, Peter Chapman. Front Row: John Snell, Roy Heaton, Malcolm Pressey, Mike Weathrall-King, Dickson Tolman, Graham Kirby, Eric Watts, Francis Williams, Mike Breckon, Ian Winks, Bob Cochrane, John Wokersien. Missing from Photo: Stanley Chandler, Peter Churchyard, Bernard Greenaway, Albert Streat, Geoff Phelps, Brian Underwood.
2000/2001 President Cliff Lenn. The middle of the millennium year, with many exciting events taking place around us, Cliff took over the presidency of our club. His first priority was recognition that at the end of the millennium year the club should celebrate its 75 years of achievement since its charter on 15th December 1925. This did not detract from on-going or new projects. The clubs association with British Executive Services Overseas (BESO) and its partnership with Rotary, “Meeting Need with Know-How”, flourished and, indeed, the club had at least five members involved. The club, with a matching grant from The Rotary Foundation, funded the cost and installation of an electrical generating plant for the Mchinji Mission Orphanage assisting 155 orphans and their carers in Malawi. 2001 was a truly successful summer fair year, in which club members, with the Inner Wheel raised £1731. The Camelot Foundation matched the fund-raising with a cheque for £1731! In December, President Cliff, asked by the District Governor to provide a breakdown of the club’s charitable activities, recorded some 31 local, national and international projects in which the club had instigated or been involved! The projects ranged from youth competitions, support to MacMillan Nurses, Vision Aid, Aquaboxes and, of course, Mchinji. A new project for the Simunyee Arts Foundation was initiated with Paarl Rotary Club in South Africa. The 3rd edition of the “History of the Rotary Club of Exmouth” was completed in time for the President’s Dinner and club 75th Anniversary celebrations. At this celebration event Charles Tate was presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship for services to Rotary and the Club by the National President Norman Proctor. A major earthquake, in Gujerat, brought positive disaster response from the club. A shop was established demonstrating Rotary’s practical help through Shelter Box and Aquabox. Its success enabled the club to send 20 Aquaboxes and 40 cartons of assorted family items to the stricken area. Inner Wheel counterparts, presided over by Maggie Lunnon, highlighted Children's Hospice South West at Little Bridge House near Barnstaple. Inner Wheel was delighted to present a new year gift of £270 to the charity. In this year, the club was able to further support Mchinji Mission Orphanage with a donation of £1000 and, in recognition of our association BESO, enabled a gift of £650 to assist overseas aid.
2001/2002 President Courtney Richards Continuing the club’s relationship with the “Meeting Need With Know How” programme, new President Courtney followed up his presentation of the cheque with a value of £650 after matched funding to BESO. The club now celebrated that it had agreed to have a dual gender membership.
Page 31 The club had developed a strong support of the Free University of Bourgas in Bulgaria, a country with a developing economy where Rtn. Bob Cochrane gave invaluable tutorage and club collection of computers. We bought a portacabin to store low cost assets used for great occasions such as the Summer Fete. The fact that it was sited on the Pankhurst property in Littleham wasn’t the reason that Rotarian John P received his prestigious Paul Harris award from President Courtney. It was John’s philanthropy, wit and fund developing ideas, principally the emblem project, that deserved recognition. John and wife, Christine, later responded with a grand barbeque in the garden of their home, again raising valuable funds. The Mchingi Mission Orphanage Project in Malawi reached its third birthday. Financial support had reached £60,000 to provide for the needs of the children. This had underpinned the purchase of an electrical generating plant, the construction of ten dwellings, each housing 15 children with two volunteer house mothers, and a small clinic.
This was the year when the horrific events arose on the 11th of September in New York marking the beginning of an era when the Rotary International theme of bringing peace and understanding across the globe would strike many chords. The events marked a turning point in history, a turning point in our thinking and in our approach to the very real threat of terrorism. President Courtney led the club in meeting the new challenges.
The club was awarded a banner for as leading club in the district for its donations to The Rotary Foundation. Our charitable fund-raising raised in excess of £4,000 due, in no small part, by match funding from Camelot Foundation and the success of club social dinners at the Rolle Arms and our Last Night of the Proms.
The club supported the Rotary Foundation funded Group Study Exchange to Brazil by sponsoring young Simon Horn, a photographer with the Exmouth News and Journal. The Team returned to talk to the club about their exchange and Simon’s pictures magnified the stories illustrating how such exchanges support our ethic of international peace and understanding. Meanwhile, other International projects were bubbling in the University Hospital of Bucharest and a school in Brazil. PolioPlus became a feature in the club’s calendar.
Beds and trolleys loaded for a Romanian Hospital
The club took charge of beds and patient trolleys for export to the hospital in Bucharest. This effort was recognised by the Night at the Races! Rotary Club of Newbury Park in California and Rotary Club of Curtea Veche who contributed to the clubs purchase of equipment for the new Emergency centre.
2002-2003 President Alan Symes: If members were not aware of Fuller’s Earth, the value of entomology and the words of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, the instalment of Alan Symes as the new President would soon put that to rights. In recognising that we were an elder club, he cast age aside to know that the club President Alan with a could still “deliver the goods”. This Checking in for “The Walk” walker and steward! man of action ensured we would continue “doing good in the world”. Was it President Alan’s physical strength that enabled club members to load the beds and trolleys for the Romanian Hospital into the removal van with such consummate ease?
