1969

The Rotary Club of Swaffham was formed in 1969.

The club started with 21 members, with Rtn. Peter Dobbs being the only remaining 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.

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 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.

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.

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.