A huge celebration took place for a club that has been ‘standing proud and tall’ for seven decades. 

The Rotary Club of Bridport marked its 70th anniversary at an event attended by many, including presidents past and present and members of neighbouring Rotary clubs. 

The Rotary Club of Bridport was formed in 1947 and has been supporting local causes ever since. 

At an event held at Highlands End Holiday Park in Eype, district governor Stewart Cursley spoke enthusiastically about Polio Plus, the international Rotary project to eradicate polio worldwide, something which has almost been achieved. Thousands of pounds have been raised to fund the project. 

He presented certificates to past presidents Donald Knight, for 35 years’ service, and Clive Jeanes for 25 years’ service.

Rotary Club of Bridport Club president, Bernard Paull, spoke of the history of the club and how it began. 

It started in Chicago in 1905 when attorney Paul Harris and three business friends met to form an organisation that could do charitable work.

It rapidly spread and reached Bridport in 1947. 

Mr Paul told how of how rationing was still in force, and so at the charter meeting founder members were asked to donate one week’s ration coupons for meat, sugar, eggs, butter and cheese. 

The club spawned two further clubs; Lyme Regis in 1950 and Brit Valley in 1991, and in 1968 the Rotarians’ wives formed the Inner Wheel Club of Bridport. 

In 2013, after 66 years of all-male membership, the Rotary Club of Bridport agreed that women should be actively encouraged to join. Local historian Elizabeth Gale was the first.

Mr Paull said: “If it were possible for our founder members to return to a club meeting they could be forgiven for being slightly puzzled. 

“If they could stay a while they would quickly realise that we are a happy bunch of Rotarians just as they were 70 years ago, providing service where it’s needed and, in the words of Rotary international president Ian Riseley, doing our bit in making a difference.”