ABOUT The Catford Club
BACKGROUND STORY In 1930 a very prominent Rotarian, Stanley Leverton ...who was Chairman of District 13 (now1130), President of RIBI and a Director of RI decided that some Rotary Clubs had boundary control of membership in large towns that was simply too large, so it was decided to split these areas. Lewisham Club was an example;..... they covered an area south to Bromley, Beckenham and Sidcup and as far north as Deptford and Greenwich. In 1931, Cannon Edge-Partington, a member of Lewisham Club proposed that a new Club Catford Southend be formed.
On March 23rd 1943, Arthur Smith OBE, ARCS, Bsc was invited with others from the Lewisham Club to the Mayor’s Parlour with intentions of forming the new Catford Southend Club. From this meeting the embryonic club met at the Green Man Public House and gradually an interim committee was formed.
Soon after a couple of meetings the Green Man was hit by a flying bomb and the following meetings were held next door at the Vicarage by kind permission of Cannon Charles Yougman who subsequently became a member of the Club. Repairs were carried out to the Green Man which made it possible to return for meetings. The Inaugural Meeting was held on Wednesday September 29th 1943 under the Chairmanship of Arthur Mortimer OBE, chairman of District 13 at which Arthur Smith was elected as President and other officers elected. The meetings continued during the war years and the Club was congratulated by District for carrying on during adverse conditions.
The presentation of the Charter had to wait until the 26th April 1945; this was held in Chiesmans Restaurant and received by a packed crowd of dignitaries. The most noticeable event after the war was a Ladies Festival held in the Grosvenor House, Park Lane on the 29th January 1946, the Mayor of Lewisham was in attendance and many other Rotarians from local clubs, a night Rotarians present will remember for the rest of their lives. In 1948 the ‘Southend’ was dropped from the title and we became just The Rotary Cub of Catford. In the same year Catford Club was responsible for starting the Meals on Wheels service in our area; the Council were very sympathetic and found us an old NAAFI van which we converted for our use. The American Clubs hearing of the devastation to local homes sent over several food parcels which the Club distributed along with many toys made by Rotarians to local children who were living in difficult conditions.
Around the same time an appeal was made on national wireless for radio sets for the bedridden, the Catford Club took up the challenge and supplied many sets and maintained them for a number of years. The Club also inspired the Lewisham Borough council to set up the Citizens Advice Bureau. Around 1950 the Lewisham Club, our Mother Club set up the ‘Darby and Joan Club’ in Stanstead Road with the help of Catford Members. Norman Carver was the President in 1964/5 and the Membership was at an all time high, some 50 members, from here on many people would say the Club was buzzing. Visits to many foreign Rotary Clubs where a good time was had by all. Many interesting speakers have come to the Club, including Harold MacMillan, then M.P. for Bromley, and plenty of International and Vocational visits. The more recent years of the Club have been just as busy, we have organised many sporting programmes, golf, football, cricket, squash, raft races, bowls, squash, pool, snooker, cycling and to aid the funds of local boys clubs we, for many years ran ABA Boxing evenings, which were a great success in its time Many of these events raised funds for our various charities. Christmas time is a busy time for the Club, we take a sleigh playing Christmas Carols round the streets of Catford dressed up as Father Christmas, this brings in a lot of money for us to distribute to the needy and because we have been doing this for a number of years the locals look forward to seeing us and get quite annoyed if we don’t knock on their door every year. Also at Christmas we collect funds outside Sainsbury’s Homebase and Sydenham Saver Centre. The Rotary’s own Charity is Foundation and the Club have held many events to raise money for this worthy cause, they include Gala Balls, Treasure Hunts, Quiz Nights, barn dances, dog racing nights, fellowship evenings and many other events..  For a number of years the club have organised sponsored cycle rides in the north Kent area, the public join us to pledge money for our various charities and over the years this event has been a great success, .
A large amount of the money raised by Rotarians is given to St Christopher’s Hospice; we also support other local Clubs in raising large sums for the same Hospice. . In 1993 we listened to a talk from Katy Allen on her project to build a school in Kilamagaro from scratch, we were moved by her enthusiasm and gave her a sum to help her on her way, 10 years later we are still in touch and the project has grown to provide 8 schools for some 5000 pupils..  One of the biggest challenges put out by Rotary International in 1986 was a request for all Rotary Clubs, world wide, to raise many millions of dollars to rid the world of Polio, the goals were achieved within five years, but the disease is still persisting in some remote places, so the work goes on..
In June of 2001 we joined the RIBI nationwide project ‘KIDS OUT’ this is an annual event to take youngsters of various disabilities for a fun day out, the Catford Club lay on suitable transport, dress up as clowns and enjoy themselves with children at Chessington Theme Park, a great time is had by all.. Along with the R.I. guidelines the Rotary Club of Catford inducted Lady Members into the Club in 2002/3 and they have been an asset to the Club and we look forward to more Ladies joining us in the near future..  Today there are 25 members and 3 honorary members in the Catford Club and everyone is a true Rotarian giving Service above Self, we enjoy the fellowship, we enjoy what we do and we are proud to be called a Rotarian.
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