Page 32 Polio Plus came to the fore and Rotarians worldwide were asked to raise and/or contribute $100 per capita toward the eradication programme. As ever, the club rose to the occasion, exceeding the request with a total donation of $5000. This was helped, in part, by a “Walk for Polio Eradication”, 14 miles across the local commons and the heritage coast raising £1928. This sowed the seeds of our now, well established “Walk or Ride” annual event. Writing of “rides”, the club organised a superb evening of a “night at the races” in support of Water Aid, raising and donating over £500. The Exmouth Community College was reaching out for special status recognition and the club pledged £1000 in support of this worthy cause. Later the President represented the club at a meeting with HM Inspectorate of Schools. The Chief Inspector had little knowledge of Rotary before he met President Alan………!! It must be said that most visitors to the club were quizzed on the positions they may or may not have played in Rugby Union.
2003/2004 President George Maddaford :An historic occasion occurred in District 1170 when President George took the reins at our club whilst his good lady, Alison, became President of Exeter Southernhay. Surely, this would conclude the gender issues that existed in many clubs in our district. Our first challenge concerned marmalade! Not the Paddington Bear type but rather jars charitably supplied by Wilkins and Co. for £1 and thereafter, when the contents were eaten, use the jar to collect further coinage – all in the aid of The Rotary Foundation. Our club is not all about fund-raising and distribution. The The Officers Mess Lympstone friendship and fellowship aspects spread into sport and the club, represented by Rotarians Malcolm Pressey and David Brunwin with George Cowling in reserve, made a creditable ninth place in the finals of the national golf championship. We were informed that our target of $5000 for Polio Plus had been well exceeded and the $8,767 equated to $190 per member. The emblem project was reaching out internationally and an order for 1000mm diameter rondels had been despatched to Minorca. A further 12 computers and equipment were purchased for £750, by the club, and transported to the school in Bulgaria. Another “Walk”, this time for the “Chestnut Appeal”, realised over £3000. And to end another tumultuous year, dare to be different! The President’s Lunch was held at the Commando Training Centre, Lympstone, officers mess. A great occasion, but will we ever forgive the “wag” speaker who forgot we are Rotarians and insisted on us being Lions! 2004-05 President Frank Hart-Venn : This era of the club’s history coincided with the centennial of Rotary International. After setting up a law practice in Chicago, Paul Harris gathered several business associates to discuss the idea of forming an organization for local professionals. On 23 February 1905 Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey gathered at Loehr’s office in Room 711 of the Unity Building in downtown Chicago. This was the first Rotary club meeting.
The first four Rotarians (from left): Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, Hiram Shorey, and Paul P. Harris, circa 1905-12.
Page 33 President Frank was given the honour of guiding the club through this momentous year advocating leadership, teamwork and good communications. The club determined that it would undertake events and complete projects to demonstrate its uniqueness in undertaking service above self. The August Bank Holiday fete raised £1400, followed by a grand barbeque, hosted by Rotarian John & Christine Pankhurst raising a further £340 The club organised the “Rotary Centenary Chase” race evening for the National Osteoporosis Society. Somewhere in the world natural disasters strike at any time. Not always to be expected so near home, Boscastle in Cornwall suffered extraordinary flooding and club members again took action, at Tesco, to raise a rapid £700 in response. A concerted effort, led by Rotarian Bob Cochrane, whose skill at supplying computers to Bourgas, Bulgaria, focused on Moldova. Along with the District Governor Elect Andrew Herniman, the Principal of the East Devon College and Hugh Scudder of Christian Aid, “Uncle Bob” oversaw the transportation of 45 computers to a school in Tzargard. Deaf children in Brazil benefitted from our International Night in November to the tune of £840. It was fortunate that the ageing members of the club were not mistaken for the antiques on display! The Chinese evenings at the Bamboo had become a feature of the club’s social calendar with the fund-raising slowly increasing and in this centenary year raise £519 We were all shocked at the scale of the tsunami, at the end of 2004, that swept across the Pacific to engulf the island nations in South East Asia. The world of Rotary swept into action, none less than the Rotary Clubs of Exmouth and Exeter Southernhay, in raising funds for Shelterboxes and Aquaboxes in first response, for which the club received an accolade as leading the district. Malcolm Horton, a local artist of renown whose commissions included a number of well know rock bands, presented the club with his painting “World Healers” in support of this fund-raising, we were rewarded by a bid of £770.
More refreshingly, the first of our true Centenary events was the handing over of the Laser class dinghy, Rotary 100, to the sea cadets. This £1500 international class vessel was purchased by the club.
Our sponsored disabled swimmer, David Hills, broke European and British records when he stormed to eight gold medals at the Disability Sport England Junior Swimming Championships. A great investment by the club! This was the year PRO Bill Williamson implemented a four page supplement in the local press, Exmouth News and Journal. The special four pages featured 100 years of Rotary.
The international freight company DHL gave support to our University of Bucharest Hospital project and our medical equipment and supplies, loaded by the members and their wives, were freighted to Romania.
The highlight of the President’s “Century of Rotary” dinner and dance (Ball of the Season) at the Exeter Golf and Country Club was the presentation by President Frank of long service
awards to a high number of club members. Of particular delight to the President was the 50
year award to young 93 year old Charles Tate!
PDG Eric Watts, John Danzelman, Maggie Lunnon, President Frank and Bev Hart-Venn accompanied by the Express & Echo press photographer.
