The Rotary Club of Consett was inaugurated during the darkest days of World War Two. Our first meeting took place on the 29th of January 1942 and our inaugural meeting was held on the 9th of April. Our Charter Evening took place on the 25th of June and we received our charter on the 1st of May in that year. Our sponsoring Club was Chester-le-Street who presented to us the bell that we still use today. The oak wood mounting for the bell came from some old timbering from the parish church of Chester-le-Street. Our President's desk, which we also still use today, was a gift from the Rotary Club of Gateshead. In June of 1942, some 24 members were inducted into the club. Today, we are a dual gendered club with 29 members. Our first female member was inducted into the club in 1991.