In 1965 the Rotary Club of Grays agreed to relinquish part of their Club territory, namely the area east of a line formed by the A128 from Bulphan to Tilbury to encompass the villages of Horndon-on-the-Hill, Langdon Hills, Linford, East Tilbury, Stanford-le-Hope, Corringham and Fobbing.
Rotarian Stan Deats of the Grays Club was appointed as Extension Officer by District to investigate the possibility of a new club being formed. He held informal meetings during the early part of 1965 with James Frood, Harold Adamson, Don Corder and Vernon Davis to discus the proposed formation of a new club.
Subsequent to these meetings an invitation was extended to Cecil Boorman and Charles Kutik to join the others at Old Hall, Corringham, for Stan Deats to explain the ‘Aims and Objects’ of Rotary. At the conclusion of the discussions it was resolved to form a Rotary Club, and the six members of the group present that evening signed the required instrument of proposal for submission to R.I.B.I. This then was the original ‘Foundation’ of the Stanford-le-Hope & Corringham Club we know today.
The venue of subsequent luncheon meetings was the ‘Catcracker’ public House in The Sorrells, Corringham, where Members were ‘to gather on Tuesdays at l.45p.m’. During the period up to the official presentation of the Club Charter, a Member of the ‘Mother Club’ was required to be in attendance at the meetings, and it is with great appreciation that we record the unstinting efforts of Stan Deats and his Rotary colleagues Geoff Player and Eric Pearson for their instruction and advice during the months that followed.
During the summer of 1965 the weekly meetings endeavored to achieve a target membership of 20-25. Initial core Members used the informal method of introduction by way of suggestions and invitation as the weeks progressed, members were vetted and accepted until there were sufficient Members to initiate the next step in the formation of a Rotary Club, namely the Inaugural Meeting.
This took place on the 20th. October, 1965 at the Bata Hotel (now Stanford House), East Tilbury. It was presided over by the District Chairman, Frank Allen ‘with a large number of visiting Rotarians adding support. Leslie Readman having been duly elected as president formally proposed that the Interim Club of Stanford Ie-Hope & Corringham be recognised.
During the months that followed committees were established and programmes scheduled. Speakers were invited to address the Club at the weekly meetings, and still under the guidance of the Extension Team from Grays, the Club became more aware of its responsibilities within Rotary.
Following the election of the President other Founder Officers were; Vice-President - Charles Kutik, Secretary - Don Corder, Treasurer - Vernon Davies. On the 14th February, 1966 the General Council of R.I. in Evanston, approved the Club’s application for admission to the Rotary movement.
The next major step in the Club’s history was the official recognition by R.I.B.I. and the presentation of the Club Charter. The ceremony took place on 29th April, 1966, again at the Bata Hotel. The Interim President, Readman and twenty five members received the Charter from District Chairman Frank Allen.