Page 34 2005-2006 President David Matthews. Another marine engineer was elected to become our 76th President, David Matthews. David was pleased at his appointment, as his wife Wendy was completing her year in office as President of the Exmouth Inner Wheel Club. He took his command, following his excellent organisation of Immediate Past President Frank’s departing dinner and dance that had raised a princely sum of £400 for the club coffers! In Poole Museum, a Flying Fifteen hulk and trailer had been uncovered and Flying 15 the club undertook to retrieve this and present it to the TS Exmouth for ready for restoration. A great addition to “Rotary 100”. restoration Age became a discriminating factor in our support to education! The increasing average age of the club membership brought under review the maximum age of a member who could participate in mock interviews for our college students. At that time, and due in part to emerging legislation, in the interests of members and students it was felt that consideration should only be given for participation members under 75 years old.
The club received a resounding thank you from the University Hospital in Romania for the equipment. In true Rotary fashion, the senior surgeon had formed a team of volunteers to undertake a mercy mission to the flood victims of Moldova. This could not have happened without the previously donated .equipment
The Inner Wheel Club celebrated its 75th anniversary with a special anniversary afternoon and presentation cheque to the Devon Air Ambulance. A further earthquake disaster, in Pakistan/Kashmir, evoked another rapid response from the club and together with a Weightwatchers sponsored slim plus anonymous donation, £2100 was dispatched for Shelterboxes. This was coupled with “Warm Deeds”, a nationwide Rotary initiative, to collect blankets for the victims of the earthquake. With our daughter club, three transit van loads of blankets, warm jackets and jumpers were sent to International Aid Trust.
A royal approval was given to our Rotary Centenary display at the Exmouth Community College when the Duke of Kent paid a visit. The Rotary time mural with the clock and award boards was viewed by the Duke who acknowledged the ethos and great work of Rotarians. With the trophy boards was the pledge to fund three awards each year to the college for outstanding contributions by students to the community, the college and to the students themselves. Rtns Danzelman, Greenaway and Wokersien The now annual “Walk” had raised £5,758 for distribution to with the Duke of Kent participants own charities and the club. The club with a truly magnificent friendship, fellowship and fun event, Summer Fayre at the Elizabeth Hall, achieving £1753.
The end of the Summer Fayre at the Elizabeth Hall
2006-2007—President Malcolm Pressey :The club was in a period of technical development from ship’s engine rooms to design and development of high class kitchens with our new President Malcolm taking the helm. He had a focus on a major community hands-on project from the club to the community. When the idea of providing a new ambulance was, in effect, not taken up, President Malcolm’s eyes turned to the skies. The Rotary Club of Exmouth Kite Festival was born, providing education to our schoolchildren and endless pleasure to all. The President, following a plea from PP Charles Tate and as an ex Queen’s Scout, also initiated the support of the club for the renovation of the Scout Hut on Marpool Hill. This meant that the Hut could meet new legislation giving access to all. A great community hub. A total of £18,230 was raised with the clubs help and funding from other Charitable Trusts.
Page 35 The fund-raising events were truly enjoyable. Transport for the disabled and community carried the clubs insignia after a donation of £1000 to the Bystock care home for disadvantaged adults and £1000 toward a new minibus for the Exmouth & District Community Transport Group. Club members hosted a Group Study Exchange of students from India and encouraged the Group Leader to deliver an authentic Indian curry evening.
On June 2nd and 3rd in beautiful summer weather and clear blue skies, the first kites, flown from the Imperial Recreation Ground, arose to inaugurate the Kite Festival. Fitting in with the school curricula,
The kite festival comes to town: The seafront flower bed display; The Beacon Primary School and the colour of kites in the air.
Rotarians visited local primary schools and applied the science, history and building of kites. Competitions A Wet Walk and Ride were held with the children who were invited to fly their products at the Kite Festival. The Festival was established in the international kite calendar. All the club members were involved and realised a staggering £9,249 In its commitment to the Rotary Foundation, more than the aim of $100 was achieved. The club contributed a further £2811 ($125 per capita) to support Rotarians projects worldwide. 2006 turned out to be one of the wettest Walk or Rides we had experienced. Rain not only soaked the walkers also President Malcolm and Sandy Lenn had to take shelter - and that was inside the marquee—it ran past them like a river in flood! The President and his lady, Shirley, invited the club to an away Presidential weekend at Dartington Hall to celebrate another year of innovation and success. It was here that the true success of the Kite Festival was seen when
President’s weekend at Dartington Hall Page 36 The year was completed with a magnificent sum donated to Children's Hospice SW. A Kite especially manu- factured for us by Martin Lester, and a special Kite celebration Cake made by Shirley Kirby.
President Malcolm, on behalf of the club, donated £6000 to the Children's’ Hospice Southwest.
2007-2008 President David Brunwin: The new Rotary Year was heralded in by President David supported by the Club Committee Chairmen. This year would be yet another busy and fun period of supporting our communities both at home and abroad.
Early in July the Rotary Club of Exmouth hosted the Young Technologists from the District at the Exmouth Community College. Well over 20 schools and colleges took part.
Illiteracy is demeaning and affects about 800 million people worldwide. With this in mind, we worked with Book Aid International to promote literacy in developing countries by creating reading and learning opportunities for disadvantaged people, in order to help them realise their potential and eradicate poverty. We partnered with local organisations, such as solicitors and the Marpool Hill Scout Hut Devon Schools Library Service, who regularly donate books for the underprivileged; and, were responsible for exporting the books to the A total cost of the Refurbishing the Scout University of hut in Marpool Hill came to £38,312 ( a Makerere, in staggering figure when you look at the Uganda. New, cost on page 9!) Our club raised £18,230 the book would towards this total. have cost the University an impossible £12,000. Initiated by President David, five of our members volunteered to take part in the Tacheback campaign. The volunteers raised £1000 for E e a , the Ca e Research Institutes Male Cancer Campaign. The Fund Raising Manager for Devon of Macmillan Cancer Support offered a sincere ‘Thank-You’ to the generous hearted people of Exmouth . The collection, which was organised and staffed by the two Exmouth Rotary Clubs, totalled £1,718.92.
