DOUGLAS R.C. THE FIRST CLUB IN THE ISLE OF MAN
Douglas
was the first club to be formed in the Isle of Man, following an
inaugural meeting held on August 20, 1923 attended by 9 people from
Douglas together with Rotarians from the mainland from Liverpool and
Manchester. This resulted in the formation of the Rotary Club in 1924,
with all meetings being held in the Peveril Hotel, Douglas.
The joining fee was 2 guineas (£2.10) and lunches cost 2/6d (12.5p)
with a further 3d (1.25p) as gratuities for waitresses.
The first President was Charles Fox who remained as President for the
next two years. Among the club's early projects were the introduction of
wireless facilities at a local hospital, a gym club for boys from the
"poorer classes" and two annual outings with entertainment for crippled
children. During the 1930s, the most notable activity was the
sponsorship of a creche for unmarried, working mothers.
During the war the main activities of the Club were providing parcels
for the forces overseas and providing hospitality for the many
servicemen stationed on the Island. Post-war, the efforts of the club
were to provide employment for many of the unemployed young men in
Douglas with the construction of a large glen in the town, known as
Summerhill Glen.
In 1946, a float featuring Rudolph the reindeer was initiated and, to
the present day, has remained very popular with the public. The original
intention was to provide sweets and fruit to the poorer children of the
town. Such luxuries were rationed in those days and beyond the means of
low income workers and the unemployed. The Club's Charity Dinner was
also established to provide funds to purchase the little luxuries and
finance for the effort. Both ventures were highly successful and have
endured to the present day.
