The Rotary Club of Medway

The need for an evening Rotary Club in the Medway Towns was identified by both Rochester and Chatham Rotary Club (at that time both lunchtime clubs) and so, under their guidance, the Rotary Club of Medway was conceived.

Early formulative meetings were held at Dodgers Diner in Rochester High Street and then The Rose Public House at Cecil Road, Rochester. Subsequently several meeting venues have been used – The Gordon Hotel in Rochester High Street, The Roffen Club in New Road Rochester, The Crest/Post House/Holiday Inn Hotel in Rochester and, currently, Gillingham Golf Club.

On 2nd July 1981 the Rotary Club of Medway was formerly chartered with 26 members – Tony Rix was elected Founder President. Within our membership today there are still three founder members – Stan Cokayne, Chris Stedman and Andrew Harwood.

In 1983 Medway twinned with Roubaix Rotary Club from France – a contact and friendship that continues today.

The Club has always been very active with fun events such as Charity Auctions, Wine & Wisdoms; Sponsored Walks; Race Nights; Wine Auctions; Vanishing Coffee Mornings; Cockleshell Heroes Canoe Trip; Darts Marathons; Barn Dances; Discos and Dances – to name but a few – raising well in excess of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds for local, national and international charities including Demelza, Wisdom Hospice, Shelter Box, LifeStraw Project, Sri Lankan Tsunami Relief Project and Polio Plus and many, many more.

In 2008 Ladies were elected to membership of our Club for the first time and Medway has even had its first District Governor in 2010 – Euan Eddie.

Now the membership is at a solid level of around 40 members, and the Club is still very active in carrying out ‘service above self’.

The Club has awarded twelve 'Paul Harris Fellowships' for outstanding service to Rotary and the local community to:

Jack Denness
Andrew Harwood
David Hatcher
Terry Spice
Madeleine Spice
Dai Liyanage
Mary Liyanage
Chris Stedman
Keith Powell
Bob Curtis
Jim Foad
Stan Cokayne

Rotary District 1120 has also presented 'Paul Harris Fellowships' to:

Euan Eddie
Clive Lawrence

Clubs are encouraged to ensure they have a 3-year plan in order to provide clear long-term planning. Executive decisions are made by the President and the Club Council (also known as the Club Board), which is made up of committee chairs. Medway often refers major decisions to open discussion at monthly business meetings, or AGMs/EGMs.

Click here to see our Club Presidents