Welcome to Bradgate Rotary Club

Becoming a member of Bradgate Rotary gives you an opportunity to take action on important issues affecting our community, our nation, and the world.  But you can also have a lot of fun — whether we’re socialising or working together on projects.  Members of Bradgate Rotary attend weekly meetings to plan events in our community, to hear from local speakers (charities, organisations, other groups) and to socialise.  Together, we make great things happen.  We have an ethos that focuses on action and achieving positive results.

“From the moment I became involved with Bradgate Rotary it was clear that the club was friendly, welcoming and committed to every project or event they took part in. A great group of people.”

- Alan Rockey, President Bradgate Rotary Club

"My experience with Bradgate Rotary has been truly valuable. I’ve made lifelong friends and connections that assist me in achieving my personal and professional goals."

- Clare Walker: Club President 2016/17

As the club celebrates its ninth year, it’s a great time to look back over the past twelve months. This has been a unique year for us in that we had two Presidents, with Roy taking on an additional six months and with Alan coming off the subs bench six months early to serve an eighteen-month term.

Our main focus is to work within, and serve, the communities that are in our catchment area of Groby, Ratby, Markfield, Newtown Linford, Anstey and Glenfield.

It’s not just about raising funds for charity. In the last year we have planted 2000 purple crocuses in Newtown Linford to create awareness of Rotary International’s End Polio Now campaign to rid the world of polio via a worldwide vaccination programme. We are so close – only 12 cases worldwide reported in 2023. Twenty-six fruit trees were also planted in Groby Meadows on Newtown Lane in Groby to create a Coronation Orchard which will hopefully provide the village with a good crop each year once fully established.

Well Being Events continue to be popular: in the course of the year we held our own event in Glenfield and supported the Ratby Evergreen Club and Ratby Pop In Centre event at Ratby Village Hall. September saw the Groby Scarecrow Festival and Scout Yard Sale – an event we started but have now handed over to a great committee so that it is now truly a community event which we continue to support in a variety of ways. Christmas sees our Santa sleigh coming out to play, bringing a bit of Christmas joy to local schools and communities whilst at the same time raising funds to support Rainbows Hospice in Loughborough. Our Quiz Nights continue to be popular, with the last one held at The Linford in Newtown Linford raising £650 for Leicester Musical Memory Box who provide music therapy for those with Dementia and Alzheimer’s conditions.

Bradgate Park lies right at the heart of our area. Yet again the entries for our photographic competition exceeded all expectations and produced a stunning 2024 calendar. A thousand calendars are donated to the Park for them to sell which raised approximately £7000 for the Park Trust. Our thanks go to the Trust for allowing us to organise two major fundraising events in the Park: firstly, our Freeze Your Bits Off bra walk in January in aid of the Glenfield Breast Care Centre which raised a staggering £16,500 and secondly, Bark in the Park – a day of dog displays, dog shows and a host of wonderful craft and food stalls raised over £3000, which will enable us to name a puppy for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Over the last year we have supported 34 charities and donated nearly £18,500. International donations have comprised £1000 to the Red Cross to aid their efforts in Gaza, £1000 to Shelterbox to provide shelter and equipment to those in need in war torn and disaster areas and £500 to the Libya Flood disaster via Rotary International Foundation.

Without your support none of what we do would be possible. Together we make things happen. Why not join us? Becoming a member of Bradgate Rotary gives you the opportunity to take action on important issues affecting our local communities, our country and the world. We provide support and assistance when needed, advice and information where requested, but most importantly we enjoy relaxed friendship and fun.

Roy Cafferty and Alan Rockey, Joint Presidents 2023-2024

Get Involved
If you live, work or occasionally pass through Glenfield, Anstey, Ratby, Newtown Linford, Markfield or Groby in Leicestershire come join us at Bradgate Rotary. We meet on Wednesdays, usually in the mornings, sometimes in person at the Stamford Arms, Groby, but also on Zoom. We enjoy evening social events too.

Contact Us

bradgaterotary@gmail.com or call Roy Cafferty on 07817523518

Charity Number: 1191390