Report on the Club's Activities from 1921 to 1934

  REPORT PRESENTED BY THE RETIRING HONORARY SECRETARY

ROTARIAN JOHN BLAKEMAN, JULY 9th, 1934 

On April 12th, 1921, on the invitation of Mr. C. E. Phipps, nine Northampton men met the Rev. Canon Elliott and Mr. W. K. Bedingfield, Directors of the Midland District of Rotary Clubs, at the Grand Hotel, Northampton to discuss the question of the formation of a Northampton Rotary Club.  On May 30th, 1921 the first meeting of the Club was held and the following were elected Foundation Members:-

             Mr. A. E. Marlow (Chairman)                         Mr. J. L. Holland.

             Mr. C. Y. Phipps                                            Mr. A. C. Boyde

            The Mayor (Councilor Harvey Reeves)         Mr. W. P. Cross

            The ex-Mayor (Councilor Kilby)                     Mr. P. H. Stevens

            Mr. H. Hankinson                                           Dr. P. S. Hitchens

            Mr. John Dickens                                           Lt.Col. John Brown

            Counc. D. P. Taylor                                        Mr. S. C. Adnitt

            Dr. E. H. Harries-Jones                                   Mr. J. Blakeman

            Mr. W. J. Bassett-Lowke                                 Mr. V. W. Hadley

            Mr. M. B. Fullerton

 and the following officers were appointed:-

            President                  Rotarian A. E Marlow.

            Vice-president,         Rotarian C. W. Phipps.

            Hon. Secretary,         Rotarian W. V. Hadley.

            Hon. Treasurer,         Rotarian M. B. Pullerton.

The membership was rapidly increased and by May 1922, 92 members had been elected.  In December 1921 five Committees were appointed, viz: Topics and Speakers, Public Service, Attendance and Visiting, House and Entertainment,   Juvenile Welfare.

The first meetings of the Club were held at the Grand Hotel; one or two meetings were held at the Exchange Cafe, and in January 1921 the place was changed to the Angel Hotel where the luncheons have been held regularly since.

Rotarian Hadley left Northampton in January 1921 having acted, up to that time, as both Hon. Secretary and Speakers’ Secretary.  Rotarian Blakeman succeeded him as Honorary Secretary, and Rotarian Graves became Speakers’ Secretary and was followed in this position by Rotarian L. Knight when he left Northampton for Windsor in 1932.

Rotarian Pullerton resigned the position of Hon. Treasurer in 1929 and was followed for three years by Rotarian Stuart, and he in turn was followed by Rotarian Goldsmith in 1932.

The Position of President of the Club has been occupied as follows: -

            1921  A. E. Marlow.                                         1928  E. Murray Page

            1922  C. W. Phipps.                                        1929  S. C Adams

            1923  E. H. Harries-Jones.                              1930  E. Shaw.

            1924  W. P. Cross                                            1931  W. C. C. Cooke

            1925  John Brown                                            1932  P. C. Major

            1926  D. P. Taylor                                            1933  J. H. Holland

            1927  J. H. Marlow

In the 13 years of the Club's existence, 196 names have been entered on the list of members, including honorary members, but during the last ten years the live membership has remained steady, varying from 70 to 75.

During the years 1921, 1922, 1923, Christmas Treats were given to War Orphans. This was done on a large scale, one single treat costing £130. There ceased to be any necessity for this kind of treat.

 The Club has always found it difficult to justify the existence of a number of Committees, but it has tried to justify its motto of "Service".  A survey was made of all the different kinds of service activities in the town to see if there was any gap, which the Club could fill, but no such gap seemed to exist.

Where it seemed as though a useful purpose might be served, Rotary representatives were appointed on local committees.  Various opportunities were seized, however, of assisting service activities in certain directions. A Rotary Challenge Cup for football was instituted, to be played for annually by the Northampton Police, the proceeds to be given to charity. The Northampton Repertory Theatre was commenced, largely by inspiration derived from the Rotary Club and Rotarians have served on the Directorate.  An Unemployment Centre was started, largely owing to Rotary initiative, and the work in connection with this was carried on by Rotarian P. C. Major, who was President of the Club at its commencement.

A Public Service Committee has managed a Service Fund for many years,   the chief line of activity being to assist promising Northampton youths who have met with educational successes of various kinds, and require further assistance in working out their careers.

An International Service Committee has been in active existence for two years and has kept the international object of Rotary prominently before the Club. The Club has sent representatives to National Conferences, some European Conferences and District Conferences.  It is felt that the Club’s activities in the direction of keeping in touch with the wider Rotary movement, whilst they have not been entirely neglected, have not been as keen as they ought to have been and improvement in this direction is aimed at.

The Club has, however, made an honest attempt to carry out the ideals of Rotary Service, and the individual service records of members in this direction are good.  It is becoming increasingly recognised in the Rotary movement generally that the ideals of service will not be effectively carried out so much by organized Club activity, as by the members in their individual capacities.

Copyright Northamptonshire Record Office