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CLUB HISTORY |  |
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Rotary Club of Luton North |
Formation of the Club
The Club was formed in 1969 and was the second Rotary Club to be formed in the Luton area. Three more Clubs have since been chartered in the Luton area - Luton Chiltern, Barton le Clay. and Luton Someries. Luton North was the first club in District 1260 to develop its own Web site.
Rotary has been represented in Luton since 1927 when the Luton Rotary Club was formed and by the late sixties, with their membership of 120 they decided it was time to form a second Club. Rotarians George Packe and Tony Bennett were appointed to take the initial steps and in May 1969 they approached local Solicitor Malcolm Hay to ascertain his interest. From that initial approach the Rotary Club of Luton North was formed. By September 1969 the required number of 33 members had been reached and the Inaugural Meeting took place at the Halfway House, Dunstable on 15 October 1969, before representatives from 27 Rotary Clubs. Banker Alan Payne was appointed President, Malcolm Hay Vice President, Ron Wright, Secretary. and Douglas (Dougie) Davies as treasurer Of the 33 Founder Members of the Club 14 are still active now.
Since Charter in 1970 members of Luton North Rotary Club have been active supporting the local community, District Projects and the Internationalism of Rotary.
Membership throughout has been around 45 and whilst there has been a tendency to lean towards the professions, membership has covered a wide range of Classifications incorporating most aspects of life in Luton
Commitment, enthusiasm and close adherence to Rotary aims and objectives has been a strength and in recent years emphasis has been towards supporting youth through Mock Interviews, Technology Tournament, Youth Speaks, Life Education, and the Luton School's Football Association Competition. Over the years the Club has also been a prime mover in helping Rotaract, Interact, Youth Exchange, and Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.
The Club was Chartered on 29 April 1970 again at the Halfway House, by the President of RIBI Rotarian Gordon Taylor and over 200 visiting Rotarians from 37 Clubs from District 109 attended.
Over the years the Club has supported District Committees and in 1985/6 our Club was transferred to a New District 1260 which was formed by splitting the old District 109 as it had become too large to administer. In 1987/8 Geoffrey Farr became our first District Governor and other have held important District Chairmanships, including Alan Payne (Rotaract) Paul Denton (Foundation), Alaistair Hay (Youth Exchange and Extension Officer)John Gilbert (Community Service) and Geoffrey Farr and Paul Denton have been Group Study Exchange Team Leaders.
Paul Harris Fellowships have been awarded to Chris Buckingham, Malcolm Hay,
Alan Payne, Paul Denton, Geoffrey Farr, George and Marjery Ekins, Keith White,
Ron Wright, Pat Waller, Peter Edwards, Leslie Robertson, Bob Shah. Fred Butt,
Michael Henman, Ray Nicholls,
Ron Silvester, Dennis Keech, John Childs, and Paul Davies
In the community support has been provided wherever we have seen a need and service has been the key. Disadvantaged children, disabled people and their families, the elderly, are just some of the groups which have received our help and through fundraising we have been able to provide funds for NSPCC, MENCAP, CORDA, ROTARY FOUNDATION, to name just a few. Major fundraising activities in recent times have included the annual Darts Marathon, a Charity Balloon Race, and a Charity Gala Premiere of a James Bond movie. Substantial funds were also raised in 2001-02 with the asistance of other Rotary Clubs for work in India following the disastrous Earthquake including the building of several replacement Villages including RotaryNagar.
Service comes through fellowship and over the years numerous outings, events, and sporting activities (e.g.darts, golf, cricket, bowls) have enhanced the close relationships which have developed through our weekly Club meetings. Meeting are generally lively, informative and interesting with a wide range of speakers provided by members on a rota basis.
Internationally we have link clubs in France (Metz) and Germany (Wolfsburg), and we have always supported the Rotary Foundation (Rotary's own Charity) especially through the Group Study Exchange Programme where we have provided two Team Leaders. A sponsored group of Doctors from the Ukraine have spent ten days in the Luton area studying western medical projects, and paintings have been exchanged between school children in Luton and New South Wales, Australia.
In the space of a few words it is not possible to assess comprehensively all the achievements of the Club over the years. However the above is a starter, and the spirit of Rotary has always been evident, as has our desire to work together for the benefit of the local community, and for people through the world whose needs are greater than ours.
As we look to the future, we are confident that the same spirit of enthusiasm will prevail, that the work will continue, and that further and more enterprising projects will be tackled which will uphold the traditions of the Club. If you want to learn more, then contact us.
