Rotary House
Corbett
Avenue
Droitwich Spa WR9 7BD
Rotary House has a seating capacity of 50 and is
available for meetings.
It has recently been upgraded to include facilities
for the disabled.
There is a kitchen suitable for preparing light
refreshments.
Hire rates start from £11.50 for a session of 3 hours.
For details telephone :
Sue Baker - 01905
380128
or John Bodger - 01905 770428
or email
john.bodge@btinternet.com
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, from: Awards for All, 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: T.W. Jones, J.F.Phillips, L.G. 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" 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.