Page 37 A new Mercedes sprint was fitted out to the specifications of its customers. The Exmouth and District Community Transport Group have purchased the bus via great donations and fund raising. This local charity provided community transport anyone unable to use public transport e.g. people of any age with temporary mobility problems or the elderly, disabled, lone parents & young people especially from rural area, special social clubs, education/training, shopping & youth activities in Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton and the surrounding villages to shop, attend day care, trips and special social clubs. An inspired President Elect, Chris Stevens, introduced the Spiral Wells to our “well”-founded emblems initiative. The wells were introduced at the RIBI Conference in Blackpool with great success and as a further service to the clubs of RIBI. The objectives of this programme are simple: Raise money the easy way and avoid pressurising busy members, allowing time for families. Provide a permanent PR point telling people who we are and what we are doing – no longer will Rotary be the best kept secret in town. Encourage people to be involved in something both exciting and active. Spiral Wells in their community shows them that Rotary International is THE organisation to join. The Highlight to not only President David, but also to the full club membership in 2007 was to receive from the DG Felicity Murdon presenting awards to RI President, Wilfrid President David Brunwin and Past President Wilkinson, the Rotary Malcolm Pressey. International Significant Achievement Award for the Exmouth Rotary Kite Festival. A first for our club to achieve such a high honour.
“The Significant Achievement Award recognises outstanding Rotary Club projects that address the needs of the local community. These exemplary service programmes provide models for future activities and inspiration for other Rotary Clubs. Your project represents the very best work in your district and the Rotary World. The efforts of The Rotary Club of Exmouth & District guarantee that Rotary’s tradition of dedicated service will long continue.” Wilfrid J Wilkinson
Page 38 2008-2009 President Chris Stevens: Working hard while respecting Rotary traditions and having fun – was what President Chris promised and delivered.. We did all our traditionally tried and tested events, re-organised our Trust to incorporate all our charity work, and then there were the Spiral Wells! The club’s social calendar was lightened up with the Gypsy The Presidents Gypsy Theme evening President’s Night and President Chris stated he would never forget the way club members threw themselves into the spirit of the evening. Chris was honoured to present a Paul Harris Fellowship to Rtn Malcolm Pressey for, amongst other things, his work on the Scout Hut in Marpool Hill and the innovation of the Exmouth Kite Festival
The working parties at Otter Valley when the floods came were the best example we can ever see of true Rotary Service The Kite Festival and Walk and Ride had become regular fixtures, and raised the profile of Rotary generally and our club in particular.
The club was very well represented at conferences, District, RIBI and especially the RI convention. Many people commented that the Rotary Club of Exmouth is one of the hardest working and well respected clubs around. The Birmingham RI Convention encapsulated much of what we hoped to achieve and was a magnificent way to round off the year. Although tremendously hard work, for everyone who attended, the manning of the stand made the world of difference to President Chris and club members. It was tremendous fun and fellowship and the comments from so many Rotarians proved how well regarded the Rotary Club of Exmouth had become across both district and RIBI and now the world. The emblem project served us well as we were commissioned to produce the emblems / car stickers for the occasion.
For the second year in succession the club received the district award for its newsletter. We were all very proud of what we had achieved in the year culminating in the Gypsy Evening.
Page 39 2009-2010 President Gerald Garraway: The reluctant Gerald Garraway took the presidency for the year. Acknowledged as one of the club’s senior members, Gerald began his term of office with the longest introduction to date in the Club News!!
A royal occasion was hosted by Past President John Pankhurst and Christine when a “bush” of past presidents planted itself in the “Old Garden”, Lympstone celebrating the contribution of each past president still serving in the Club.
The club joined forces with a contribution of £760.00 along with £3,000 from the Totnes RC , £500.00 from Ashburton RC and matched funding from The Rotary Foundation to help five villages in Zimbabwe install Elephant Pumps and Wells.
The Rotary Club of Bala & Penllyn were grateful beyond words to our colleagues who shipped a spiral well, the bilingual Ffynnon Gobaith, Well of Hope, from Exmouth to the National Eisteddfod in Llangollen! Clubs in Honiton, Ilminster, Clifton, Hereford and Ludlow linked to transport the well. Joined up Rotary indeed!
The tragic ending to the life of Past President Chris Stevens cast a shadow over the club – he will be remembered as a young member who had brought innovative ideas for the benefit of Rotary in these islands.
The club was commissioned by the District Governors of RIBI to produce 2,000,000 “Thanks for Life” lapel stickers for the End Polio Now Campaign. This enabled the club to donate, along with the sponsorship of Dr Billy Willcock’s great run in the Paris marathon, some £3000 to the End Polio Now campaign. This met the Gates Foundation challenge increasing the donation to some £6000. Christmas in Exmouth would not be the same without Father Christmas Gerald, his collection of Bear gifts and of course one of Santa's little helpers( Rtn Brian Drake)
In addition, Club efforts resulted in a whopping £7500 for 15 shelterboxes to Haiti following the devastation of the island hurricanes, in partnership with Devon Cliffs Holiday Park, the spiral wells collected £1,765 for the Little Star Foundation and a substantial sum to the flood victims in Cumbria. It as e ide t that PP Ch is sta sho e ightl on President Gerald during the year who, with a final flourish on behalf of the club, donated £1000 to the Adventure Trust for Girls.
