SIDCUP ROTARY CLUB

 

District 1120   RI Club No 19449

Founded 1935

75th Anniversary Dinner

The Rotary Club of Sidcup celebrated its 75th anniversary this year with a dinner at Bromley Court Hotel on Friday 26 November.  Guests included the District Governor of Rotary District 1120, John Dunkley, the District Governor Elect, Lynn Mitchell, the President of the Rotary Club of Chislehurst, Roger May and representatives from our contact clubs the Rotary Clubs of Delft in the Netherlands and Kungsbacka, Sweden.

 

The main speaker, Lt General Sir Michael Willcocks KCB CVO, was Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod for eight years up to 2009.  In a very entertaining talk he explained that his duties entailed more than just knocking on the House of Commons door at Openings of Parliament.  He was responsible for the ceremonial of two General Elections, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, a number of visits by Heads of State and many other major events at Westminster Hall such as the Queen Mother’s Lying in State and the National Holocaust Day ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Barker, the President of the Rotary Club of Sidcup then traced the club’s history from its beginnings in 1935.  It survived the dark days of World War II and went from strength to strength founding a number of local institutions, among them the local Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of Queen Mary Hospital.

 

In 1985 its own Educational Trust – known as RoSET- was formed.  For the past twenty-five years this has helped to finance the extramural educational aspirations of young people in the Sidcup area.  This year the Trust will benefit from additional fundraising which will help it to be even more effective in the future.

 

Sidcup has also encouraged lifesaving innovation.  Lifestraw is a portable water purification device.  It is simple and effective.  After a disaster water can be contaminated.  Drink it through a Lifestraw and it won’t kill you.  In 2006 the then Sidcup President, Chris Clayton saw the potential of this and raised awareness of it within the wider Rotary world.  Lifestraws are now included in Shelterboxes which are sent to disaster areas and save lives worldwide.  

The money to finance all this comes from events such as an annual Golf Day, a recent Battle of Britain Concert and the Christmas Collection with Santa and his elves and reindeer travelling the streets in their sleigh.  There are also collections for other charities such as MacMillan Cancer Support and the British Legion on Poppy Day.

 

The Rotary Club of Sidcup looks forward with confidence to celebrating its centenary in 2035.

 

 

 

 

LtoR District Governer John Dunkley & Sue, Annette Barker and President David Barker

LtoR Annette Barker, Lt Gen Sir Michael Willcocks, President David Barker, Penny Beales

President of Delft Rotary Club Paul  Boot & Tanny