Memories of early days from long-serving Rotarians

At a meeting in September 2026, Rotarians Michael Gowling, Gillian Bindley and John Tillotson took us back to the 1970s and 1980s to share their memories of Rotary in those days.

It was in some ways a very different organisation. Membership was limited to one person from each profession, and getting into the Club could be quite difficult. For a start, you had to be male! Prospective members were scrutinised, and required sponsors before they could join. The Rotarians were often the bosses of their businesses, so meetings were held at lunchtimes rather than (as now) in the evening - although some of the ‘boilersuit’ members, such as Gillian’s husband Robert, had to go home, wash and change before coming to the meeting!

The meetings themselves were considerably more formal. There were individual nameplates at the seats, a high table for the officers, and there were even fines for failing to wear your Rotary badge.

But the formality went alongside a strong sense of fellowship. Michael, Gillian and John recalled friendships, social occasions, visits to and from other Rotary clubs, and international links, as well as the Club's involvement in the local community.

The Club has undoubtedly modernised, and there was a general feeling that many of the changes have been for the better. At the same time, our speakers looked back fondly on the traditions, characters and sense of occasion that were such a feature of Rotary in those days.

It was fascinating to hear these first-hand memories of Rotary from an earlier era, and to reflect on what has changed, what has been gained, and how much remains the same - above all, the commitment to “Service Above Self”, which is still at the heart of Rotary today.