98 Years of

The Rotary Club of Frome

As we get closer to the Centenary of our charter date with a current membership of 39 Rotarians we glance back at the history of The Rotary Club of Frome.

The Rotary Club of Frome received its charter and was founded on the 3^rd December 1925, only twenty years after the Rotary Movement was started in Chicago by a young lawyer Paul P Harris.

A Founder Member Sydney Sewell, the landlord of the George Inn, had a Rotarian cousin in Bexhill, and another Founder Member had a Rotarian friend in Bristol and between them, they got Frome Rotary Club going. Both were joined by Rotarians from Bath and Yeovil on Frome’s Charter Night. The number of club members at its charter meeting was 22.

The Founder President was the Vicar of Frome: Preb. W.F.H. Randolph, a warm but awe-inspiring majestic figure, who had a huge following from many Christian persuasions in the town.  The president was supported by H.E. Walwin in the capacity of Secretary, they both served in these offices until 1927.

The members of Frome Rotary Club set about helping the community and arranged many outings for the elderly, the two orphanages and the 42 children from St Louis Convent. Charabancs and railways provided the transport to the seaside or Theatre in Bath.

To read more on the history click here

Frome Rotary Adopts a Minesweeper

Early in 1940 Frome Rotary club together with Inner Wheel came together to adopt a Steam Trawler John Cattling  Britain and its allies were at war with Germany.  The war was being fought in Europe by land air and sea.   Every month the club sent the crew of the Cattling a parcel consisting of groceries, toiletries, cigarettes and sweets.  The ladies of Inner Wheel were then kept busy with their knitting needles as the crew then requested jumpers, socks, scarves and mittens.  During a time of strict rationing of most commodities including food and clothing, Frome Rotary and Inner Wheel, worked to generously provide these things not then even to begin to imagine just what comfort they brought to the crew of the Cattling during what were dangerous and troubled times.  The Cattling was being used to rescue soldiers and sailors in trouble at sea often during a battle conflict which put the trawler and its men in extreme danger.

The skipper of the trawler was George Aldan who in peacetime was a fisherman.  He wrote the following to Frome Rotary secretary DC Yates in 1940.

Dear Sir,

Just a line to let you know we have received your 3 parcels and I have shared them equally among the crew.  They were very pleased with them and it was very nice to have somebody to think about us after the trying time we have just been through.  I expect you have seen the pictures in the paper although that is nothing to what it was in reality.  But still it was a job well done and all in a days work.

He then went on to write: The gifts were gratefully received especially the woollies as the nights are now colder and longer.  Many envious glances were cast at the person lucky enough to bag the jumper.  The skipper was so grateful that these parcels contained things he knew were rationed and that allowances had been given up buy the clubs and their families to provide the crew with small comforts.  The skipper could say little about his tasks but enough for the club to know they patrolled the dangerous parts of the English Channel where boats were often bombed. 

These parcels from Frome Rotary to HM Cattling continued throughout the way until it ended in 1945.  The crew of 20 of HM Cattling were highly decorated for their brave work receiving 2 Distinguished Service Crosses, 4 Distinguished Service Medals and 4 mentioned in dispatches.  These were awarded for gallantry during active operations against the enemy and were highly honoured. The people of Frome knew nothing of what she was doing when they were sending their parcels.

Surviving copies of the letters and many others over the years between the Trawler and Frome Rotary Club are permanently in Frome museum.

There will be more articles to come in the new year on this historical clubs past including some of their more interesting fund raising initiatives including a snooker marathon!

To learn more about the club visit www.fromerotary.co.uk or visit them on Facebook.