CLUB CHARTER NIGHT

Newton-le-Willows Rotary Club Charter Evening 2025

Each year, members and friends of the Newton-le-Willows Rotary Club gather to celebrate the club’s Charter Evening, an occasion that honours both the club’s founding and the wider spirit of Rotary. This year marks our 88th Charter Anniversary, a milestone that reflects not only the longevity of our own club but also the enduring strength of Rotary International over the same period.

Our story began with the signing of The Charter of the Rotary Club of Newton-le-Willows on 3 September 1937, during the presidency of Maurice Duperrey of Rotary International. The founding members, led by John Vardy OBE, brought together local business and community leaders with a shared goal: to serve others and improve life in Newton-le-Willows. That founding spirit, captured in the Charter’s pledge “to be bound by the constitution and by-laws of Rotary International,” continues to guide the club to this day.

Since that moment in 1937, both Rotary International and our local club have achieved extraordinary things. Around the world, Rotary has led the charge to eradicate polio, provided clean water and sanitation, advanced education and peace, and supported communities in times of crisis. Here in Newton-le-Willows, our members have echoed that same ethos through nearly nine decades of local service from fundraising for community causes to supporting young people through the John Vardy Awards, first presented in 1987 in memory of our founder. These awards remain a proud tradition, recognising the promise and potential of our town’s next generation.

The Charter Evening is not only a time to celebrate the past but also to reaffirm what makes Rotary unique: fellowship. It is through friendship, shared purpose, and mutual respect that our club continues to thrive. Whether meeting at Haydock Park Golf Club, running local events, or working alongside Rotary partners around the world, we are reminded that service is most meaningful when shared among friends.

As we celebrate 88 years of Rotary in Newton-le-Willows, we honour those who laid the foundations, those who serve today, and those who will continue this proud tradition into the future. Together, we uphold the same timeless ideal that inspired our founders in 1937, "Service Above Self".