Welcome to the website of Durham Elvet Rotary
Featured pages
CPR/AED Familiarisation session at Sunderland Bridge
Club president Tom Sharples visited Sunderland Bridge this evening to deliver a CPR/AED familiarisation session for local residents.
Details
Photo Exhibition - 'The Price of Freedom'
An exhibition of photographs taken by Kostiantyn Revutskyi in Ukraine in Spring 2022
Details
Salvation Army 'Sanctuary 21'
Giving our support to the work of Sanctuary 21 to help those who are homeless and sleeping rough in Durham City.
Details
Ukrainian Shoebox Appeal
Shoeboxes filled with items by Rotary Clubs to support front-line communities in Ukraine
Details
Club Meeting
Our monthly social meeting at The Hallgarth Manor. Our speaker was Rotarian Norman Sellar, our District 'KidsOut' Ambassador
Details
About us
Durham Elvet Rotary is one of 45 Rotary Clubs that are in Rotary District 1030 which covers the North East of England. We are a small, friendly group that is focused on projects to help improve the lives of others in communities - locally, nationally, and internationally, whilst at the same time enjoying the social and fun aspect of what membership of Rotary can offer.
So Where is and What is 'Elvet'
Elvet is part of the City of Durham and is one of the oldest settlements in the Durham City locality. It is first mentioned in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles in 762 AD as Aelfet ee (trans: Elvet or Swan Island). The 'island' is believed to be the site of what became the City of Durham on the hill in the large 'swan neck' loop in the River Wear.
It was within this 'swan neck' meander, in 995 AD, that St Aldhun settled with his monks and the relics of the Christian Saint Cuthbert. The construction of the famous cathedral that dominates and characterises the city was begun in 1092 AD.
The original Elvet Bridge on this site was built by Bishop Hugh Pudsey in about 1160 AD. It was added to in 1228 and later by Bishop Fox in 1495. There were originally 14 arches, of which only 10 now remain, two of which are overbuilt. In 1771 the bridge was severely damaged by floods. In 1804-5 the width of the bridge was doubled. The bridge is now closed to vehicular traffic.
In 1986 the Cathedral and Castle, high on this famous river site, was designated a World Heritage Site.
The Rotary International Presidential Theme for 2024-25
*** Learn more about Rotary in Great Britain & Ireland ***
Supporting Ukraine
Latest News
'Rotary Digital' online magazine - February 2025
Happening soon...
Thu, Apr 3rd 2025 7:00 pm
Club AGM and Business Meeting
AGM and monthly business meeting on Zoom
Thu, Apr 24th 2025 7:00 pm
Club Meeting
Venue: 'Sixty-One' Durham
Thu, May 1st 2025 7:00 pm
Club Business Meeting
Monthly business meeting on Zoom
Meetings & Venue
Where and when:
We meet on Thursdays at 19:00
(Our Business meeting is held on ZOOM on the 1st Thursday of the month. On the 3rd Thursday we meet at ) 'Sixty-One Durham'Pittington
Pittington
Durham
DH6 1AB 0191 372 1188
Rotary News
Be part of a global network of volunteers, trying to make the world a better place. Please also see the 'links & news' page for information from the local district and live feeds from Rotary International and Rotary International in GB&I.
Our Social Media