Rotary Club of Helston

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Helston Rotary Club: A Brief History 1957 to Sept 2007
1957	Just to set the scene: Sir Anthony Eden resigned and Harold MacMillan became Prime Minister. The Treaty of Rome was set up to get the Common Market started, the signatories were, Benelux, France, Italy and Germany. The Suez canal re-opened. UK’s first hydrogen bomb tested. Myxomatosis was rife. There was an Asian flu epidemic. The Soviets launched a satellite and put a dog into orbit. Jodrell Bank radio telescope was first used.
1957/58 Alan Reid	Alan Reid, Alan Thorne, Nelson Bond and Len Oliver together with Arthur Downing the District Extension Officer, held the first meeting to arrange the formation of the Interim Club in the Manager’s office of Lloyds Bank, Helston. Subsequently, Information Meetings were held each week at which 2 or 3 new members were introduced. This continued until the required number of members was established. Then on Thursday 25th July 1957, the Inaugural Luncheon Meeting of the Club took place at the Polurrian Hotel. Trelawney’s Cafe becomes the “Headquarters” of the Interim Club and continues to be so until 1975. Helston Rotary Club loses its "Interim" status and becomes a “real” Club with the Presentation of the Charter, on the 28th March 1958, at the Polurrian Hotel.
1958/59 Alan Thorne	Alan Thorne becomes President and is to become District Governor in 1971. On 23rd November ’58 Les Collins, with Bill Peek and N. Whitby are inducted. Noel Thomas is inducted on 11th June 1959.
1959/60 Len Oliver	The first fund-raising Barbeque takes place at RNAS Culdrose on Air day (and for about the next 14 years). A sum of Ł25 from funds is earmarked for Christmas Parcels for the needy. Les Cockram is inducted on 9th June 1960.
1960/61 Nelson Bond	Another Barbeque at RNAS Culdrose on Air day. A donation of 5 guineas to Guide dogs for the Blind was approved and a grant of Ł25 to the Mullion Landslide Disaster Fund.
1961/62 Russell Knights	Founder Member, Arthur Lee, is elected Mayor of Helston. Garden Party is held to welcome two foreign students to Helston and their Rotary hosts. Francis Hoskin was placed on the membership waiting list in September 1961.
1962/63 Gordon Kneebone	The Air Day Barbeque raises Ł290-11-9d. Ł100 goes to Culdrose charities and the rest to Rotary charities. An Arts and Crafts Exhibition is held in Porthleven. The AGM fixes the subscription at 5 guineas and the joining fee at 4 guineas. Gordon Dunnell and Peter London were welcomed to membership in June 1963.
1963/64 Laurie Francis	Laurie’s generosity in making the Polurrian Hotel available, and overseeing Rotary events there, is a great asset to the Club and will be appreciated for years to come. A Cornish Crafts Exhibition is held in Porthleven.
1964/65 Gerry Goodere	Gerry’s good humour and delight in practical jokes is a feature of the fellowship of the Club. It is agreed to give 1 hundredweight of coal to the “old and needy”, this Christmas, in place of the usual food parcels.
1965/66 Pierce Gilbert	100 slides with a recorded commentary describing our area sent to a Rotary District in Australia. (Still in the archive) “Darby and Joan” Club founded. Subs are increased to 5 guineas and the joining fee to 2 guineas.
1966/67 Noel Thomas	First of three appeals for funds for “Guide Dogs for the Blind”. The final Ł1000 was presented to the Charity in 1982. There being no Bar License at Trelawney’s Cafe, where the Club met, a “Standing Order” for two bottles of beer for each Member, to be supplied each week, was placed with Charlie Hannaford of the Seven Stars Inn. The first “Careers Forum” was held at Gwealhellis School for pupils of Gwealhellis School, Penrose Rd. School and Helston Grammar School. These continued until about 1976. Arthur Brooks is inducted on 29th June.
1967/68 Russell Dale	A sum of Ł120 was raised for an Artificial Kidney Machine and a donation of Ł500 was given to the Young Disabled Unit at St Michael’s Hayle.
