What we're about.....

We currently have over 40 members and are a friendly, welcoming group, with a range of social events as well as our weekly evening meetings that most members attend.

We are very active in the Bideford community, and along with many other community and fundraising activities we are the organisers of the annual North Devon Festival of Transport, The Bideford Triathlon, The Tour of Torridge Bike Race and our Golf completion which collectively have raised much needed funds for various causes and local charities since we started in 1987

	Past President Alf Lees receiving his Paul Harris Fellowship from President Andy Heather

                             
   Cheque Presentation to the Penguin Sports Foundation 

More about Rotary in Bideford, and beyond

Bideford Bridge Rotary meet every Wednesday at 6.30 pm at the Royal North Devon Golf Club in Westward Ho! Dinner is normally followed by a guest speaker and drinks and a catch up in the clubhouse bar after. We also like to get out and about whenever we can and visit other clubs

Out and about for Scatter week visiting St Austell RC

We’re one of about 80 Rotary clubs in District 1175 — a district that covers the beautiful lands of Devon, Cornwall, and even stretches its sea legs out to the Isles of Scilly. Our club got going on 7th July 1986, which makes us old enough to remember dial-up internet but young enough to still be full of energy. We’ve grown to over 40 lively, friendly members who are always up for lending a hand. Bideford is extra lucky — we have not one, not two, but three Rotary clubs: Bideford Bridge (that’s us), Bideford, and Tarka

Rotary is the world’s largest service organisation — we’re talking 1.2 million members across 32,000 clubs in over 200 countries. Basically, wherever you go, there’s probably a Rotary club nearby and someone ready to rope you into a raffle or a beach clean. If you’ve got a desire to give back, meet great people, and use your skills for good, then Rotary might just be your new favourite team sport.

No matter where you find us — from the beaches of Westward Ho! to the shores of Barbados — Rotary clubs all share the same mission: help the community, hold high standards, build global connections, and make lasting friendships along the way. And who knows? You might even enjoy the meetings.

Social and Personal Growth

Joining Rotary is a bit like stepping into a very friendly blender—people from all walks of life are thrown together, whirled around in projects and meetings, and somehow come out better connected, more open-minded, and occasionally covered in glitter from the last fundraising event. The social side of Rotary is one of its greatest strengths: you meet fascinating people, forge unlikely friendships, and have regular excuses to eat and drink, and call it “networking.”

On a personal level, Rotary has a sneaky way of helping you grow. One minute you’re innocently agreeing to help out at a meeting, the next you’re chairing a committee and giving speeches like a seasoned politician. It’s character-building, sometimes character-testing, but always a safe space to try new things, whether that’s public speaking, project management, or just figuring out how to run a Zoom call without muting yourself the whole time.

Perhaps most importantly, Rotary helps you rediscover that feel-good glow that comes from doing something selfless—without needing to wear a cape or leap tall buildings. There’s a deep satisfaction in knowing you’ve helped someone, somewhere, somehow… even if your big contribution was standing in the rain dressed as Santa. Service Above Self may be the motto, but laughter, learning, and the occasional logistical chaos are all part of the ride—and it’s a ride well worth taking.

                                                    Tour of Torridge Bike Race

Charitable activities
Many of our charitable activities are detailed on other pages notably the annual North Devon Festival of Transport but in addition to the wide range of local charities supported, our club has also contributed to many overseas projects including the eradication of polio, bringing clean water to villages, and many disaster appeals.

Through our various activities, fellowship and friendship is developed. Our social events are many and varied, formal and informal, sporting and otherwise; please consult our Future meetings  for examples.

How to Join

Interested in joining us at Bideford Bridge Rotary?  Click How to join for more details.