Rotary Club of Scarborough

The Rotary Club of Scarborough is affiliated to Rotary International which is a global network of 1.4 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

Learn more about our structure and our foundation and our strategic vision.

What we do

Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 46,000+ clubs work together to:

• Promote peace
• Fight disease
• Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
• Save mothers and children
• Support education
• Grow local economies
• Protect the environment

The Rotary Club of Scarborough is based in District 1040 of the global Rotary Institution and operates on a Club Committee basis. There are three key Committees, thus;

 

Community Service - Lead Stewart Rowe

 

Community Service is the opportunity the Club has to implement Club projects and activities that improve life in the local community ie Scarborough.

 

It’s remit is to lead on matters relating to the local Community of Scarborough by creating its Agenda.

 

It will consider requests made to the Club from within the local community for assistance and, where appropriate, bring to the attention of the Club for consideration.

 

It will lead on any Committee generated Project and draw together the necessary resources to enable the Project to be delivered.

It will report to Club Council and Club on the work of the Committee.

Principal Projects at present time;

 

·      Annual Carers’ Holiday

·      Annual Santa Collection

·      Annual Christmas Toy Appeal

 

International and Foundation - Lead David Oliver

 

The International and Foundation Committee remit is based around  implementing Club projects and activities that improve life in the wider international community.

 

Its activities include creating the Committee’s Agenda and to identify opportunities and consider requests made to the Club from the wider international community for assistance and, where appropriate, bring to the attention of the Club for consideration.

It leads on any Committee generated Project and draws together the necessary resources to enable the Project to be delivered.

It reports to the Club Council and Club on the work of the Committee.

Principal Projects at present time;

 

·      Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) funding

Youth Service – Lead Roger Cannon

 

The Youth Service committee is responsible for developing goals to achieve youth service project goals and providing leadership opportunities for youth.

 

Its remit includes creating the Committee’s Agenda and to identify opportunities and consider requests made to the Club for helping youngsters in their personal development and, where appropriate, bring to the attention of the Club for consideration.

It will lead on any Committee generated Project and draw together the necessary resources to enable the Project to be delivered.

It will report to Club Council and Club on the work of the Committee.

Principal Projects at present time;

 

·      Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)

·      Young Technicians Competition

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A ‘snap shot’ look at 100 years of The Club -
‘Back to the future’

The first meeting of The Club was held on 25th October 1921 in the now long-forgotten ‘Walter’s Cafe’, in Westborough, the first of many venues at which the Club has meet.

Soon afterwards, the Club admitted probably its most famous member in the person of Scarborough-born Charles Laughton, who went on to find fame as a Hollywood film star.

The Club was granted a Charter on 13th December 1922.

Not long after this, the Club accepted an invitation from the District to promote clubs in Bridlington, Malton and Whitby. These clubs remain today.

Eminent guests of the day to The Club included the England cricketer, Sir John Berry Hobbs (Jack), Miss Margaret Bondfield (the first woman Cabinet Minister) and Sir Henry Lauder (Harry), entertainer.

The breakout of WW2 brought with it many difficulties but The Club refused to suspend its activities and it helped, inter alia, in transporting servicemen on leave, provided collectors for ‘flag days’, helping at makeshift canteens, affording hospitality to Free French soldiers and locally based RAF personnel and initiating correspondence with British prisoners of war.

After the war membership reached a record 91 and much was able to be achieved, with the Club supporting many local and international initiatives both financially and in kind.

1950 saw the introduction of the Club’s, now famous, Christmas Santa collection collecting monies for local good causes. This has, since its inception, raised over £150,000 for local good causes (£7,000 in 2020).