The Rotary Club of Blackpool Sunrise

The first meeting of the Club was in January 1994 at the Imperial Hotel Blackpool. Four prospective members attended this meeting: Ian Wall, Ewan Patterson, Richard Thomas and Samir Boutros under the direction of Past District Governor Hubert Pierce, who was the driving force into forming the Club. The founder Club for sponsoring this formation was Blackpool North. Of the five Blackpool Clubs, four supported the formation and one objected to the formation. The build up of members was slow and at times, there were possible doubts about the prospect of formation. the plan of campaign was to seek out prospective members who were unable for whatever reason, to attend another club during either lunchtime or evening meetings and offer them the chance to serve Rotary at breakfast time before the working day began. Prospective members grew slow at first with only twelve prospective members by November 1994. Despite the relatively low numbers a very full programme of speakers and social activities were arranged and the meetings developed into an informal and friendly way, much appreciated by speakers put off by the rigours of an often wet and windy Blackpool winter morning. This informality has very much become the hallmark of the club.

Throught this daunting task, Hubert was assisted by Rotarian Chris Holden, also from the sponsoring Club. From the outset, the decision of the members was that the Club should be dual gender. The twelfth application for membership was received from Olive Carroll and other ladies followed. It is appropriate that Olive became the first lady president of the Club during the year 1999/2000.