Staffordshire rotary club behind Birmingham flashmob spectacle

The spontaneous seven-minute dance display in Birmingham's Victoria Square was organised by Cannock Rotarians looking to attract new, younger members.

The branch, whose motto is 'If anyone can, Cannock can' was celebrating the 100th anniversary of the British Association of Rotary Clubs which was holding its annual conference in Birmingham.

The flashmob was performed by members of Cannock-based Sandra's School of Dance who were joined by Rotarians for the final 30 seconds.

The dancers, who have been in training at their base in Chase Grammar School since January, wore Rotary T-shirts for their performance. Rotarian Jamie Bishop, who dreamed up the idea, was delighted by the outcome of the event.

He said: "We got there and cranked the music up to attract interest, timing the performance for the end of the conference at lunchtime so they were able to watch.

"The idea was to raise awareness among a younger generation of Rotarians and what we do.

"We're an ageing club, and that's the general situation around the UK. We want younger members and to get rid of the idea that we're some kind of secret organisation.

"The club does a lot of good.

"When I joined I was amazed to find that it had raised £106,000 in the previous six years, and everyone has a great time doing it."

The branch, which meets at The Barns pub and restaurant on Wednesday evenings, has helped out the dance school and also supplied the portable cabin that serves as the food bank in Cannock, among other good causes.

Founded in 1935, it has also raised substantial funds for international projects.

Mr Bishop, a 43-year-old director of a plumbing and heating company, praised the dancers.

"They were mustard compared to us.

"We didn't want to devalue what they were doing so we kept out of the way until the end. It was brilliant."