The first twenty years of Rotary in Wymondham
1959-1979

Roy Howes John Barber D. N. Guy Peter Wharton Tom Turner Dr Welland Charles Daniels Bernard Gledhill John Curson Kenneth Wiles A. G. Simmons John Cooke G. Curson Ion Smith

Service Above Self 101 years of Rotary 1905-2006

Russell Bartram Gordon Semmence Cyril Atherton Ray Hudson Jack Chapman Eric Standley P. W. Humphries John Gosling Arthur Ogden Harry Warne Dudley Bowles Noel Bradley Peter Myhill

27 Stalwarts of whom ten have lasted the course.

1959/60
Arthur Ogden was the Interim President and carried on after the Club had been granted its Charter on 19 January 1959. It was his drive and enthusiasm which carried the Club through the initial procedural difficulties, formation of Committees, and attendance at District and National rallies - even to the Isle of Man! Community Service started its long history of help to the less fortunate members of the community with the distribution of Christmas parcels, transport to Wicklewood Hospital for the relatives of patients, and the provision of a budgerigar in a cage for the women's ward at Wicklewood. To further International work John Barber and John Cooke traversed the Rhine and established our friendly contact with the Black Forest Club of Villingen from which grew friendships and Youth Exchanges which have lasted to this day.
1960/61
The good work continued under the Presidency of Bernard Gledhill 1960/61 with individual drives or outings being given to numbers of old people who rarely left their homes. These contacts were, in some cases, maintained and also a list compiled of the over 75 's to whom birthday cards could be sent on each anniversary. The International contact with VilHngen was furthered and resulted in the visits of Gaby Vosseler and Hans Weber to Wymondham in August followed by a reciprocal visit to Germany by Elizabeth Humphrey later in the month.

1961/62
John Barber was the third President and the minutes of a Business Meeting held March 5th 1962 mainly state the activities of the International Committee under the Chairmanship of John Cooke. They were celebrating World Understanding week by sending greetings to 123 Rotary Clubs throughout the world, by inviting the Clergy to say special prayers, by a shop window display of answers received, and by giving a dinner to 25 guests from the Norwich International Club and to their Chairman, the late Stanley Bagshaw.

At this time the stirrings of activity at Ashwell-thorpe Hall were mentioned and Charles Partridge the Stationmaster had reason to remember the rather disjointed arrangements of the early Disabled Drivers Association when members arrived at the Station, were transported by him to the Hall, only to find no accommodation arranged. With masterly Rotary ingenuity he arranged hospitality for them at the White Horse pending further instructions.

The Club assisted at the first Cheshire Home Fete organized by Norwich Round Table, mention was made of sending a suitable family to the District Caravan at Cromer, the possibility of help to the boys of Morley Hall was discussed, and the first Family Lunch organized.

The Inner Wheel Club of Wymondham was inaugurated at this time and the Council recommended in April that the Club purchase the President's Jewel for the new club. This jewel was of silver which, contrasted to the silver-plated jewel of our President, demonstrates our appreciation of the help received from our ladies during the Club's history.

In March it is recorded that the Council volunteered to a man to attend the Mass Radiography Unit in the hope that the rest of the Club would follow their example. It was however unfortunate that the application to participate in the District Bowls Competition was sent in too late for acceptance. We might have won that one!

1962/63
Harry Wame assumed the Presidency for 1962/ 63 and the big event undoubtedly was undertaking to organize the whole of the second Cheshire Home Fete. Icon remember the astonishment of Council when Vice-President Ion. Smith calmly announced that he had promised that the Club would do this. Spurred on by his bouncing energy sub-committees were formed to deal with Money, Site Planning, Stall and Sideshows, Transport, Car Parks and the Draw. The day went well and, with the aid of actor Roger Livesey and his wife Ursula Jeans, we hoisted the profit to over £1000.

At the Business Meeting in February Mr Kingett explained the plans of himself and his wife to make Ashwellthorpe Hall available for holidays to any Physically Handicapped person in a wheel chair and in May the Hall was opened by Rupert Davies (Maigret of Television fame). The Chairman of the Town Council who greeted the distinguished visitor was our Inaugural President Arthur Ogden and the Club organized a draw which raised £32 for Hall funds. Later we supplied paint, brushes and tools for the National and International Students doing voluntary work at the Hall.

Some of our regular annual efforts began in this period. Visitors to Wicklewood Hospital (which continued until the Hospital closed), a Bowls match with the Over 60's (which Rotary won!), transport of the Physically Handicapped to and from the Vicarage Room, a sports meeting with the boys of Morley Hall organized by Peter Wharton and a successful family lunch.

