Our History relates to the narrative of 82 years, as set out below, and the input of an illustrious number of Rotarians and, particularly, Presidents and Senior Officers of the Club - view a list of all who have served in this way, plus a list of all members past and present

EIGHTY FIVE YEARS OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF BEDFORD

Rotary was started in 1905, in Chicago, by Paul Harris, who conceived the idea of regular meetings with like-minded business and professional men to develop acquaintances into friendship and through regular contact to be of service to their community.  The movement expanded to San Francisco and on to other cities in America.  The year 1911 saw the formation of the first clubs across the Atlantic, in Dublin, Belfast, London and Manchester.

Although our Club was inaugurated on Tuesday, 21^st June 1922, we did not become a Rotary Club until our Charter presentation on Friday, 18^th July 1923. The first Chairman, of what was then District 7, now 1070, W. K. Bedingfield, of the Rotary Club of Leicester, presented us with the Charter of Rotary International No. 1499. Our Mother Club was the Rotary Club of London, which was represented, and there were also representatives present from adjacent Clubs. In total 35 Rotarians were present for the Charter presentation and Lunch, which was held at the Swan Hotel in Bedford at a price of 4s 6d (22.5p) per person! For more information on the first ten years click here

The Club grew rapidly and by 1924 had more than doubled its  membership and was making its presence felt in the Town.  Large sums of money were raised and help given to charities and deserving individuals. 1927 saw the sponsorship of our first daughter Club, in Luton.

In 1928-29 the Club was instrumental in finding a home for the Toc H Boys Club, which developed into Bedford Boys Club and is now the Bedford Club for Young Persons.  Bedford Rotary Club has had an ongoing involvement throughout the years.

In 1930 Rtn Harry Manning was presiding at the Buxton District Conference as the then Chairman of District 7, forerunner of 1070. News had just come through of the crash of the R101 with the loss of many lives and particularly two eminent Bedford Rotarians  Read his speech

Peterborough Rotary Club was sponsored in 1931.  Other activities include a fete in aid of Bedfordshire Agricultural Society.  A Military Tattoo organised to aid the Hospital proved a washout but a River Pageant for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution was successful and a total of nearly one thousand pounds was raised for the two causes. Sadly, two members of the Club were killed in the R101 airship crash in France in 1931.

In 1932, the Great Depression set in and the Club decided to do something to help the unemployed in Bedford.  As a result, an Olde English Fayre was held in Mill Meadows, opened by H.R.H. Prince George, later Duke of Kent, and despite bad weather on the first day, raised the then enormous sum of over two thousand pounds.  In the same year a stage production of "Scrooge" by Rotarians and their wives was held at Bedford Modern School to raise funds for a Community Hall in London Road.

In 1935, jobs were found in Bedford for some 30 miners from Eden Pit, a small mining village in Durham, "adopted" by the Club after closure of the pit caused poverty and distress.  King George V's Silver Jubilee was celebrated by providing a Children's Fun Fair and a pontoon bridge in Mill Meadows.  The following year a donation was given to the Jarrow Unemployed Marchers and two thousand three hundred pounds was raised for Bedford Hospital.

During the War Years, from 1939 - 1945, Harry Peacock's Christmas Cheer Fund continued, together with an annual treat for Dr. Barnardo's Home.  Work of the International Service Committee became important with the arrival of refugees in Bedford, whilst the Community Service Committee was engaged with assisting the many evacuees and troops, especially after Dunkirk.  A Mine-Sweeper, H.M. Trawler Edwardian was adopted and the Club provided comforts for the crew until it was destroyed in 1941.

In 1941 the Club became the first and only Club to entertain a reigning Queen, albeit a refugee one, when Queen Marie of Yugoslavia addressed the Club at a Luncheon Meeting.  On this occasion wives were also present and a great deal of attention had to be paid to protocol.  In 1942 the original Club Charter was lost.  It has since been replaced.  Inflation set in and the cost of luncheon rose from half-a-crown (12.5p) to three shillings and six pence (17.5p)!

During the lean immediate post-war years Club activity was limited, with few large scale fund-raising events.  The new St. Neots Club was sponsored and Bedford Inner Wheel Club was formed in 1946.

The Club revived in 1947 when it celebrated the 25^th Anniversary of it's Inauguration.  By then the cost of luncheon had risen to five shillings (25p) and food parcels were still being received from the Rotary Club of New Bedford, Massachusetts.  The Festival of Britain in 1951 was celebrated by entering an illuminated boat in the Bedford River Procession.  To mark the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, a marble seat was provided by the Club for the Castle Close gardens; this was replaced by a wooden seat in Bedford Park in 2001.  Children from Dr. Barnardo's were taken to London and crown pieces (25p) were given to the aged people at Clapham Hospital.  The Club enjoyed a Coronation Outing to Windsor.  The disaster appeals following major floods at Lynmouth and the East Coast during 1953 were generously supported with donations.

