ROTARY CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

On 23rd February 2005 Rotary celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first ever Rotary meeting. Our club celebrated, together with our daughter club, Biggleswade Ivel, at a dinner held at the John O'Gaunt Golf Club. The following photographs demonstrate the superb fellowship of the evening, and the text of the poem devised by our President, the pride within the club in achieving this significant landmark.

Click on pictures for larger images.

“TRADITION”

In ‘66, or thereabouts,

Our Club was formed, and there’s no doubt

Of this, because of members four

Who still remain, and we set store

By our upholding more and more -

Tradition.

We do great deeds, and serve the needs

Of those less fortunate than we

Who help the poor, and those who find

Life’s problems seem to always grind

Them down.

The Talking Newspaper gives news

Of local things, and others choose

To serve the town in other ways

Through Swimathon and Golfing Days.

And Abbeyfields was Rotary led.

Mock Interviews were also said

To be a bonus.

We play our part, our motto clear,

In sharing burdens without fear

Or favour, to restore the right

To Water, Hope and Homes or Sight.

To people right across the world

We show, with Rotary flags unfurled -

Tradition.

In years gone by we have looked wide.

With other clubs we shared our pride

In Rotary.

To Denmark went our first brave men,

And even Slippery Rock, but then,

One day some members flew to France

And there on landing met, by chance,

Some French Rotarians who said, ‘Come!

(With greeting warm and great aplomb).

‘Our Club’s about to meet and dine.

Now come with us and drink some wine.’

And so they went, their duty clear

To Uphold that principle so clear -

Tradition.

From time to time we looked around.

The opportunity was found

For Rotary in Sandy.

As ‘Mother’ we first formed the hub,

But it soon functioned as a club.

It sprang to life and thrived.

With Probus, too, we’re in the brew.

Some members here have much to do

With all its goings on.

From strength to strength they stretch full length

For thirty years and more.

Their President is here tonight

As are some founders sharp and bright.

We welcome them -

Tradition.

‘But is it all for this’, you say,

‘Such serious stuff!  Is there no play?’

Well might you ask, we do so much

And it could quickly come to such

A pass.

‘We have no time to look about.

We want some fun and frolics!’ shout

The members.

So off we go to do just that

With outings, dinners and some chat

And fellowship, it grows and grows

And adds to all the others, those -

Traditions.

But then we think we need more men

(and women) to expand again.

So off we go and we all meet

Some people whom we newly greet

And ask to join our Club.

But they all say, ‘We don’t get lunch.

We barely get the time to munch

A sandwich.

Our evening time is when we see

The time to meet when we are free.

So we will have to say, ‘We’ll see

For now.  We’re sure you will agree.’

But our Club has a cunning plan

A daughter club is nearer than

They think.

We sit and muse and work away.

With mighty District’s help we say,

‘You can be members full and free.

We’ll show the way, now just you see.’

So Ivel’s born.  A brave new morn

Will follow on as from the dawn -

Tradition.

Now at this point, you will agree,

It’s time to pause a bit and see

What happened next.

This lady wants to have a go

And speak to you.  Now wait a mo ......

So Ivel, young in years, yet true

To Rotary.  Tell us what you do

And how you fare, and who you are,

And how you follow the Rotary star ....

Rtn.Brian Hall – President 2004/05