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.
*****
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