Civic Luncheons were started in 1956 and have continued as an annual event. The foundation of the Bedford Guildhouse in 1959 was supported by the Club and this connection has continued with periodic grants to improve facilities for the aged.  The early sixties saw the discontinuance of the Club weekly collections for good causes and the establishment of annual covenanted donations to the Benevolent Fund.  The Club was proud to be presented with a "Scouts Thanks Badge" in recognition of a donation to Bedford Scouts and this is still displayed on the base of the Club's Bell Stand.  The Rotary Club of Biggleswade was sponsored in 1966.  In the same year the Vocational Service Committee studied the problem of immigrants to the Town and this study resulted in the setting up of a Steering Committee and subsequently the  formation of the Bedford International Friendship Association.  The Club was awarded the Rotary International Significant Achievement Award for this work in 1968.

The Club's 50^th Anniversary of Inauguration was celebrated in 1972.  Membership had risen to about 70 and the Club has endeavoured to maintain this level ever since. President Peter Hartley predicted at that time, that the cost of luncheon, then 75 pence (decimal money was adopted 1971), would rise to five pounds in twenty-five years time!  Thirty years have now passed and it is already much more and rising.

Further Clubs were sponsored; the Rotary Club of Kempston in 1974 and in our sixtieth year, 1982, the Rotary Club of Bedford Castle. It was during 1982 that the Club received its second Significant Achievement Award, this time for the Harry Peacock Cheer Fund activities, still continued in the form of the Birthday Cheer Fund.

In the last twenty five years the Club has continued to support many worthy projects.  The Rotary International Polio Plus Scheme for the eradication of Polio in Third World Countries was generously supported.  In conjunction with other local Rotary Clubs and thanks to very generous sponsorship, the first Life Education Trust Caravan was provided for Bedfordshire and this continues in regular use in helping to make young people aware of the dangers of drug  misuse.

The biennial Road Procession organised by the Club has now become part of the larger River Festival Weekend and has resulted in substantial funds being raised for a number of different charities.

For many years the Club Christmas Card Scheme has produced good profits for charity, thanks to the artistry of Rtn Bernard West who has generously donated the original paintings each year.

Youth Speaks has been regularly sponsored for many years and has been keenly supported by local schools.  In several years the winners of the District Competition have been from Bedford.  Other projects for young people, in conjunction with other Rotary Clubs in Bedford have included successful Young Inventor Competitions, Young Musician Competitions and Technology Challenge.  Help has been given to local schools with Mock Job Interviews.

Within the Club, the Programme Committee have provided an excellent series of speakers at our weekly meetings covering a wide range of subjects. Highlights have been our own member's "My Job" talks and "Focus" interviews.  Fellowship and international understanding is fostered through our exchange visits and contacts with our twin Club of Noyon in France.

Candidates have been successfully sponsored for Rotary Foundation Scholarships and each year the Club has sponsored one or two candidates for a Rotary Youth Leadership Award.  Group Study Exchange visitors have been regularly welcomed, candidates have been supported for return visits and the Club has in the past provided Team Leaders for these worthwhile Exchange Visits.

The Rotary Club of Bedford Park was sponsored in 1992 meeting as a breakfast club and in 1997 we celebrated the 75^th Anniversary of our Inauguration at the Swan Hotel.  1999 saw The Charter of the Rotary Club of Bedford de Parys, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bedford Park. This has brought the total number of Clubs in the Bedford Area to five. In 2003 we celebrated the 80th Anniversary of our Club on the exact anniversary - 18th July, again at the Swan Hotel, where our Club was chartered in 1923.

Our Club also supports the very worthwhile work of the Calvert Trust for disadvantaged young people, not only financially but also with members participating as helpers and leaders. 

In this Club, Paul Harris Fellowship Awards are regarded as a mark of esteem for special service to Rotary and the Community.  We now have twenty five Paul Harris Fellows in our Club. In addition we have two Paul Harris Fellows who are not members, awarded for their selfless service to the community of Bedford.

Membership numbers have been maintained and attendance levels are high. Increasing average age has not prevented the Club from being active and forward looking.  We are fortunate to have a number of older members who are young in heart and who generate enthusiasm for the work of Rotary in so many ways.  The Club has been particularly pleased to have been able to welcome new, younger, members who are already making a considerable contribution to Rotary Service.  As we look forward to the next 15 years to our Club's Centenary, it can be safely reported that the Club is in good heart and ready for the future.