Welcome to Beccles, a market town on the River Waveney and the southern gateway to the Broads. Beccles was a major fishing port until the estuary silted up but the river in many ways is still the centre of this marke town. Beccles has many interesting places to visit and good venues to eat and drink. Founded sometime in the 900s its history surrounds the visitor. From the many gates - 'gate' being the Viking word for street - to the idiosyncratic church tower built separately from the church there is something of interest round every corner.
Club members meet on Thursdays at the Caxton Club in Jail Lane for a meal (optional) and often enjoy a talk on a subject of general interest by a Rotarian member or invited guest. The current Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Beccles benefit from friendly good humour and this feature helps the meetings and other friendship events to be enjoyed by all. Events include the successful "Young Musician" Competition which is held each February enabling young vocalists and instrumentalists to perform in front of a public audience. Funds for the club's charitable trust are raised by organizing various events each year such as the 'Beccles Cycle for Life' in May - please see website becclescycleforlife.org for details and an application form and the 'Hospital Fete' on the last Saturday in June.
On each fifth Thursday, an event is organised when partners are invited to attend and may be skittles, bowls, crazy whist or some other "action packed and fun evening".
On 16th November 2024 we will be holding our annual Community Dinner at The Club, Beccles, when we have speakers from organisations who help those with impared sight in the town. Tickets are £25 per person to include dinner, speeches and dancing and are available from Tony Rainbird, theoldbrock@gmail.com.
On Saturday 29th June we held a successful Beccles Hospital Fete with many stalls, games ,Inner Wheel teas and performances from The June Glennie dancers and music from The Sir John Leman School and the Rogue Shanty Buoys.
Sunday 12th May 2024 saw our Beccles Cycle for life event held with just over 200 riders taking part. The weather was ideal for cyclists and we had a good number of families riding as children were able to ride for free again this year. £4000 was raised, shared equally between The East Anglian Air Ambulance and our own Chritable Trust. The funds are held to enable us to respond to local requests for support or to international disasters.
This is the 75th year since the granting of our charter in February 1950 and we are hoping to celebrate through the year. Charter night this Rotary year will be on March 1st at Rookery Park Golf club. Further details will follow.
Membership continues to be a priority and anyone interested in helping with a project, have a project of their own that they think Rotary could manage with them or simply want information on joining the organisation, please contact the secretary, Paul Randle, p.randle270@btinternet.com.
We meet on Thursdays at 1800 for 1830 hrs
(Every Thursday at 1830 and 5th Thursday with partners or as notified.) Caxton ClubBe 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.