1968/69 Percy Roberts	A “Bring and Buy Sale” to provide assistance to raise half the cost of a “Day Room” at Meneage Hospital brings in Ł500.
1969/70 Cecil Hyde	The Annual Subscription is raised to Ł9. Discussion takes place on the “Abbeyfield Homes” Scheme.
1970/71 Les Cockram	Helston Rotarian, Alan Thorne, becomes District Governor. Two crates of books are sent to the “Ranfurly Library Service”.
1971/72 Don Gilbert	A “twinning” is established with the Rotary Club of Lannion in N. Brittany and this enduring association has proved to be one of the most successful of the Club’s activities, with annual, alternate visits, joint projects and, in the early years, holiday exchanges of the children of the members of both Clubs.
1972/73 Bill Peek	Council recommends that Ł75 be donated to the District Rotary Boys House appeal. Profit from the Air Day BBQ is Ł100.
1973/74 Leslie Collins	Helston Club cedes part of its area and the Rotary Club of Penryn is formed and celebrates its Charter. The Club donates Ł232.60 to the Rotary Boy’s House. It would seem that on Leslie’s President’s Night the singing waiters serenaded him with words by Ken Brown to the tune of “Little eyes we love you” Unfortunately we were unable to get the singing waiters back here tonight, but we do have a rough lot of pub groaners and a revised version of “Little Les we love you” dragged out of Ken. You are all invited to join in the chorus.
1974/75 Francis Hosking	The first of a number of Donkey Derbies, Barbeques and Barn Dances to be Held at Rinsey Farm. Air day BBQ and a Donkey Derby make Ł407.
1975/76 Phil James	The first of three “It’s a Knock-out” events to be held and the first Race Night (one of many, the last one in November 2000). “1920’s” Night at the Godolphin Club and the Helston premiere of “The General” at the Flora Cinema. Helston Rotaract Club is Formed and continues for several years. The Club moves to the Angel Hotel after the closure of Trelawney’s Restaurant. The “Beverly Sisters” (Russell Dale, Ian Wort, & Ken Ivison) strut their stuff at the Poldhu Hotel. Rotary’s Public Speaking Competition, which still continues as “Youth Speaks” is held at Helston School.
1976/77 Gordon Dunnell	The Rotary “Flashers” (Ken Ivison, Ian Wort, David Woods & Vince Grispo) expose themselves at the Penventon Hotel. Another Race Night at the Angel Hotel. A typewriter was purchased for Ł35 and given to the Helston Disabled Club. Fernleigh Kernow is sponsored for the GSE team.
1977/78 Arthur Brooks	Arthur’s first Presidency of the Club. He is President again in 1988/89 and becomes District Governor in 1991. The profit from “It’s a Knockout” is donated to the Meneage Day Care Centre.
1978/79 Meynell Pembleton	“The Mad Hatters” (Vince Grispo, Phillip James, Denis Brion & Eric Marks) entertain the Club at the Penventon Hotel. A “Fund Raising Committee” is formed and one of the first projects is to raise Ł1,000 for a Senior Citizen’s Room at the old Penrose Road School.
1979/80 Ken Brown	The first of several “Summer Fetes” is held at Pengersic. The first “Commando Course” is held and yearly thereafter until 1993. A “Senior Citizen’s Room” is furnished at the new Penrose Road Community Centre. Ken, as you know, is often at the forefront of all manner of leg-pulling ventures. I wonder if you’re all aware that his pastime is doing celebrity appearances for Fred Done, the owner of BetFred.
1980/81 Vince Grispo	Sheik Mohammed Ali Aba Al Khaial, alias Rotarian David Woods of Helston is solemnly received by Penryn Rotary Club, where the grace is pronounced in Arabic and no alcohol is consumed in honour of their distinguished guest. Brian Peters organizes the first of a series of conversational French classes and Roseland Rotary Club receives its’ Charter at the Idle Rocks Hotel. President and Second Vice attend the R.I.B.I. Conference in Blackpool, which had been the practice for several years and is to continue for another ten.
