THE Rotary Club of Bradford was founded in 1922 so this year we have been celebrating our centenary.
Bradford in 1922 was a very different place from the city we see now. The first war brought mixed blessings, the textile trade was busy making cloth for uniforms for the armed forces, both British and Allied, and this boom lasted well into 1921. Bradford was the world centre of the wool trade; every Monday and Thursday the Wool Exchange was crowded with businessmen, many from abroad. Esholt sewage works was developed to cater for the growing population and industry.
In 1920 the Jowett Car Company moved to a new factory in Idle, their Jowett ‘Seven’ model was a great success and brought the company’s products to national attention. The cenotaph was erected at the bottom of Morley Street. The Diocese of Bradford was formed at this time and the Parish Church became a Cathedral.
In 1920 Sir James Roberts gifted Saltaire Park to the City Council for the benefit of the community on the understanding that it was named Roberts Park in honour of his son, Bertram. In 1919 the first transatlantic flight by British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Brown flew from Newfoundland in a modified Vickers Vimy bomber to Connemara, Ireland.
The Rotary idea started in Chicago, USA, by a lawyer, Paul Harris, who missed the community friendship he experienced growing up in a small town in Vermont. Chicago in 1905 was a growing city with people everywhere but never a familiar face. He visualised a club of business and professional men based on trust, fair dealing, friendship and tolerance of other cultures. The idea spread rapidly across the USA and came to the British Isles in 1911. The name derives from the early practice of ‘rotating’ meetings around members’ offices.
In 1989 the council of legislation agreed that women should be admitted on the same basis as men. Before this date Inner Wheel clubs were founded by women with the same ideals of service. New Rotary clubs are formed by sponsorship from an existing club; Bradford Rotary Club has a long list of daughter and grand-daughter clubs. Rotaract clubs for 18-30 year-olds and Interact clubs for school students are newer developments.
The object of Rotary is to develop acquaintances to encourage the ideal of service to the community; the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service. This is summed up in to our long standing motto ‘Service above Self’.
The first full meeting of Bradford Rotary Club took place on April 21, 1922 at the Royal Hotel on Darley Street. Later this was a ladies fashion shop, Marshall and Snelgrove. The secretary arranged a meal of main course, sweet or cheese and coffee for 2s 6d. The Charter of the club from Rotary International headquarters is dated July 1, 1922.
Early examples of community service are holiday provision for needy mothers selected by Bradford Council, the Big Brother scheme for boys whose fathers were killed in the war, and furnishing a library at the BRI. The second war curtailed activities but donations were provided to many organisations set up to help alleviate problems created by the war. A donation of $100 came from the Rotary Club of Bradford, Pennsylvania supplemented by our funds to give to the ship’s company on HMS Bradford, one of the destroyers sent from USA to the Royal Navy. After the war help was given to the Help Holland scheme, to provide aid to the Dutch people.
Paul Harris died in 1947, donations in his memory reached $1,775,000, put into a fund, The Rotary Foundation, promoting international understanding. Rotary clubs worldwide were asked to raise funds to a level where the interest would pay for administration, enabling 100per cent of future donations to achieve the aims of the Foundation. A huge variety of events were held over the years supporting charities and projects. We have committees for Community service and International service. An ever growing range of charities have benefitted from our efforts. Each year the new President chooses a principal charity to support. This year it’s HealthCare4AllInternational, providing medical and nursing care to remote rural communities abroad. In 1980, the 75th anniversary of the first meeting, the 3H project, Health, Hunger and Humanity project, was launched by Rotary International. Clubs throughout the world are divided into geographical districts, each has an annual Conference to interchange ideas and develop friendships.
The most significant cause launched by the Rotary Foundation in recent years has been the ‘Polio-Plus’ scheme to rid the world of Polio. In 1979 Rotary organised a vaccination campaign in the Philippines. It was a great success; the World Health Organisation added their resources to the ideal. The aims are about 99per cent complete.
Rotary Foundation funds courses in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at six universities worldwide, including Bradford University, held in high esteem by leaders and students.
As well as helping local charities, we respond to global disasters through Rotary International’s network of clubs and over 1.2 million members. We send ‘Disaster Boxes’ containing tents, blankets and survival equipment. Rotary is often among the first on the ground in an emergency.
To celebrate our centenary, a book has been published on the club’s history, and the Rotary wheel logo is planted in a flowerbed in Lister Park. Membership is open to all who share our ideals of ‘Service Above Self’. Visit rotary-ribi.org or attend one of our Friday lunchtime meetings at Shipley Golf Club to find out more about us.
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