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 market 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 Gaol 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 organising 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 Saturday 28th 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 Rogue Shanty Buoys. It was a very hot day and unfortunately attendance was down on last year and so income to distribute to the Hospital League of Friends and other local medically related charities was down too.

Sunday 11th May 2025 saw our Beccles Cycle for life event held with over 200 riders taking part, an increase on recent years. 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. £4400 was raised, shared equally between The East Anglian Air Ambulance and our own Charitable Trust. The funds are held to enable us to respond to local requests for support or to international disasters.

This calendar year includes our 75th year since the granting of our charter in February 1950 and we recently had a display at Beccles Museum Our  Charter night this Rotary year was in March at Rookery Park Golf club where approximately 90 people attended and were entertained by Sarah Wilby and her guide dog. Sarah was born blind and has recently completed the London Marathon.

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 Membership Lead, Bernard King on 01502 710405 or email:  pj.bcking@btinternet.com