In June, 20 British Council Students were entertained in the homes of Rotarians to begin an activity which, to judge from appreciative letters received, gave a welcome insight into our home life to many mature foreign students and great pleasure to us in the contact.
It is interesting to note that in July 1962 a letter was received from the Rotary Club of Suva requesting information regarding the toy-making kits supplied to the members by David King last Christmas and made up by them into various wooden toys.

1963/64
1963/64 saw the Presidency of Les Humphrey and began with an outing to the World's End at Mulbarton for the residents of the Cheshire Home. Both the evening and the Invalid Chair races to and from the pub were greatly enjoyed. Phihp Ford arranged an outing for inmates of the Kitchener Home, finishing with tea at Old Buckenham, and was also instrumental in the sacking up and delivery of firewood to 58 persons at Christmas. (Remembered by Ray Hudson who was knocked out by the tailboard of a lorry!)
In the Spring four Rotarians and their families attended a District International Rally at Butlins, Clacton whilst the Cheshire Home Fete allocated to us charge of the Swings and the Crockery Shy. The biggest effort was the Club's support of the Freedom From Hunger Campaign when, with the help of many local societies, we organised a Caledonian Market. At that time the Market Place was used solely as a Car Park and it was good to see a Market in full swing as a minor Petticoat Lane.

January 1964 saw the beginning of the Charity Box and of the Duty Roster.

1964/65
Dudley Bowles took office in July 1964, the year of the great debate to provide funds for the new R.I.B.I. Headquarters. This year the Club unanimously agreed to adopt the School Mock Interview Scheme, still I think an entirely original Wymondham idea, and also distributed Valentine parcels as a variation from the Christmas effort. A student from Villingen, Wolfgang Krause, stayed with members and inmates of the Cheshire Home were taken on an outing to the Horseshoes at Wroxham.

1965/66
1965/66 was the year of Dr Buckton when the first series of Mock Interviews took place at the Boys' School.

In May a very successful Barn Dance and Barbe-que for the International Students, Wives, Children and Young Farmers was held in a bam at Crogham Farm. With seating on straw bales, cooking in metal troughs, heating from oil blowers and Greek dancing a right merry evening was conjured up.

1966/67
Variations in the programme during George Jones's reign 1966/67 included a Club visit to Thetford followed by a tour of the new town, an outing for the Cheshire Home patients to the Beer Garden at Great Yarmouth and a Tramps Supper Dance for the International Club. The latter was held in the Central Hall following a barbeque at Dr Buckton's and the Rotarians present were grateful for the assistance of the Young Farmers which enabled them to retire from the overwhelming noise of a professional band at an early hour!
The first of many Wine and Cheese parties was held with Inner Wheel but the major effort occupying the Club was organising our first 108 District Council Meeting, held in the Central Hall with Committee meetings in various classrooms at the School.

1967/68
Philip Ford became President in 1967/68 and the long lasting trip to the Norfolk Showground prior to the show for ex-farm workers organised by Roger Reynolds first rolled out. Roger was also instrumental in the 'Investment Scheme' operated by himself, Bernard Stutely and Bill Howman. This sold donated articles and increased its capital by further purchases and sales

for three years. At one time this scheme comprised ten guineas in cash, a glass carboy, two spirit flasks, 35 farthings and an HOTS d'oeuvre tray!

The Youth Award Scheme was revived without any great success, 70 people attended a Scandinavian evening at Ashwellthorpe Hall, and £136 was collected for Guide Dogs for the Blind through piles of pennies at several pubs. 2000 books were collected for Ranfurley and it was decided to buy a page-turning machine which could be operated by mouth for a lady in Wickle-wood Hospital with the help of her family and other organisations.

1968/69
John Cooke had an active year in 1968/69 and it was during this period that the first Art Exhibition, which took place the following spring, was proposed. In November a letter was received from a prospective contact club in France called Clamecy and in answer we sent a brochure of the town and a New Year Calendar. Interest in the Youth Award Scheme was reported to be waning but the Club did good work in providing a reconditioned Television set to St Edmunds Nursing Home and the hut which still provides shelter for the Priory Bowls Club.

This year also produced a classic example of Rotary at its best when the President speedily organised help to Mrs Ludkin who was the victim of flooding at Besthorpe. Members of the Club cleaned and dried the house, cleaned the carpet, handled the Insurance claim and set the house to rights. It is on record that Mrs L 's first remark when she returned was "It isn't a bit like it was when I left".

1969/70
The Covenant Scheme to assist Rotary Foundation Awards was mooted in February 1969 and work on it was undertaken by Bernard Gledhill during the Presidency of Bob Richardson. The changeover to North Sea Gas was taking place and the Club provided the Gas Authorities with a list of old people who might need special welfare help during the conversion. Various donations were made to specific and local charities and the main effort during the Spring of 1970 was organising a very successful first An Exhibition. It was at this time that members of the Clamecy Club first visited Wymondham.

