It is presumed that one of the group had heard about Rotary perhaps in London, although there is no record of any visit or contact in the London Club records. To achieve such a club in Brighton, they would appoint a committee of twelve, and by writing to "gentlemen of various professions and trades to ascertain if they would be interested." After four committee meetings, in January and February, all of which are fully recorded in handwritten minutes still in the club's possession, they were ready.

On April 8, 1913 the club was officially inaugurated at a dinner held at the Royal York Hotel, using draft rules drawn up the previous month by the committee. Edward Geere was elected as the first President but he died in October 1914 and he was succeeded by Owen Embling, a master tailor, and one of the original five. A.E.G.Champion, a lawyer, became the Secretary. He was soon succeeded by E.Wallis Long. This is an interesting comparison with the first Chicago group of four which also included a master tailor, Hiram Shorey, and a lawyer, Paul Harris. A further comparison is that of the original group of five,( four in Chicago,) three do not appear in the list of members (two in Chicago).

Like early clubs elsewhere, there was a considerable element of 'boosting' in the new club and there is a record of one member, a funeral director, resigning because he was not given some work by another member's family!

The Brighton and Hove Club, its earliest name, continued its isolated existence for a further two years before the B.A.R.C learned that there was a club functioning on the South Coast. Negotiations were started in 1915 for the Sussex club to become affiliated and the secretary of the B.A.R.C. sent a specimen copy of Rotary's rules for the club to consider. The same year, the British President, Charles Dewey made a special trip to Brighton at the local club's expense, to talk to the members. The IARC first recorded the existence of the club in their July 1916 Directory when there appeared:-

Nevertheless, it was not until the beginning of 1917 that Brighton became a full member of the British Association as its ninth club and not until November, 1917, that the club was recognized by the I.A.R.C. This has led to the unusual position of the club being shown as started in 1913 but chartered in 1917 at which time there were 42 members.

The club had moved towards 'normality' with weekly rather than monthly meetings.
By July 1918, the IARC Directory showed the club with its charter number and a large increase in membership.

That same year year at Edinburgh, Brighton joined 18 other clubs for the Annual Meeting of the Directors of the B.A.R.C. This was the meeting at which Britain was divided into districts with Brighton, London, Portsmouth and Southampton forming District 3, England South East . As the number of clubs increased with Worthing, Hastings, Lewes and later a separate club in Hove, all sponsored by Brighton, the arrangement of clubs and districts frequently changed. Today, the club is in District 1250.

During the war years of 1914-1918, Brighton and Hove Rotary became involved in a wide variety of community activities including the formation of a Concert Party which entertained at hospitals and clubs in the area. Funds for allotments, war bonds and for workshops for disabled soldiers were among a myriad of club efforts with which members became involved.

The acceptance of Brighton and Hove into the greater world of Rotary was recognized in 1918 by the presentation of what has been described as a flag ferrule by the Rotary Club of New York. The club still has this item among its treasures.

Since those early times, Brighton has played a full part in Rotary affairs, hosting the RIBI conference on six occasions, the first time in 1922. This was despite the fact that at the 1921 International Convention in Edinburgh, no voting delegates from Brighton were present. However, A.F.Graves of Brighton, was shown as being an Assistant Sergeant at Arms in Scotland. The club has also provided one President of RIBI in Bishop Tom Cashmore, 1950/1. Another well known name from the past and a personal friend of Paul Harris whom he entertained and hosted in 1937 at his previous club in High Wycombe, was Wilfrid Float. On his retirement, Float became a member of the Brighton club for 33 years until his death in 1983 aged 98!

Today Brighton, no longer with Hove which has a separate club, is a flourishing lunch time club, meeting at the Royal Albion Hotel close to Brighton Pier. All Rotarians and their ladies or other guests, are always welcome.

With many thanks to Rex Dempsey, Archivist of the RC of Brighton. Some of the history is extracted from the club's Diamond Jubilee book by Arthur Hunt in 1973.

Basil Lewis Rotary Global History