40 years of Rotary in Chatteris

About the Rotary Club of Chatteris.

40 years of Rotary in Chatteris - hotel mustard town

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40 years of Rotary in Chatteris - men at work charter2011

40 years of Rotary in Chatteris - president 2011

40 years of Rotary in Chatteris - president charternight2011

40 years of Rotary in Chatteris - rotarians getting agood grilling

40 years of Rotary in Chatteris - social 2011

40 years of Rotary in Chatteris - social evening 2011

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40 years of Rotary in Chatteris - what no mustard in Norwich

40 years of Rotary in Chatteris - wounded warrior 2011

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With the Rotary motto of 'Service above Self' members of the Chatteris Club have been playing their part for forty years in the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace throughout the world, through humanitarian and educational projects. They have been involved in a wide variety of projects in the development of service opportunities, both locally and internationally.

The local Rotary Club is active in the community, helping schools, sponsoring young people in the Rotary Youth Leadership Award scheme, promoting the annual Schools make Music event and Young Musician of the year, publishing the Chatteris Town Guide for the Town Council, promoting shop window displays and Shop Locally schemes, and making donations to local clubs and organisations resulting from collections with the Father Christms Float, which tours the town every December.

Internationally, the club has supported cultural exchanges for groups, Youths and Graduates, and has raised funds specifically for schools in Zimbabwe, Hope & Homes for Children, Vision Aid Overseas, and Water Aid, as well as many others. The local Rotary Club is a regular supporter of Lendwithcare, helping to provide loans for entrepreneurs in third world countries to establish their own businesses, and so improve the lives of many families.

Rotary is not about raising money every week, but having fun and fellowship while working to serve the local community and supporting humanitarian needs throughout the world. Community service is the mainstay of any Rotary club and Rotarians are encouraged to serve others through their vocational experience and to practise high ethical standards in their profssional and business lives.

When our club Chartered in March 1976 this was also in the news :

Queen Elizabeth ll sent out the first royal email, from the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment

Production of the Hillman Imp ends after 13 years. It is due to be replaced next year by a three-door hatchback based on a shortened Avenger floorpan.

Merlyn Rees ends Special Category Status for those sentenced for crimes relating to the civil violence in Northern Ireland.

The Maguire Seven are found guilty of the offence of possessing explosives and subsequently jailed for 14 years.^[10]

- The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention is formally dissolved in Northern Ireland resulting in direct rule of Northern Ireland from London via the British parliament.
16 March – Harold Wilson announces his resignation as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,^[11] to take effect on 5 April.
19 March – Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon announce that they are to separate after 16 years of marriage.^[12]Rotary Club of Chatteris

Charter Presentation Dinner - 14^th April 1976

During the Winter of 1975 and Spring 1976 the District Extension Officer, Past District Governor Arthur Holland, invited local business and professional men to meet at the George Hotel to discuss forming a Rotary Club in Chatteris. Rotarian Alfred Spindler, Rotarian Michael Graves and Rotarian David Young were already members of the March Rotary Club and were given permission to investigate forming a club in Chatteris. Over this period interest was shown by 30 men and the Charter Presentation Dinner was held at the Palace, Chatteris on Wednesday 14^th April 1976. The menu included Egg & Prawn Mayonnaise, Cream of Vegetable Soup, Braised Beef Chasseur, Black Forest Gateau, Cheese, Dessert and Coffee. The catering was by Peter Wilson who was a founder member of the club. After the meal the District Governor, Rotarian Rupert Gurney JP, presented Rotary badges to the founder members and the Charter to the first President, Rotarian Alf Spindler. It is interesting to record that the Charter had not arrived from Rotary International in America (this usually happened in those days) so the club received a rolled up Potato Marketing Board poster – the proper Charter arrived about 2 months later. The Council Members held their posts until 30^th June 1977.

Club Officers:

President: Alf Spindler

Vice-President: Mike Graves

Treasurer: Danny Norton

Secretary: David Young

Council Members: Hughie Allen, Ray Dordery, Neil Moss, Colin Seward, Ted Tilley, Roy Wilderspin.

Ordinary Members: Doug Bristow, Den Broughton, Mike Coates, Don Cooper, Cyril Cooper, Les Edgley, Ray German, David Grainger, Bill Hall, Ralph Hosken, Bill Letch, Phil Markwell, Alan Parish, John Penfold, Ken Peppercorn, Martin Pullen, Keith Richards, John Seward, Peter Wilson, Don Walker.