OF SEVENOAKS
'The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands'
'Service before Self'
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Sevenoaks
President - Rex Johnson
President Elect - Bashir Khanbhai
Vice President - Birgitt Horn
Secretary - John Carrie
Treasurer - Barrie Williams
Assistant Secretary - Brian Stevenson
President's Charities - Kent Air Ambulance, Paula Carr Diabetes Trust
Forthcoming events
| 10Km Knole Park Run (Sunday 13th March 2011) | We look forward to seeing you at next year's run. |
Rotary in Sevenoaks
Mr. Fred Woodhams, a local builder in Sevenoaks, recognised the need for a Rotary Club which caring residents of Sevenoaks could join to create and foster acquaintance and fellowship to offer service and charity to those in need. Fred invited a group of twenty seven local businessmen and professionals, including Barty Foskett(Solicitor), A.H.Trinder (Head Postmaster) and George Bradbury (Clerk to Sevenoaks Urban District Council), to a meeting at the Blighs Hotel in 1932 and they founded the Rotary Club of Sevenoaks. Barty Foskett, a senior partner at Knocker & Foskett, was elected its first President.
In those days, men in pinstripe suits and bowler hats exchanged views over lunch at the Bligh's Hotel, invited speakers to address them and deliberated on what service they could offer the community in Sevenoaks and beyond.
Membership was by invitation only and based on one member representing every profession or business category. Attendance was monitored to ensure active participation and members were expected to make acquaintance and uphold high ethical standards in their business and profession so that they could offer genuine service. It was an opportunity for men of honour, integrity and expertise to put service before self and make a contribution to the community. It is not surprising that hardly anyone declined an invitation to join Rotary.
Today, membership of our Rotary in Sevenoaks offers men and women an opportunity to meet businessmen and professionals to exchange views, information and offer expertise. It facilitates fellowship through acquaintance and allows a Rotarian to attend any club meeting of any Rotary Club worldwide.
Rotary International recognised the value of contribution made by wives and spouses of Rotary members, especially in supporting club and community services. Consequently, membership was offered to women and so many have joined worldwide. Birgitt Horn, our first women member, has made a significant contribution and we look forward to welcoming our first woman District Governor (District 1120) in the year commencing July 2010.
The Rotary Club of Sevenoaks meets for lunch at 12.30pm every Friday (except 5th Friday in the month) at the Royal Oak Hotel, Upper High Street, Sevenoaks (opposite the main entrance of the Sevenoaks School). We organise numerous social events in the evening where members attend with spouses and friends. All members are free to attend club meetings and conferences of Rotary in the UK and overseas.
Visiting Rotary members
Rotary members wishing to visit the club are requested to send an email not later than noon on the day before their visit to Duncan Stainer and John Carrie advising their intention to attend so that the appropriate number of meals can be requested at the hotel.
Rotary website links
Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland Website
We meet at the Royal Oak Hotel every Friday at 12:30 for 1:00pm.
Visiting Rotarians are welcome to join us.
