ROTARIANS.
Whitehaven has been blessed over the centuries with what can only be described as "philanthropists" and I suppose organisations such as the Rotary could be classed as falling in the same category in as much as they do a lot of work for good causes. A Rotary website declares their "Terms of Fellowship" as....
"a group of Rotarians who unite themselves to pursue a specific worthwhile activity which advances the Object of Rotary including, but not limited to educational, health, vocational, environmental and recreational activities."
This year they celebrate 100 years of their existence in Whitehaven and to mark the event two permanent mementos of the group have appeared in our midst whilst a third , albeit temporary , certainly attracts the attention of people motoring to town from the south. I refer of course to the wonderful floral tribute created by the borough gardeners which stands on the roundabout at the top of Coach Road.
Not far away the other more permanent reminders of the organisation are
also clearly visible and both of these are ,like the display shown, complemented
by the skills of the local gardeners .The first provides a resting place
from which to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the Castle Park
officially opened to us all way back in 1926 by Princess Mary,Viscountess Lascelles.
The memento is a finely crafted bench decorated with the Rotary emblem
and a suitably inscribed plaque.
As you walk down Lowther Street towards the last Rotary memento you may notice that the floral ship Bee has taken up anchor and sailed off. She hasn't gone far for round the corner at the junction of Irish and Scotch Streets we find her new anchorage in front of the Rotary badge.
CONGRATULATIONS ROTARIANS ON YOUR 100TH ANNIVERSARY IN WHITEHAVEN.
In a short while, I will try to give you a glimpse of Whitehaven as it was in the year you founded your fellowship.!!