Page 40 2010-2011– President Dick Bishop: Enter the Bishop! Although of lesser physical stature, new President Dick could hardly believe he would have to serve the same length of time as the presidents before him! However, he led the club throughout yet another successful active year. Was this the cause, near the end of his tenure, of the requirement for a new hip? Other notable elections at the time were Inner Wheel member Wendy Matthews as District Chair, David Matthews as District Chair of Youth Opportunities and Frank Hart-Venn as District Chair of Foundation. Who is Amy Dickman? Amy went to London and Oxford Universities studying for and earning her Masters degree and PhD.
She was made one of the youngest Senior Research Fellows and embarked on a 5 year project in Tanzania’s Ruaha landscape in which our club became involved. It was an unusual project encompassing Amy‘s work with Big Cats and involving local schools; in the bid to empower villagers to live side by side with the animals rather than resort to killing endangered species. A Money, Myths and Man-Eaters event raised £2000 for equipping the Kitisi clinic for better care for women delivering babies. Amy became an honorary member of the club.
Probably for the first time in the Clubs history the Christmas Lunch was cancelled due to a heavy snowfall overnight, leaving nearly all the roads and pavements frozen and dangerous. Despite all these problems which lasted until Boxing Day, Rotarians involved with the Christmas collections defied the weather for 5 days until Christmas Eve, and £1662.00p was raised for our Christmas Hampers for the needy.
£1000 was donated to The C Group, a Royal Marines charity that inspires business to support Royal Marines in need whilst they are serving, in transition to civilian life and thereafter. Rotary Clubs throughout England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, had bought and planted over 5 million purple crocus corms to mark End Polio Now. It the world’s largest bulb planting in support of any global cause. The purple represents the dye applied to children's fingers following vaccination in disadvantaged countries where the children live on the streets they are often difficult to find in the slum areas.
The club’s newsletter gained national accolade when receiving the RIBI Club Bulletin Award. The a a d as o e e og iio fo ou club and it it was a testament to a group of Rotarians who truly believe in “service above self”, the values of a sharing, caring society and peace in our world.
Page 41 2011-2012 President Norman Hawkins: A year of change as the club name became the Rotary Club of Exmouth & District; giving a true reflection of the local community it supported and residence of its members. Norman was welcomed as our president for Rotary year 2011 to 12 and brought with him his wealth of knowledge of marketing from his time with Cadbury’s; a very useful attribute when it came to driving the Kite Festival forward.
The Children's Hospice South-west, a favourite charity, thanked the club for the generous £2,200 resulting from this event. The club had now achieved a spectacular £57,000 from the five Kite Festivals to date. A pleasant addition was the appearance of Colin Rowland with his Olympic torch he had carried on the run up to the Olympic Games
Recognised as the frontrunner in the Rotary year 2010/11 for contributing to The Rotary Foundation, the club was honoured as the number one club in our Rotary district. The club also received the Shelterbox Silver Award which is awarded to your Rotary Club for their funding of over 50 boxes and its continued support of the charity.. When they appeared in their touring show, Hair Today Gone Tomorrow, Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee, big supporters of the Rotary movement, gave the club the opportunity to use the show as a fund and awareness raiser.
The club members and guests enjoyed a ceilidh and supper at Budleigh Salterton public hall raising some £1500 to improve the health and education of the villagers in Buturi, Northern Tanzania.
The Spiral Well project has now developed into a major facility for other Rotary Clubs in the UK. It enables them to fundraise easily without the aid of collecting cans. Our stands at Exhibitions are often visited by interesting guests - here the art of ‘coin rolling’ is being explained to MP Ann Widdecombe by Rtns Graham Kirby and Martin Clook.
Rtns David Brunwin, Malcolm Pressey, Francis Williams and Norman Hawkins with two friends tried their skills on the Royal Marine assault Course at Lympstone. Unfortunately Francis had to retire early as he came a cropper from the horizontal bars! A good time was had by all and certainly enabled us to see how fit are the Royal Marines.
Royal Marines?...... Or Rotarians?
Page 42 Other notable donations from the club included £2,200 to the Devon Air Ambulance, £1000 toward the Force Cancer Support Centre and £500 to Help for Heroes, the charity involved in the rehabilitation of troops returning from war zones.
2012-1013 President Keith Turner: We had the pleasure of welcoming RIBI President John Minhinick, who had travelled down from Edinburgh that day and District Governor Graham Smith, to our Youth Speaks competitions. President Keith, flanked by our esteemed visitors, said that whilst the main thrust of the evening was to provide opportunities for young people, it is the organisation and its structure which supports such initiatives and enables them to happen. The country was experiencing the fallout from a global crash in finance. The community, however, was still generous and enabled the club to pass a £500 cheque to the Exmouth Community Larder.
The postponement of the “Walk or Ride” from April compounded by incessant rain did not dampen the enthusiasm of twenty Beach Rescue Club youngsters bounding into Bicton College on Sunday 23rd September. Rain again, but we were made to realise that it was worth running the event despite the conditions. Valiantly, everyone pulled together to create another excellent event.
The Gift of Sight is supported through a continuing contribution of used spectacles collected by member Francis Williams. Year on year collections of some 2000 pairs are sent off to Africa where they are sorted, repaired and reused. A tree that was ‘brought back from the dead’ now has pride of place in the Strand Gardens, thanks to a partnership agreement between the councils and our Club. The planting of the Dawn Redwood replaced the Red Oak originally planted by the club to mark the turn of the Century.