1981/82 Denis Brion	Our President receives Dame Edna Everage (alias Dr. Ken Whittle), the President and several members of the Penryn Club, dressed as Arabs. On this day, 1st April, the Club had already decided to participate in a “Hunger Lunch”, consisting of a bowl of soup and a bread roll. Ł1,000 goes to “Guide Dogs for the Blind” and Ł250 to the Penlee Lifeboat Appeal.
1982/83 David Woods	25 years of Helston Rotary Club is celebrated with an exhibition of memorabilia, staged by Len Oliver and Vince Grispo, at our Silver Jubilee Charter Night at the Polurrian Hotel. Ken Smith mounts a Foundation Rally at Trelowarren and our Inner Wheel Club celebrates Halloween in costume. Ł500, raised at the Commando Course, is sent to the St. Michael’s Young Disabled appeal.
1983/84 Vic Hendy	Vic is later to distinguish himself as extension Officer for the formation of Helston – Lizard Club, in 1987.
1984/85 Ken Ivison	The Presidents of the Lannion and Helston Clubs are entertained by “belly-dancers” at the Penventon Hotel. Arthur Brooks, accompanied by his wife Barbara, travel to Palowan, in the Philippines, sponsored by Rotary Foundation, where they set up a dental surgery in a camp for Vietnamese “Boat People”. Ł390 is donated to Curnow School.
1985/86 Peter Davis	Rotarian Ken Matthews, assisted by members of the Club holds the first of many successful barbeques in Porthleven. The Public Speaking Contest is now “Youth Speaks”. After sterling work by Extension Officer, Past President Vic Hendy, the Helston Lizard Club has its Inaugural Dinner on 27th January. The distribution of ages in the Club in November 1985: – 3 are below 40; 12 are between 45 and 50; 13 are between 50 and 60; 11 are between 60 and 70 and 2 are over 70. Ken Matthews embarks on a “sponsored slim” which eventually raises Ł99.
1986/87 Ron Scarrott	This year President’s Night took place at the Tregenna Castle. An “Old Time Music Hall” is held at the Godolphin Club (which raises Ł160) where the Cober Valley Morris Men (Helston members, trained by Jill Stillwell) make their debut. They are an immediate success and perform at several important functions during the year but are eventually disbanded after being mobbed by lady members of the Old Folks Club at the Welfare Hall in Penryn. Ł160 was forwarded to set up an “Eye Camp”; part of the proceeds of a Commando course, Ł873.61, was paid to the participating schools and Ł100 to the McMillan Nursing Service. Helston-Lizard Club holds its Inaugural, then its Charter Dinner at the Greenlawns Hotel.
1987/88 Mike Lemon	Helston – Lizard Charter Dinner takes place on 28th April at the Green Lawns Hotel. The “Polio Plus” committee, chaired by Vince Grispo, raise Ł5,000 over two years by organizing a number of charity events, including a Combined Dog Show and Gymkhana at the Flora Horse Show Ground and a Buffet with dancing to a steel band at RNAS Culdrose. For a couple of years, some members of the Club were looking at the possibility of finding our own Club Room. Having found suitable premises for lease in Meneage Street, Arthur Brooks initiated a ballot of members.
1988/89 Arthur Brooks	Eleven years after his First Presidency, Arthur Brooks is elected President for the second time. The majority of the Club decides, after a ballot, not to acquire our own leased Club House. Lannion and Helston Club make a combined visit to Southwest Ireland. The tour is a great success but is marred by atrocious weather in the Western Approaches during the outward and return voyages. The ship is delayed by more than 12 hours on its return to Swansea and Rotarians are interviewed by local television. The Polio Plus Ball raises over Ł1,000 and enables us to reach our target of Ł5,000.
