Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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Ryde Rotary Club

Nicholson Chemist 1935

THE EARLY YEARS OF ROTARY IN RYDE

It has been stated in various sources that Rotarians were generally invited to join the movement in the first instance, and were people from a business or leadership background.  Ryde Rotary began in 1925 and reached its centenary in 2025. These few items were gleaned mostly from snippets and obituaries in the local  newspapers, and show the benevolence,  and general assistance toward the less fortunate of the Ryde area. Several people mentioned were Founder members.

23 May 1925
Rotarians – About 30 members attended at Wednesday’s luncheon of the Ryde Rotary Club, Ald. Andrews, J.P., presiding.  Major Whitmore spoke about Rotary and Education, and the next generation of Rotarians, They wanted to get hold of the children and infuse the Rotary spirit into them as early as possible.

3 October 1963
Silver Chords Club – At the weekly meeting on Tuesday members were welcomed to a musical hour and tea was served by Mrs. Knapp. The Rotary Club sent tickets for all members to attend a concert given by the Little Canada Minstrels.

9 January 1971
Generous Townspeople – Mr. J. Conway Hughes (president) of the Rotary Club, writes expressing appreciation to the numerous people in Ryde who responded so generously to the Rotary Christmas parcels scheme.  He adds “Through the funds and gifts made available we were able to distribute 150 parcels to some of the less fortunate members of the community.”

7 December 1974
Christmas Parcels – The Rotary Club of Ryde have a scheme where they plan to provide parcels for the needy and elderly of our town at Christmas. Members of the shopping public are being invited to join the scheme by purchasing items suitable for inclusion in the parcels and to donate them by leaving them in the receptacles provided at the shops.  The Rotary Club will collect and deliver in time for Christmas.

5 July 1975
Rotary Service Award – The Ryde Rotary Club Vocational Award—a cheque for £20—was presented at a function at the Prince Consort, Ryde, to a porter at the Royal IW County Hospital, Ryde, Mr. William Allan, of 20 Millward Road, Ryde.  This was the third year the award has been presented to a member of staff at the hospital.  Previously it had been given to student nurses, but this was changed to staff after the nurses’ training college moved to Newport.

13 December 1975
Local Charities Suffer – Ryde Rotary Club are considering whether to move their fund-raising wishing-well to a new site, after thefts during the summer reduced takings by an estimated £60.  It was possible that a second well would be provided on a site near the Hotel Victoria, and the original one left near the Esplanade Pavilion, Ryde.  Mr. W. H. Styan, vice-president, hoped that the well near the Hotel Victoria would be easier to supervise and the stealing would stop.  The wishing well continued at the site outside Ryde Pavilion until such time as things started to change and it eventually became the bowling alley (Ryde Super Bowl).

10 January 1976
Old People Entertained – About 90 elderly townspeople were the guests of the Rotary Club of Ryde for tea and entertainment at the Prince Consort on Tuesday.  Entertainers were Barry Rutherford, magician, and Vera and Hal Chambers, songs with piano accompaniment. Each guest received a pot plant.  Coach and car transport was provided by Rotarians.

A small example of earlier members from obituaries:
Mr. William Dore, an original member. d.1932.
Mr. Charles de Launay, member. d.1932.
Mr. Frederick Palmerston Mellish., member. d.1934.
Mr. William Percy Fairclough Thirkell, founder member & past President. d.1935.
Mr. George Nicholson, a founding member. d.1944.
Mr. Edward Charles Goble, one of the  earliest members & past President. d.1952.

Note:
In the early 1990’s the person who set up Waltzing Waters at Westridge, approached the Club to see if they would like to install a wishing-well within the complex, where all proceeds would go to Water Aid.  A member of the Club subsequently built the wishing-well which stayed in place until Waltzing Waters finally closed down.  During the time this Rotary Well operated, some £250000 was raised for Water Aid, and was the largest contributor in the country.  Ryde Rotary now (2026) no longer exists and there has been an amalgamation of three clubs to form Rotary on the Wight.  They have a wishing well sited at Arreton Barns.

Sources: IW Times, RSHG & Wikipedia
Image: Nicholson, a Founder Member, Ryde & Seaview Guide 1935,  Ann Barrett
Article: Ann Barrett