President Keith presented Age Concern Exmouth Day Care Centre with a digital projector and screen. The award arose from a chance discussion between Malcolm Pressey and the centre on its needs. The equipment came with the help of National Lottery funding.
Kitisi village is a remote, dusty hamlet in Tanzania, situated more than 8 hours drive away from the nearest major town and populated mainly by cattle, goats, and forbidding, spear wielding warriors of the Barabaig and Maasai pastoralist tribes. It looks like somewhere that time forgot and yet, even here, the Rotary Club has a vital local presence. Amy Dickman’s project in Ruaha became a central focus during the President Keith’s term of office when the money we had raised in 2010-11,augmented by a Rotary Foundation grant, enabled the equipping of a clinic with examination couches, delivery beds and kits, a microscope, foetal heart monitors and other items, making life far safer for over 1500 rural villagers.
Page 43 Back Row: Gerald Garraway, Malcolm Pressey, David Matthews, PDG Adrian Lunnon, Martin Clook, Cliff Lenn, Norman Hawkins, Mike Weathrall-King, Rod Ford, David Brunwin, John Wokersien, Dickson Tolman, George Maddaford, Ian Winks, Front Row: John Thorogood, George Cowling, Bill Williamson, Dennis Turner, Angie Drummond, Alan Symes, President Brian Drake, District Governor Barry Rendal-Jones, PDG Eric Watts, Bernard Greenaway, Dick Bishop, Malcolm Wood, AG Gordon Peacock, PE Simon Wood, Jim Cobley (Otter Valley RC)
2013-2014 President Brian Drake: Not a natural sailor, he hails from Halifax, President Brian took the steps to the bridge to ensure the club navigated its way to a further year of success. Pleasant surprises were to come! The club’s focus was certainly on the younger generation. The Dictionaries for Life project now encompassed most of our primary school leavers and the club presented some 400 books, individually labelled for each student. Students of Exmouth & District reciprocated by turning out in force for the “Walk or Ride” participating for their own charities as well as returning £1000 for club recognised causes. The club put forward four Community College students as Young Citizens of the Year, all recognised by RIBI. The College responded with a “Mufti Day” for the Rotary End Polio Now campaign raising £1482 for the cause.
More was to come with the organisation of the Last Night of the Proms at Exeter Cathedral. The music was provided by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines accompanied by the Military Wives Choir. Such was the success of the Rotarian Graham Kirby venture (his greatest ever?) that four charities, End Polio Now, RN&RM
Charity, Children's’ Hospice SW and Devon Air Ambulance benefitted to the tune of £9000 from the proceeds.
Page 44 The President accompanied by several other members of the club attended the RIBI Conference where the key speaker, Sarah Brown, introduced the young 16 year old Malala Yousafazi, who was shot in the head by the Taliban on her way to school. An inspirational leader for one so young, she articulates so well the case for the right to an education of every girl and young woman throughout the world. Later in the year, Malala was to receive the Nobel Peace prize.
The club garden adjacent to the swimming pool
received a grand makeover with the new Rotary
branding prominent.
And the Kite Festival remained in mothballs as the
“renovation” of the Imperial recreation ground was
taking much longer than the council suggested!
Donations gratefully received from the Cathedral Prom Concert
2014-2015 President Simon Wood: This was certainly a year of change! Through a Membership Development Committee with a balanced mix of older and younger members in terms of length of membership, a long term and a short term plan evolved to increase membership of the Club with a special emphasis on younger members. The main principles behind the changes are transparency and communication, with less time spent in committee and to encourage new membership. It was noted that over the preceding 5 years, the club had raised and distributed £133,461.00 to charitable causes. Our greatest contribution has been Locally and Internationally with significant contributions to our Rotary Foundation.
The club learned a lesson on partnership, when the reinstated (after a two year break) Kite Festival met with a financial collision. The Kite Festival itself was the usual fantastic success, but the associated two concerts failed to live up to expectations. An aura of despondence encompassed the club. Such was the good stewardship of all the Kite Festival finances the club ensured that its promises were met.
The Recreation Ground Exmouth … Home of the Kite Festival
Page 45 Our Rotary Young Musician Matthew Jackson had his own composition played at the BBC Promenade concerts and was voted BBC “Young Composer of the Year”. Yet another consignment of this time 3,200 spectacles, were sent abroad. Rtn Francis Williams creating a model example of the environmental mantra of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Or put another way - one man’s waste is another man’s treasure! Investing in the Future? President Simon presented a £500 donation to the Age Concern Exmouth & District in response to its aims to redefine and enhance its services to the community! A Big Breakfast Networking event brought together three community groups to learn about each other, as well as providing an excellent networking opportunity for business owners in the town. Members of the Club were joined at the Breakfast by several students from the Community College Business Group and The Chamber of Commerce and Commerce who are currently working closely in partnership with the group to develop employment initiatives for young people in the town and enable students to experience work in business. A talk of interest was given by our President on the work of the Rotary Club and the benefits to local businesses of Rotary membership; this resulted in the recruitment of new members.
The culmination of all the hard work by Rotarians, Inner Wheel and friends, resulted in £2,000 from the Christmas Collections being presented to the Exmouth Food Bank. Rebecca Tinsley, from The Network for Africa, received a cheque for £500. Rebecca explained that the money would go to help the many people of Uganda who had not only suffered from endemic poverty, but from the assaults of the Lord’s Resistance Army which terrorised the North of the country and offered children as young as eight years old the choice of either killing others (sometimes their parents) or being killed themselves.