1989/90 Roger Clotworthy	The Past Rotarians Club Of Helston Receives its Charter at the Nansloe Manor Hotel. After a Secret Ballot, the Club returns to the Angel Hotel after a brief sojourn at the Gwealdues Hotel whilst the Angel’s function room had been refurbished. Rotarian Arthur Brooks Leads a G.S.E. team to Chile. 400 saplings are planted in and around Helston, by members, supported by Kerrier Groundwork Trust, (the leader of which was later to become a Rotarian, Geoff Wolstencroft) The Commando Course nets Ł800 for the Benevolent Fund.
1990/91 Noel Stuart	Rotary work experience interviews commence at Helston School and continue for the next seven years as “Mock Interviews”. Roger Clotworthy and Vince Grispo man the “Death Slide” at this year’s Commando Course, which brings in a profit of Ł1300. A BBQ is held at Ken Matthews, in aid of St Julia’s Hospice, raising Ł310. Arthur Brooks receives a Paul Harris Fellowship. “Young Inventor of the Year” competition, sponsored locally by David Parker’s AP Valves Ltd is held at Helston School.
1991/92 Brian Sharrinton	Helston Rotarian Arthur Brooks becomes District Governor. A group from Lannion, accompanied by a group from Helston, visit Perigord. The Commando Course profits are Ł600, two Barn Dances raise Ł700, a dinner at Trelowarren Ł187 and a BBQ - Ł817. The “Should Appearance really matter”, sixth form team of a boy and two girls, who won the “Youth Speaks” heat at Helston School, just fail to win the Area final at Newquay even though the speaker stands on the table and undresses (to reveal “alternative” dress beneath). Striptease is subsequently banned from the competition! Noel Thomas receives a PH Fellowship.
1992/93 John Mills	A “Rotary Shindig” raises Ł1,200 and the Commando Course Ł900.
1993/94 Baden Christophers	“Mock Interviews” continue and the “Commando Course” raises Ł700 Ken Brown composes “Ode to Sir Baden”.
1994/95 Brian Peters	Ł1,000 from the “100” Club goes into the Benevolent Fund. PDG Arthur Brooks travels to Romania to treat a young inmate of an orphanage with a reported cleft palate. The Rotary Club of Penryn Celebrates is 21st Charter Anniversary. The last Commando Course raises Ł400. The series of Commando Courses is discontinued due to falling profits and increasing threat of litigation in the event of an accident. The first of a series of concerts, raising Ł350, Produced by the Coverack singers, with proceeds going to the Club’s funds, takes place at the Lambeage Hall.
1995/96 Ken Matthews	Another concert, “Transatlantic showcase” from the Coverack Singers, allows us to send Ł521 to St Julia’s Hospice and a “VE Day” dance raises Ł130. Our Twin Club, Lannion enjoyed an excursion to the Isles of Scilly during their biannual visit to Helston. We entertain a group of 9 European students at Goonhilly, the Sailing Club (for lunch) a trip on the water (courtesy David and Angela Parker) and then dinner, in the President’s marquee.
1996/97 Roger Deeming	A Grand Concert is held at Porthleven Methodist Church, the performers including the Holman-Climax Male Voice Choir, which allows us to make a donation to the “Arthritis Charity”. “Youth Speaks” and “Mock Interviews” continue at Helston School.
1997/98 Greg Adams	The “Skateboard Park” project is initiated by Past President Mike Lemon, who appeals to the Club for funds, and a first payment of proceeds from the “100 Club” is made. In order to purchase dental equipment for an impoverished hospital in Chile, the Club raises $1,500, which is matched by a grant from District. The local Rotary Club of Ancud raises $500 and the total of $3,500 is further matched by a grant from Rotary Foundation, providing the required $7,000. The Club’s 40th Charter Anniversary is held at the Polurrian Hotel, on 28th March 1998. Another Concert is held at Porthleven Methodist Church. Two “Sixties Nights” are held, one, as a concert, in Coverack and the other at the Godolphin Club. The Coverack Singers turn up trumps again, with Ł448 raised for “The Blind”.
