Rotary Club closes after 91 years of community service

A Rotary club which has supported communities across the Black Country for more than nine decades has closed.

The Rotary Club of Halesowen and Rowley Regis held a special celebration event at Halesowen College to mark its achievements before officially bringing its 91-year history to an end.

More than 50 people attended the event, where past presidents Steve Jones and Dave Poston reflected on some of the club’s key milestones and projects over the years.

The club played a role in a number of local initiatives, including helping establish the Halesowen Business Improvement District and supporting the town’s recognition as a Dementia-Friendly Town.

Rotarian Sue Hannaford said members had worked hard to keep the club running for around three years after closure was first considered, allowing them to celebrate the club’s 90th anniversary and complete a final community project.

She said the decision to close had been made with “great regret” after it became increasingly difficult to fill the administrative roles needed to keep the club active.

However, Sue said the closure did not mark the end of members’ commitment to Rotary, with those still involved transferring to direct membership and continuing their community work.

Over the years, the club supported a wide range of projects, including the Mushroom Trail through Halesowen, schools orchestra concerts, mock interviews for young people, the Young Chef of the Year competition, Youth Speaks, support for special needs football and projects helping local charities.

Other initiatives included supporting Halesowen in Bloom, providing assistance to Blackheath Women’s Aid refuge, backing international projects such as ShelterBox, WaterAid, Sight Savers and Mercy Ships, and helping fund improvements at community facilities.

Recognition was also given during the event to several members and supporters, including President Pam Arrowsmith, who helped steer the club through a number of challenges and worked to introduce new initiatives to secure its future.

Vice President Matt Hickenbottom was recognised for his IT support, while Ian and Dan Heaford, Steve Abraham, Steve Roberts and Nathan Wheeler were also thanked for their contributions.

The club also presented several Paul Harris Fellowships, awarded in recognition of outstanding commitment and service to the community. The presentations were made by District Governor Jonathan Wilding and local MP Alex Ballinger.

Although the Rotary Club of Halesowen and Rowley Regis has now closed, former members said they remained committed to continuing to make a difference in their communities.

To find out more about Rotary and its work and community impact, visit: rotarygbi.org