Abergele Club History

Our club was formed in 1972 with the assistance of our Mother Club the Rotary Club of Rhyl.

The club first met at the Bee Hotel in the centre of Abergele and continue to meet their for the next 10 years.

In 1982 club meetings then moved to our current venue

The Kinmel Manor Hotel on St George Road

this Hotel had been transformed from an estate managers house into a first class friendly hotel whilst retaining much of its history and association with The Kinmel Estate.

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Welcome2

Rotary started as the inspiration of one man,

Paul P. Harris.

On 23 February 1905, the young lawyer met with three business associates a merchant, a coal dealer, and a mining engineer.

in a small office in downtown Chicago.

The group chatted about the weather, their relatives back home, and about starting a “booster club.”

This unassuming group of friends would eventually lay the groundwork for the world’s first service organiation.

Paul Harris is an example of how one person can change the course of history. His pioneering vision gave rise to the concept of volunteerism at a time when there was little concern for the “common man.”

As Rotary grew, its focus shifted to service and civic obligations. Early service projects included building public "comfort stations" near Chicago's City Hall and delivering food to needy families.

Soon after the club name was agreed upon, one of the new members suggested a wagon wheel design as the club emblem.

It was the precursor of the familiar cogwheel emblem now worn by Rotarians around the world.

1906 1910 1913 1926

Rotary crossed the Atlantic and spread like wildfire to Ireland, Great Britain, Continental Europe, and the Middle East.

Six years after Paul Harris formed the first Rotary club

Rotary admitted the Rotary Club of Dublin, Ireland, followed in 1912 by clubs in Belfast, London and Manchester, England.

Harry Lauder one of the world's most popular entertainers through the first half of the century,was one among many Europeans who embraced Rotary in those early days. Lauder joined the Rotary Club of Glasgow in 1914. A year later he wrote:

"Rotary is going to be the greatest and grandest cooperative institution ever founded."

By 1921 the organisation was represented on every continent,and the name Rotary International was adopted in 1922

PAST PRESIDENTS

1972 Ivor Hnghes(Dec'd)

1973 W Glyn Parry (Dec'd)

1974 Emrys Morris (Dec'd)

1975 Ted Roberts (Dec'd)

1976 Roy Jones

1977 lan Battersby

1978 Jan Schikan (Dec'd)

1979 Don Mattison (Dec'd)

1980 Howell Roberts (Dec'd)

1981 Peter Jones (Dec'd)

1982 Edward Lyons

1983 Ben Francis (Dec'd)

1984 John Morris

1985 Ron Jones

1986 TudorJones

1987 BobWalford

1988 MikeKirkham

1989 D.Prys Jones

1990 RonWade

199I David G. Roberts

1992 D.Gwyn Jones

1993 John McKinlay

1994 Gerry Vose

1995 Roy Denham

1996 John Lowe

1997 Ken Pierce Williams

1998 Len Gregson

1999 John Parker

2000 Gordon Taylor

2001 Norman Jones

2002 John Newcombe

2003 Steve Cooper

2004 Clive Thomas

2005 Mike Mason

2006 Phil Cato

2007 Kevin Brown

2008 Peter Hughes


This document maintained by: Rtn.Chris O’Brien       Material Copyright © 2005 Abergele Rotary Club      Material Copyright © 2010 Abergele Rotary Club

Welcome2

2009 Dr David Gozzard
2010  Richard Arrowsmith