Wymondham Rotary Club was founded in 1959 as part of the worldwide Rotary Service Club movement which allowed men, (in those days it was only men), from different professions to work together for the benefit of their communities. The idea was to create a mix of talents and a social atmosphere in which friendships could be forged whilst helping other people. Today, the original Wymondham Rotary Club has 24 members who work alongside the growing ‘Satellite’ Rotary club with its 12 members. The Satellite club, comprised mainly of members still in employment, meets fortnightly in the evening. The main club members continue to meet weekly for Monday lunch, with most of its members now retired from work.
During Covid restrictions it was not possible to meet in person for a long period, and most fundraising initiatives which involved people coming together had to be put on hold. By continuing to contribute the cost of weekly lunches, which were not taken, the main club was, nevertheless, able to contribute a substantial sum to charities, both local and international. From July 2018 to June 2022 more than £38,000 was given to charities as diverse as Chapel Green School, EACH, Greening Wymondham and the Ukrainian Disaster Appeal. The Norwich Food Bank received monthly contributions of £500 during 2021 and continues to be supported by the club with a January 2023 donation of £1,000. Having given the East Anglian Air Ambulance £1,000 in autumn 2022 a further £1,000 was given in January 2023 at a visit to the EAAA HQ at Norwich Airport. YANA (You Are Not Alone), a local charity providing mental health counselling services in rural areas, also received £1,000. In the next few weeks the Wymondham Men’s Shed will receive a donation of £500 toward its work in the community.
Support has also been given to Ukrainian families now living locally near Wymondham, and a contribution to the wider Rotary fund for use in Ukraine itself. Each year the club contributes £1,000 toward the Rotary International aim of eradicating Polio from the world. Every pound given is matched twice over by the Gates Foundation. The recent Burns night and Ceilidh at the Central Hall in Wymondham and shared with the Wymondham Lions funds our contribution to this worthwhile cause. When the Pakistan floods devastated much of that country before Christmas, the club contributed a ShelterBox for temporary housing of displaced people. It is also involved with a micro-loan scheme to assist poor people in developing countries to set up their own small businesses.
Between July 2018 and June 2021 the Satellite club contributed almost £25,000 to local charities, including Wymondham Dementia Group, Men’s Shed, Wymondham, Star Throwers and BREAK.
The Satellite club in 2023 has chosen to support Home Start as its main charity, and has been able to provide a number of computers, through its fundraising efforts which include quiz nights, participation in Wynterfest and the Wymondham Food and Drink Festival. This successful event, started in 2022, attracted a great many people into the town. The club plans to run it again on Sunday 25th June 2023. Satellite members also support the RYLA course (Rotary Youth Leadership Award), designed to build confidence and leadership skills in young people through an ‘outward bound’ adventure based at Rutland water.
Just two weeks after the Food and Drinks Festival the main club is arranging the annual Jazz Picnic on Becketswell Meadow (Saturday July 8th). Commercial sponsors are now being sought for this event (please apply to the secretary for details -see address below). Combining popular entertainment with an opportunity to add to our charitable funds this event was taken over by the club after the demise of the Wymondham Music Festival. In 2022 it raised over £2,000. Having purchased the heavy duty gazebos owned previously by Wymondham Town Council the club is now able to hire them to other selected groups for their own events with the proceeds of hire adding to our charitable funds.
When people work together for good causes it often happens that they become good friends. The social side of Rotary is a great bonus, valued by every member. And the national and international structure of the movement gives opportunities to make friendships across the world.
Prospective new members are always welcome, to both the main club or the Satellite group. Enquiries can be made in the first instance to the secretary, Philip Richardson, e-mail prichardson@downhammanor.co.uk. If there is sufficient interest the club will host a new members briefing evening in the spring of 2023 for prospective members and their partners.
