Rotary House
Corbett
Avenue near the Lido
Droitwich Spa WR9 7BD

Rotary House is a comfortably furnished 50 seat
function room with gardens and patio.
It has been upgraded to include
facilities for the disabled.
There is a kitchen for preparing light
refreshments.
Hiring rates from £12 per three hour session. For
details telephone :
Sue Baker - 01905 380128
John Bodger - 01905 770428
or email
John Bodger
or
Sue Baker
Rotary House is owned by the Rotary Club of Droitwich Spa Charitable Trust and celebrated its 50th anniversary on 4th December 2008
The Management Committee
and The Charitable Trust acknowledge with gratitude, capital grants since 2003,
principally to improve access for the infirm and disabled and to improve energy
conservation, from: Awards for All, Big Lottery Fund, Wychavon District
Council, Droitwich Spa Town Council, Age Concern (England), HBOS Foundation,
Richard Cadbury and Michael Marsh Charitable Trusts, Truemark Trust, Miss J B
Albrights Grimley Charity, Droitwich Spa and Birmingham Rotarians, Rotary
District 1060 Simplified Grant Scheme and User Organisations.
Trustees: E. Harwood, J Plumridge, L Evans, A.H Laird
A Brief History of Rotary House.
As one of the first thoughts about service to the
community, the Rotary Club of Droitwich Spa in 1939 took up the suggestion that
premises should be provided for elderly, retired menfolk to meet in comfort for
fellowship. Clubs of this type, known as "Sons of Rest"
(click for details...) had been set up in
Worcester and Kidderminster and it was felt that Droitwich should follow suit.
A wooden building was acquired by rental and eventual purchase situated on
the corner of Albert Street and Ombersley Street. The building had two rooms
and was well used by retired men, many of them ex-saltworkers.
By the late
1940s the premises had become dilapidated and efforts were made to provide a
permanent building. A piece of land fronting on to Corbett Avenue was leased
from the Borough Council and the Rotary Club set about raising £3500 for
a brick building. A gift of £500 from a local benefactor was offered and
the Club made a public appeal to raise £3000 by organising functions
including a large 3-day auction sale. The money was raised, the present
building was erected and it opened in December 1958 as the "Rotary Sons of Rest
Club".
The club flourished until the 1980s but then declined as members
passed on. As a consequence the building was re-named "Rotary House" and used
by groups called "Rotary Association of Retired Friends", one of which still
exists today. The premises are now owned by a registered charity and are hired
for a modest fee, throughout the week by many voluntary groups consisting of
mainly elderly people. Thus it is continuing to provide a very useful service
to the community of Droitwich Spa.