1998/99 Peter Speck	The first “Young Performer of the Year” is held at Helston School. Rotarian Derek Real raises Ł600 in sponsorship and the event is a great success. The Coverack Singers once more devote an evening’s proceeds, Ł520, this time, from their ”Musical Millennium” to the “City Stroke Unit. The Club appoints a “Sergeant at Arms” and 1st Vice President John Trevaskis fills the post. Acting secretary, Peter Farrell, circulates members on the desire (or otherwise) to accept women as members. The Coverack singers put on “The Swinging Sixties”, and raise Ł389. A concert at Porthleven Methodist Church, organised by David Mitchell, raises Ł540.
1999/2000 John Trevaskis	The Coverack Singers and the Club hold a review “30 Years of Entertainment” at the Lambeage Hall, in aid of the Air Ambulance. An “Arts and Crafts Exhibition is held at Helston School and although not financially successful, enthuses the Club to work together once more. A second “Young Performer” is also held at the School. Another Concert is held at Porthleven Methodist Church and “Brass in the Park” proves popular and, although not too well attended by Club members, raises Ł650. A Carol Concert is held at Porthleven Methodist Chapel, raising Ł400 for The Friends of Helston Hospital. We agree to increase our yearly donation to Foundation from Ł10 to Ł15. We sponsor Belinda Giddings on a week’s (“Ryla”) leadership course at Kelly College.
2000/01 Alan Bradley	A second “Arts and Crafts Fayre” is held at Helston School and is a huge success, enabling Ł2,500 to be presented to the Sunrise Appeal. The Coverack Singers raise Ł388 for the Friends of Helston Community Hospital. A Carol Concert held at Helston Methodist Chapel is very well attended and raises Ł600 for Children’s Hospice South West.
2001/02 John Eddy	Arthur and Barbara Brooks again travel to Kenya to do 5 weeks of voluntary service at a dental clinic. Vince Grispo writes a calendar of Helston Rotary Club’s “events” for a “Time Capsule” as part of Helston’s 800th Anniversary. The “Young Performer of the Year Competition” is, once more a great success and xylophonist, Calie Hough wins the top prize. The Coverack Singers put on a “Variety Show” which raises Ł468 and an “Evening of Song and Verse” is put on at Helston Methodist Chapel. A buffet lunch is held at Henlis (kind permission of Ken Brown) to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. This year’s Arts and Crafts Fayre raises Ł2,200 for a portable defillibrator for the “Rapid response Team” and our Carol Concert proceeds of Ł760 go to C.L.I.C.
2002/03 Gary Howells	The Arts and Crafts raises Ł3,100 for the Merlin Project. The Carol Concert at the Lambeage Hall raises Ł860 for “Kids Out”. The Coverack Singers raise Ł400 for the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline, a “Potage and Pud” evening is held at the Gweek Village Hall to raise finance for two resuscitation manikins for a nursing school in Mongolia. Les Collins receives a Paul Harris award for services to Rotary.
2003/04 David Mitchell	Yet another successful “Youth Speaks” contest is held at Helston School. Following Barbara Brooks’ “Pie and Mash” evening, we are able to provide sufficient funds for two “Shelterboxes”. The Club, again under direction of Baden Christophers, presents its Community Carol Singing at the Methodist Church and raises almost Ł876 for our local children’s charities. The Coverack Singers go “Cruising” and raise Ł360 for the Merlin Project. “Jazz on the Grass”, at Lismore (kind permission of Michael Jay, music provided by the Armada Jazz Band) successfully raises funds for charities. Dr. Ian Wort officiates at Rotary International’s Stroke Awareness Programme, providing free blood pressure tests for a day. A “Spring Prom” at Porthleven Methodist Chapel raises Ł900 and is hailed as a great success. We discuss the possibility of raising a statue to Bob Fitzsimmons for Rotary’s Centenary Project. The Arts and Crafts Fayre proceeds of Ł2,660 go to the “Chestnut Appeal”.