Our Wishing Well Project keeps rolling in the money! President Simon with celebrity Chef Michael Caines MBE presented a cheque for £1,000 to ‘Families for Children’. Exmouth Beach Rescue Club took part in ‘The Walk or Ride 2014’ raising an amazing £510 to help with funding their voluntary Life guard work and training. The funds raised were matched funded by the club making a total over £1000. And to add to the resounding successes of the year, the formation of the Marpool Primary School “RotaKids” club sponsoring a Hoola Hoop spin which raised the enormous donation of, wait for it, £2,008 for the NSPCC.. Onward and upwards!
Marpool School. The newly formed Rota Kids group
Page 46 49 revellers from our club plus Otter Valley, and Exmouth Raleigh Clubs with friends despatched themselves to the theatre to immerse themselves in much nostalgia at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. Yes, we were all Freds and Gingers enjoying the spectacular show, "Top Hat". The Lympstone Disco for the disabled is still a popular event, both with the guests and our own Rotarians. A superb evening.
A St Georges Day cruise up the River Exe on the Stuart Line boat. Enjoyed by some Still being supported more of our more senior by Inner Wheel guest from the town.
And Finally, we are still enjoying our Skittles in Rotary, plenty fellowship and friendly rivalry—but times have changed …...in 1962 ‘smart casual’ was very different to 2105!. There was no pipe smoking now, but one thing remains the same ….. They all like a pint with their skittles.
A very successful year for the Rotary Club of Exmouth, and, above all that, a very successful 90 years of “Service above Self”
Page 47 December 15th 2015…….. 2015-16 President Simon Wood: And so we move to the present day, President Simon is honoured to be at the helm for his second term of office. The Club is still going strong and if we compare this 90th year with the report for the 50th charter celebration then not too much has changed. A summary of our most successful Projects certainly shows that this Rotary Club has truly embraced the Rotary Motto of SERVICE above SELF 1975 The fiftieth anniversary of the Club's charter Night was celebrated at a dinner held at the Devoncourt Hotel on 15th December 1975 attended by 47 Rotarians and their wives. The principal guest was the President of RIBI Eddie Cotton. In March 1976 a further celebratory dinner was held at the Pavilion. 2015 The ninetieth Anniversary of the Club’s Charter Night is celebrated at Ocean on Saturday 12th December 2015. It is celebrated with 34 Club Members and their partners. Many special guests, including the District Governor of the newly formed District 1175, Past District Governors and Past Presidents from supporting Rotary Clubs including our Daughter Clubs Exmouth Raleigh and Sidmouth RC. Our Records show that President Bernard Greenaway started, in 1985 (for its Diamond Jubilee), a much respected award in the Town of Exmouth— The Citizen of the Year Award. 30 years on and the award has been received with pride by well deserved local citizens. The list of recipients from 1985 to 2014 is shown below:
The Rotary Club of Exmouth & District “Citizen of The Year” Awards
YEAR AWARDED TO JUSTIFICATION PRESIDENT 1985/86 Marjorie Moore Work with disabled Bernard Greenaway 1986/87 Hilda Bucket Local fundraising Peter Chapman 1987/88 Enid McIlvern Lympstone Britain in Bloom Mike Glaister 1988/89 George & Nan Coates St John Ambulance Ted Halliwell 1989/90 Kitty Feltham RNIB - Exmouth Branch - Fundraiser Graham Kirby 1990/91 Bill Sleeman Exmouth Museum Albert Streat 1991/92 Trevor Bartlett Wildlife Ray Newcombe 1992/93 Marian Hammond Secretary to the Welfare Trust [also Headmistress to Exmouth Sec- Doug Battersby ondary Modern School & Magistrate] 1993/94 Alan Rogers Secretary & Chairman of Exmouth YMCA. Director YMCA S.W. Bill Williamson 1994/95 Brian Cole 25 years support to RNLI [Exmouth] John Jessup 1995/96 Sheila Crunden BS & Exmouth Stroke Club / Disabled Fellowship Dickson Tolman 1996/97 Ron & Pam Snowshall Swimming Club organisers for more than 25 years. Ron is also Derek Taylor Chairman of the Exmouth Beach Rescue Club 1997/98 Keith Graham Lifeboat Coxwain Bob Cochrane 1998/99 None Ian Winks 1999/00 Frank Norton Exmouth Garden Club / Britain in Bloom / Exmouth Rugby Club David Capel-Jones 2000/01 Tom Haynes League of Friends of Exmouth Hospital / Exmouth Museum Cliff Lenn 2001/02 Peter Corney Christian Response to Eastern Europe Courtney Richards 2002/03 Mary Peters Save the Children Fundraiser Alan Symes 2003/04 Garth Gibson Town Crier - services to town and charity George Maddaford 2004/05 Marcia Samson St John Ambulance Frank Hart Venn 2005/06 Margaret Evans Vice-Chairman for 30 years of Shandford Nursing Home in BS David Matthews 2006/07 Ellen Sparkes Support & leadership of Exmouth Scout movement Malcolm Pressey 2007/08 None David Brunwin 2008/09 Mary Philby Exmouth Council of Voluntary Service Chris Stevens 2009/10 Bridget Harris Inspector (Specials) - Surveillance Cameras Gerald Garraway 2010/11 Pat Graham Exmouth in Bloom Chairman Dick Bishop 2011/12 Elizabeth Lee Exmouth Community College Head of Govenors Norman Hawkins 2012/13 Colin Rowland Olympic Torch & service to charity Keith Turner 2013/14 Tim Mock Retiring Exmouth Lifeboat Coxwain Brian Drake 2014/15 Gillian Laws Exmouth Talking Newspapers Simon Wood
Page 48 Christmas Collections. Christmas has always been a special time for The Rotary Club and the tree decorations may have changed but the message is the same. Collections have raised a considerable amount over many years and this has been used to support the needy at Christmas time. In recently years food hampers have been packed and distributed to those very much in need at this time of year.
