Rotary Club of Durham Elvet home page

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Rotary Club of Durham Elvet - welcome! Please scroll/swipe down through this page to find out more about us, in addition to the pages linked in the menu, top-left.

Annual Strawberry and sparkling night at the home of Ann & Jeff

to support international projects

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How to use a public access defibrillator

Barbara Broadbelt will explain and demonstrate how to use a public access defibrillator

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Seamus Matlack our Rotary Global Scholar arrives in the North East today

Durham Elvet Rotary Club is the host club of Seamus, our Rotary Global Scholar. He will be completing a Master's Degree of Science in Defense, Development, and Diplomacy at St. Mary's College of Durham University.

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Official Visit DG Terry Long & Rtn. Marion Long

The District Governor Terry Long and his wife Marion visited the club

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Gulyas night at Klari's

Authentic gulyas cooked by Klari

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Spk: Scott Bowes – Young Call Handler

Scott Bowes, our speaker, is proving that hard work and determination are the key to success. He became Durham Police force’s youngest call handler.

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About us

Elvet is part of the City of Durham and is one of the oldest settlements in the Durham City locality. It is first mentioned in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles in 762 AD as Aelfet ee (trans: Elvet or Swan Island). The 'island' is believed to be the site of what became the City of Durham on the hill in the large 'swan neck' loop in the River Wear.

It was within this 'swan neck' meander, in 995 AD, that St Aldhun settled with his monks and the relics of the Christian Saint Cuthbert. The construction of the famous cathedral that dominates and characterises the city was begun in 1092 AD.

The original Elvet Bridge on this site was built by Bishop Hugh Pudsey in about 1160 AD. It was added to in 1228 and later by Bishop Fox in 1495. There were originally 14 arches, of which only 10 now remain, two of which are overbuilt. In 1771 the bridge was severely damaged by floods. In 1804-5 the width of the bridge was doubled. The bridge is now closed to vehicular traffic.

In 1986 the Cathedral and Castle, high on this famous river site, was designated a World Heritage Site.

Foundation - Thought of The Week

Polio.

I was a Rotarian for many years and never contributed to The Rotary Foundation, because nobody ever asked me. Then one year, our club president made a plea for support for PolioPlus. Since my generation was hit hard by polio, I made a commitment to contribute every month. By the end of the year, it had become a habit to contribute each month, just like paying rent. That habit continues today, many years later, and each year I become more aware of how much good the Foundation does.

Rotarian Dave Berry

Rotary News

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