2004/05 Geoff Wolstencroft	Resulting from the catastrophic “Tsunami” of late December in the Indian Ocean, Shelterbox is at full stretch and asks for help in packing boxes, which we provide. Having failed to pass-on the running of the Arts and Crafts to another organization, we decide to run it one more time, which raises Ł2,047 for Shelterbox. The Annual Carol Concert raises Ł1,083, which is added to the fund to modify a special wheelchair for a local child. “Mock Interviews” resume at Helston School. Ken Matthews discovers that schools in the “Tsunami” area are desperately short of paper and pencils and, in his own inimitable way, obtains a huge supply of these materials, which can be placed in each Shelterbox. “Stroke Awareness” takes place at the “Helston Motor Show. A “Sunday Concert” and another “Spring Prom” (Ł665) is held at Porthleven Methodist Chapel. We decide to contribute towards Helston Town Band room refurbishment and it becomes our Rotary Centenary project. Ł665 from the Spring Prom, made up to Ł1,000 from our Benevolent Fund plus a grant from the Downsland Trust is held for the benefit of this project. A barbeque is held at “Treslothan” (courtesy Baden Christophers) raising Ł800.
2005/06 Vince Curnow	Jerome Le (on work experience from Lannion) is found accommodation and a job at AP Valves by our International Committee. “Stroke Awareness” resumes at the Helston Motor Show. Gerry Goodere, one of our two surviving Founder Members, is presented with his Paul Harris Fellowship medal. Although Gerry is in poor health, he insists on rising from his bed to receive our President and his Medal. Sadly, Gerry passes away later in the year. Dorothy Noaks, well known in the district for her social work, and David Taylor, Deputy Head of Helston School, receive their Service awards for Professional Excellence. Our Community Carol Concert is held once more at the Methodist Chapel and raises Ł1,605, half of which is donated to the CLIC-Sargent fund and half to Children’s Hospice South West. The Young Performer of the Year Competition resumes after a gap of 3 years and is won resoundingly by flautist Claire-Louise Auguste. A second barbeque is held at Treslothan and a further Ł1,100 is raised for Helston Town Band’s trip to the National Championships in Harrogate. Yet another “Spring Prom” is held in the Methodist Chapel in Porthleven. The 90th birthday of our only surviving Founder Member, Len Oliver, is celebrated at a special dinner at the Angel on 19th January.
2006/07 Bryn Hackland	Claire-Louise Auguste is our soloist at our Community Carol Concert, which raises Ł1,321 and another “Spring Prom” raises Ł1,100 for our Benevolent Fund. One of the major beneficiaries is the Bone Cancer Research Trust. The “100 Club”, which has been a good source of income for many years, produces Ł1,670 over the last two years. This year’s District Conference takes place in Falmouth, with Ann Widdecome as guest speaker. The winners of the Public Speaking Competition at Helston School just miss out at the Area finals at Hayle. One of the features of the visit of our Twin Club, Lannion, is a rally at Shelterbox HQ, where Jean-Pierre Moulin hands over a cheque for Ł3,000. Helston Rotarian, Jack Broadbent, leaves us Ł1,000 for his “Legacy Dinner”, which is celebrated at the Angel, the balance going to our charities. A Golf Tournament at Mullion, organized by Baden Christophers, raises Ł1,270, which goes into the Helston Town Bandroom Refurbishment Fund. A BBQ, instigated by Arthur Brooks and organized by Ken Matthews, at his home in Porthleven, raises Ł605 for the orphans of Kilimambogo, whose plight Arthur became aware of on his working visits to Kenya.
2007/08 Mick Timpson	A barbeque is held at Treslothan (kind permission of Baden and Margaret Christophers) and Ł817 is added to the Helston Town Bandroom refurbishment project. In this year, Ken Matthews and Len Oliver pass away. Len, a Founder Member had completed almost 50 years of outstanding service to the Club and, in Ken, we lose a great character whose unstinting work for Curnow School earned him a Paul Harris Fellowship. The 8th Community Carol Concert is planned for December. After 32 years at the Angel Hotel, the Club decide to move to Wheal Dream at Wendron.