Rotary Emblems From a seed of an idea back in 1983 Walk or Ride Rtn John Pankhurst came up with the idea to develop sheets of Back in 2003, the idea of a sponsored Rotary Emblems to be sold to other walk around the beautiful East Devon countryside seemed like a good idea! Rotary Clubs in the UK. With just 55 walkers it raised over £2359. Now Now some 32 years later the in 2015, the walk still continues with the added emblems and new branding are still route for the keen cyclist. The event is now very being printed and sold. It is not much an event that encourages those that are easy to put a figure on the total participating to walk for their own charity. We sales but certainly Exmouth is very estimate that this event has now raised over much recognised as the ‘Emblems’ Club. £60,000
Proms Concerts The first of our very successful Last Night of the Proms concerts was held in 1995 and to date there have been over 25 concerts with the highlight being in 2013 and held at Exeter Cathedral to celebrate RIBI Centenary. At best we can estimate that the income from these events, with additional match funding, has enabled around £75,000 to be donated to worthy causes.
Kite Festival The kite festival was initially created to raise the public awareness of Rotary and to become a hands on project that involved the local community as well as being a major fundraiser. In 2008 an educational handbook was written by Rtns Pressey & Hart-Venn for the use of teachers in local primary schools— this then encouraged kite making to become a major youth project in these schools. The Kite festival has now successfully raised over £74,280 for many worthy causes and offers other charitable organisations the opportunity to work with our Rotary Club
Spiral Well Project Since its inception in 2006, the Spiral wishing wells have become a major fund raising initiative. A magnificent amount of £32,650 has been raised throughout the various partner organisations in East Devon. In addition we have now sold 50 Spiral Wells around the Rotary Clubs of RIBI and these Wells have subsequently enabled other clubs to raise money for charity to the tune of circa £135,000
Page 49 THE ROTARY CLUB OF EXMOUTH & DISTRICT 90TH CHARTER ANNIVERSARY MEMBERS (Including years of Service to Rotary & Paul Harris Fellows) Officers: President: Simon Wood (9 Years) President Elect: John Thorogood (3 Years) Vice-President: Martyn Clegg (10 Years) Secretary: Malcolm Pressey - PHF (19 Years) Treasurer: Rod Ford (4 Years) Club Members: Tony Alexander (13 Years) Richard Bishop (Past President) (12 Years) David Brunwin (Past President) (14 Years) Martin Clook (13 Years) John Danzelman –PHF (46 Years) Brian Drake (Past President) (12 Years) Angie Drummond (3 Years) Gerald Garraway PHF (Past President) (28 Years) Stephen Govier (5 Years) Bernard Greenaway– PHF (Past President) (49 Years) Alison Greenhalgh (1 Year) Frank Hart-Venn - PHF (Past President) (15 Years) Norman Hawkins - (Past President) (10 Years) Graham Kirby - PHF (Past President) (35 Years) Cliff Lenn - PHF (Past President) (24 Years) Dirk Leonard (1 Year) Adrian Lunnon - PHF (Past DG & Past President) (41 Years) Ian MacQueen (3 Years) George Maddaford-PHF (Past President) (46 Years) Shahin Mahmood (2 Years) David Matthews-PHF (Past President) (16 Years) John Pankhurst –PHF (Past President)- Hon. Member (52 Years) Alan Symes - (Past President) (19 Years) Dickson Tolman-PHF (Past President) (31 Years) Keith Turner (Past President) (11 Years) Andy Vanstone (1 Year) Eric Watts - PHF (Past DG & Past President) (39 Years) Mike Weathrall-King (17 Years) Dennis Whiteley (9 Years) Francis Williams (38 Years) Linda Wilson (1 Year) Ian Winks- PHF (Past President) (36 Years) Malcolm Wood (10 Years) Page 50 We should remind ourselves of the FOUR WAY TEST— known in some quarters as ROTARY AND THE GOLDEN RULE. The Four Way Test consists of four direct questions that many Rotarians believe to be the heart of any issue. The Questions are:- 1. Is it the TRUTH ? 2. Is it FAIR to all Concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all Concerned?
The Rotary Club of Exmouth & District would like to thank the following organisations for their help in enabling us to compile this 90 year history of the club’s remarkable work in the area of Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Lympstone, Woodbury and East Budleigh.
The link with Rotary and education through the Community College has been very strong in the last 90 years. The Rotary Club now supports the young people in the community through its various youth initiatives and competitions: Youth Speaks; Young Chef; Young Musician, Young Technologists and even 20/20 Cricket ….
We have been one of the top things to do in Exmouth since 1968. Sailing the waters around Exeter, Torquay, Sidmouth and Exmouth, we have remained a family business taking hundreds and thousands of happy families to see the start of the Jurassic Coast
and River Exe. www.stuartlinecruises.co.uk
Supporting ROTARY for over 80 years: SJG (Jimmie) Southon President 1937 /38 and 1943-1945 Book Keeping, Self Assessment, VAT
Reg Lunnen President 1959/60 6 The Parade, Exmouth. t:272000 Albert Streat President 1990/91 www.southonandco.co.uk
Page 51 £133,461
2010—2015
Page 52