1969

The Rotary Club of Swaffham was formed in 1969.

The club started with 21 members, with Rtn. Peter Dobbs being the only remaining active founder member. Mike Pilkington, our honorary member for the past few years, was also a founder member.

The first President was Rtn. Ken Reeve who was the Manager at the National Westminster Bank in Swaffham, and he is now a member of the Rotary Club of Lowestoft.

At the inaugural meeting on the 9th June 1969, there were 19 Rotary members and 112 guests present from twenty Rotary clubs, coming from as far away as Brentwood and Burnham-on-Crouch. The Chairman of Swaffham Round Table and two members of the press were the only non-Rotarians present.

Founder Members

1970

The first Charter Night was held on the 19th November 1970 in the Assembly Rooms in Swaffham. It took the form of a Dinner Dance, with a total of 120 Rotarians and guests in attendance (as noted from the visitor's book). The menu for the evening included:

• Cream of Tomato Soup
• Salmon Mayonnaise
• Roast Norfolk Turkey with all the trimmings
• Fresh Fruit Salad
• Cheese & Biscuits
• Coffee

The first additional member of the club was Rtn. Dermot Impson, and his name was added to the first club card for 1970/71.

1972

In 1968 Round Table revived the Swaffham Carnival which had lapsed some years earlier. In 1972 Swaffham Rotary joined Round Table in the organisation of this event and continued to do so for a number of years.

1975

Jean Claude Triboulet was the first visitor from the Rue Club on the 4th August 1975. He arrived with family members following interest we had shown in twinning with them. Later that year, five members of this club visited Rue on a two day visit to make further contact.

1976

Twinning resulted and the first visit by the Rue club to Swaffham was on the 29th March 1976. Since that time visits have alternated, the only year that was missed was when travel between our two countries was restricted due to foot and mouth disease in Britain.

Rtn. Dick Emmett and his committee formed the PROBUS Club in 1976. This continues to flourish.

1980

1980 saw the formation of the Swaffham Rotaract Club.

1981

The presentation meeting was held on the 14th January 1981. Neville Robinson's son Tim Robinson was the first President, and there were 18 members. The club closed in 1991.

For the record, and to compare with today's prices, on the 13th September 1981 the Club Charter Night Dinner was a five course meal as follows:

• Egg Mayonnaise
• Soup & Rolls
• Roast Beef, Creamed Potatoes, Carrots & Peas
• Fresh Fruit Salad
• Cheese & Biscuits
• Coffee

The cost agreed with the caterer Mr Milne was £1.30 per head. Tickets were sold at £2.00 per head.

Although there is no formal record, it is believed that the dinner was held in the Assembly Rooms, and that 160 tickets were sold.

1992/1993

In 1992 four member families hosted Chika a student from Japan for a year, and in return the grand daughter of a member, Norman Phillips, spent a year in Japan living with Chika's family.

1996

1996 and this time Pollyana from Brazil was hosted for a year. Both girls went to school in Swaffham, and were able to speak good English at the end of their year.

1997

Mike Cornwell led the GSE team to Africa in 1997. The visit prompted him to raise money on his return to help the people he had met. About £12,000 was raised and with a matching grant the total came to £24,000. As a result of this and other efforts, Mike was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship.

2003/2004

Malcolm Whittley was District Governor for the year 2003/2004, and a very successful conference organised by club members was held in Norwich.

2004

The Club agreed to form a separate company (Swaffham Rotary Bears Ltd.) to produce, manage and market the Swaffham Centennial Steiff Bear. The project operated for 3 years and funds raised were paid into the Rotary Club of Swaffham Charity Account.

First edition of the Club Newsletter "The Pedlars Post" was published and distributed to all members, Honorary members and past members where possible in August 2004. The first editor was Rtn. Denis Bishop and others involved in the next few years included, Alan Henry, Keith Robinson, plus Denis Bishop and Alan Henry AGAIN!

2005

It is 100 years since Rotary was founded by Paul Harris in Chicago, on the 23rd February 1905, and to celebrate, Swaffham Rotary Club held a civic reception at the Ecotech Centre in Swaffham. More than 130 invited guests attended, representing some forty local organisations who were provided with tables to advertise their work and display their literature.

2005 saw the first lady member join the Swaffham Club. Dorothy Pulsford-Harris joined in November 2005 and was quickly followed by four further lady members. The Club continues to welcome female members into the club.

The Club also launched its website this year which has been very successful in promoting the Club activities and the service to the community. Many thanks the Ellen Vardy for developing and updating the website on the club's behalf.

2006

Membership in 2006 stands at 29 plus 4 honorary members. Over the years, 72 other individuals have been members, and of these 24 are now deceased.

The Honorary Members this year included Baroness Gillian Shephard, who along with husband Tom, continues to be a great supporter of the Swaffham Club and of Rotary in general.

2007

Working with the Worcester Rotary Club of South Africa, a Matching Grant for Cataract operations with £1028.00 being provided by the Clubs Foundation Committee.

Two RYLA candidates were sponsored by the Club.

The Clubs offer to host the incoming GSE Team from Australia was accepted, and the Team later arrived in Swaffham in May 2008.

2008-9

In March 2008, Rtn. Claire Dunne and husband Liam were part of an international Rotary team to visit India and work on the construction of a school IT facility and also take part in the Polio Plus vaccination project.

Rtn. Denis Bishop was given the opportunity to work with District 1080 as an Assistant Governor for the West of the district.

PDG Malcolm Whittley continues to be heavily involved with the RIBI Environment Group and is also represented on District Com/Voc, Leadership and Training committee and the Charitable Trust. Dorothy Pulsford-Harris is a member of the District Youth Opportunities Committee.