1970/71
Charles Ford was the President 1970/71 when under the Group Exchange Scheme we provided a days hospitality to Americans from Colorado, sent £70 to purchase a complete kit for the Norfolk Accident Rescue Service and collected 2500 books for Ranfurley. An idea brought by Charles Runnacres from his previous club resulted in the inauguration of the News Letter, and Wymondham Rotations paid the first of their regular visits to the Clamecy club.

1971/72
Russell Bartram's term of office from 1971/72 seemed determined to set the world to rights for in the autumn of 1971 the Kenya School Farm Development scheme set out to raise £600 for the Rapogi School to enable a V.S.O. student to set up water and field trial schemes, whilst in early 1972 the New Guinea Scheme was launched to raise £500 to enable the Diocese of Norwich to send a farming expert to New Guinea. Both schemes received District approbation and necessitated some canvassing around the Clubs by Rotations Barber and Humphrey which, assisted by contributions from R. I. Foundation and the Catholic Church brought both efforts to a successful conclusion.

It seems that in October 1971 a Snooker Match was played against Round Table and a Business Meeting minute very diplomatically records that the Official Team won by three frames to two - without stating which side had the 'Official Team'!

In March 1972 efforts were being made to establish a 'Town Twinning' between Wymondham and Clamecy and, after an initial meeting, four members of the Club were invited to join four Wymondham Urban District Councillors in the formation of an 'Ad Hoc Advisory Steering Committee'. Other local activities included finding and installing a piano in Ketts Lodge and donating a wheel chair for use in Ogden Close.

1972/73
1972/73provided a 'first' for Wymondham when Rotation Father Dennis Brophy assumed the President's office for this was the first year in which a Roman Catholic Priest had held the office of Club President in R.I.B.I. In October five Rotations and their wives from Clamecy were hosted and it was at a Saturday morning meeting with the 'Ad Hoc Advisory Steering Committee' that Dr Tuot opened the proceedings with the killing statement that a Communist Mayor had just been elected who had no interest in 'Town Twinning'.

Collapse of A.H.A.S.C.!

An informal evening was held to entertain Rotations from Watton and Diss, together with members of Wymondham Lions, Round Table, Inner Wheel and Ladies Circle; a sawbench was provided for Langley House. Bill Howman heard of a family in dire need and the Club provided funds to pay an electricity bill so that a water heater could be operated; and two weekly periodicals were allocated to the Senior Citizens' Club at Standley Court.

In June 1973 the Group Study Exchange Team from District 250 South Australia was hosted in Norwich whilst the Wymondham Club provided a District Team Leader who organised their Activities for a week among the Clubs around Norwich. This appears to be our only District appointment and the Organising Committee meetings held at Watneys Brewery provided a well oiled schedule which went smoothly.

1973/74
Much of John Dunsire's year 1973/74 was taken up in discussion of accommodation to house the growing number of members in the Club and a decision was finally taken to move the weekly luncheon meeting to the Green Dragon. The contract with Clamecy was strengthened when eight Rotations and their wives visited France in the autumn of 1973 and it was later reported that sixty pupils of the Girls Secondary Modem School were now corresponding with pupils in Clamecy. In December a letter was sent to Rotation Colas of Clamecy congratulating him on the achievement of his son Alain who had just sailed 14,000 miles single-handed to Sydney, Australia. It is sad to recall that Alain was later lost at sea during the Observer Single Handed Transatlantic Race. Rotarian Colas is the craftsman who made the pottery plate and jug presented to us. This year the Club got to the third round of the Inter District Quiz when they lost to North Walsham.

1974/75
When Bill Howman took over the Presidency in July 1974 the Club had reached its highest membership of 40. Bill was also Hon. President of Round Table and naturally favoured contact with other clubs, to which end he accompanied the Lions to Germany in the hope of twinning with the town of Bad-Orb.

The Club joined the 'Emergency Box' scheme through which our boxes have been sent to assist in disaster areas around the world, and a drive to organise a 'War on Waste' project by Philip Richardson was supported by 16 other organisations. A trailer was purchased for the Scouts at a cost of £120 and a further successful Art Exhibition held.

1975/76
The Presidency of Bernard Stutely 1975/76 provided several changes of programme. Visits to Wicklewood Hospital ceased when the hostpital closed and we gave up the Tombola at the Cheshire Home Fete as it had been difficult for several years to obtain suitable prizes. Since then we have concentrated on manning the gate with the fastest money collecting service in the business.

The Foundation Committee surmounted many obstacles to obtain a Foundation Fellowship for Stephen Webster at Yale University and were greatly disappointed when, at the last minute, he decided not to take up the award, having obtained another scholarship of greater value.

The idea of forming a Probus Club was mooted in October 1975 and 35 people attended the inaugural meeting in March 1976, since when the Club has gone from strength to strength and now has a waiting list. Another first was assistance with the Carol Concert held in December in the Market Place which, it is estimated, was attended by some 2000 people.

The Club also joined with Round Table and the Lady Lions to provide an 'Ambulift' for Ketts Lodge and donated £50 towards the Abbey Church Bus.

1976/77
Dick Owers became President for 1976/77 with the avowed intention of concentrating on home affairs. Under his direction money was provided to erect a greenhouse at Burlingham House, a home for the mentally handicapped. His Community Service Chairman, Brian Seager, made the first contacts with the Gateway Club in Attleborough, to whom financial assistance was given and, following the inability of the normal caterers to provide the Christmas Lunches for the old and needy, a small party of volunteers suitably attired in white hats and aprons performed the culinary duties in magnificent style, much to the delight of the local press.

Two tents and fly sheets were bought for the childrens' home in Pople Street to assist with holidays, and at the Council Meeting of 26 July 1976 it was decided that an Antique Fair would be a money making attraction - how right they were!

In the Spring of 1977 the Club visited Clamecy again and were somewhat surprised to find that Rotations and wives from the Clamecy contact Club of Izegem, Belgium were also present. From this first meeting our friendship with the Izegem Rotations developed into the official contact that we have today.

Sadly, a Council minute of 25 October 1976 records that the Secretary be requested to advise the District Editor of the death of Dr Philip Rhoades Buckton.

1977/78
Under President Tom Turner 1977/78 a long mooted proposition came to fruition when District gave approval to the incorporation of Attleborough in our territory. One of along line of parties was held in the basement of the home of Bernard and Mrs Gledhill to further Club Fellowship and it was gratifying to receive a letter of thanks from the Rotary Club of Bah-raich, India describing the Eye Camp to which our contribution had been allocated. During the years we have given monetary support to Joe Homan 's Boys Town and at the A. G.M. in May a letter from him acknowledging our latest subscription gave a vivid account of the damage sustained during the recent typhoon.

1978/79
The final presidency of the 21 years fell to Brian Davies and was, as usual, a busy year. Fund raising through the Art Exhibition and two Antique Fairs, Christmas lunches cooked and distributed by members, gifts to St Edmunds Home, Kelts Lodge, Morley Hall and others, carols at Christmas, running the gate for the Cheshire Home Fete, transport for the Gateway Club, and for the Physically Handicapped, and arranging for a family to take a holiday in the caravan at Southwold.

In the autumn of 1978 John Barber hosted the daughter of a Clamecy Rotation and John Cooke the daughter of an Izegem Rotation, whilst Bernard Gledhill stayed with Rotation Vosseler of the Villingen Club, and with his daughter Gaby who was our first youth exchange (now a married lady with family). In the spring of 1979 a very successful triumvirate meeting was held in Wymondham when we hosted Rotations and wives from the two contact clubs of Clamecy and Izegem.

£100 was donated to help establish the Girls Venture Corps and, after years of striving, Dudley Bowles had the pleasure of seeing his 'B' Team win the District 108 Bowls Cup.
These then are the outstanding and innovating events of the past 21 years. They delineate only a skeleton of the Club's affairs and must be filled out by repetitions and additions to paint the full picture. One cannot mention all the monetary donations to various Charities and disasters National and International, or to the small friendly garden parties and cheese-and-wine gatherings which raised the monies in earlier days. Nor can one describe the visits such as that to the Norwich Library and Lakenheath USAF Base, the intellectual discussions at Ashwell-thorpe Hall, lunch time meetings and Committee meetings. All ingredients of the picture held together by that intangible which cannot be recorded, the fellowship of Rotary found in the Club.

And this, perhaps, points the one spot on which the ship has foundered. At the A.G.M. of may 1963 President Harry Wame reported that 'attendance at Club meetings, District Council meetings, Annual Conference at Brighton and meetings of other Clubs had been good'. At the Council meeting November 1978 a letter was read from Geoffrey Pike, Past President of R.I.B.I. pointing out that the Club had not been represented at a National Conference for many years. If fellowship in the Club is the garden in which we walk, fellowship at District is the valley in which we sometimes stroll, but fellowship in R.I.B.I. is a mountain top we scale too seldom to complete the wider view. (I can only presume that fellowship in R.I. is the satellite from which one obtains the ultimate view which only the chosen few enjoy!)

And the future ! Even as I write President George March, with banner unfurled, appears to be leading a contingent to the happy valley of Blackpool, determined that the voice of Wymondham shall be heard in the great discussion there - the admission of women!

The next twenty-one years will certainly do different!