International Fellowship

We have had international links with other Rotary Clubs in Europe since the mid 1960s. Starting with Beausoleil in 1965 these links have grown to encompass Italy (Alba), Sweden (Karlshamn) and Italy (Ovada Del Centenario) in more recent years.


International Contact


During the early 60's attempts were made to form links with clubs in Austria,  Holland and France, none of which was developed.

At the Club Annual General Meeting in May 1965, John  Goldwin  (Headmaster  of Billericay School) reported that he had contacted the Beausoleil Club and that they were interested in forming an international link. Thus in November of that year six Rotarians, three of them with their wives, flew to Paris and them travelled by train to Beausoleil.

In April1966, President Albert  Gale with 3 members and their wives made the first official visit to Beausoleil. At the official dinner, President Albert Gale presented a Collar and Jewel to the French President.  
We continue to honour this tradition by donating a new collar badge to each new Beasoleil President.

A framed sketch, reproduced below, was presented to the Billericay Club on this occasion.

The first return visit by Beausoleil to Billericay took place the following year, in August 1967.

In  August  1969, the  Rotary  Club  of  Alba,  which  was  already  linked  with  Beausoleil, was invited to form links with  the Basildon Club. The first official visit involving all four Clubs took place in August 1970 in England. 

On the first day, Monday the 17th, the Billericay members were joined at the  Archer  Hall  by  23 members of the Alba and Beausoleil Clubs with 5 members  from  Basildon.  During the visit, excursions were made to London to see the Russian Ballet and for shopping, to Kent to see the hop fields and Chartwell, and to Southend.

Since that time many members and their families from the four Clubs have enjoyed the close bonds of fellowship that have developed from the official visits and the resulting personal friendships, and which was expanded in 2013 to  include Karlshamn clubs from Sweden
, and most recently to include a further club Ovada del Centenario, in Italy - now a total of 6 clubs.

This is an international tie that developed due to the enthusiasm of John Goldwin and Dennis Gill and that continues to gain in strength as the years pass.

International Fellowship sub-pages:

Assembled at Serralungo

Fun Friendship and Fundraising - Italy 2023

more Highspot of the Rotary Year, the annual twinning visit to one of our linked clubs in Mainland Europe brings together Members from up to six different Rotary Clubs in four countries.

Visit Programme

Twinning Visit to ALba (Italy) 2023

more Time to meet up with Rotarians from Karlshamn (Sweden), Beausoleul (France), Basildon (UK) and Ovada at Alba for our seven club annual reunion.

Crazy Golf on Day 1

Fun Friendship and Celebration - Sweden 2022

more Highspot of the Rotary Year, the annual twinning visit to one of our linked clubs in Mainland Europe brings together Members from up to six different Rotary Clubs in four countries.

Flags Fly - All The Clubs

Rotary Visit to Karlshamn 2022

more We have received an invitation from the Rotary Club of Karlshamn for the Double Triangular visit to take place September 8-11, 2022.

Some of Those Taking part

2020 Reunion in Karlshamn, Sweden

more Highspot of the Rotary Year, the annual twinning visit to one of our linked clubs in Mainland Europe is delayed but international web meetings planned.

Listening attentively - That was fascinating

Soapbox Races Down Under 2020

more President Peter and Member Patrick Rothon completed a ZOOM presentation on the Rotary Club of Billericay Soapbox Derby to Belmont Rotary Club near Melbourne, Australia.

Facing Up To The Challenge

Covid-19 in Europe - France June 2020

more Our twinned clubs in Sweden, Italy and France are locked down like the UK, but are still busy supporting their members and their local community. Here France reports on life under lockdown in France.

Facing Up To The Challenge

Covid-19 in Europe - Italy May 2020

more Our twinned clubs in Sweden, Italy and France are locked down like the UK, but are still busy supporting their members and their local community. Here Italy reports on life under lockdown in Italy.

Facing up to the Challenge

Covid-19 in Europe - Sweden April 2020

more Our twinned clubs in Sweden, Italy and France are locked down like the UK, but are still busy supporting their members and their local community. Here Sweden reports on life under lockdown in Sweden.

Invitation to Sweden 2022

European (Re) Union

more We all appreciated the opportunity to “meet” with members from our sister clubs over Zoom after such a long break.

Remembering 2014 Visit

2019 Double Triangular Reunion

more It’s time again for the forthcoming double triangular reunion of Rotarians, so called because it brings together Members from six different Rotary Clubs in four countries.

meal time

2019 Sun, Sea and Sexagenarians

more Rotary principles in action- International Fellowship and co-operation on charitable projects with the Rotary Club of Basildon and four Rotary Clubs in Europe - Beausoleil (France), Alba (Italy), Ovada (Italy), and Karlshamn (Sweden).

The Delegates Unite

2018 International Reunion

more Rotary principles at work - International Fellowship with the Rotary Club of Basildon and four Rotary Clubs in Europe - Beausoleil (France), Alba (Italy), Ovada (Italy), and Karlshamn (Sweden).

Swedish, French, Italian and English Rotarians enjoy the Barbeque

A Six Club Reunion

more Double Triangular Reunion of British, French, Italian and Swedish Rotary clubs

Welcome Dinner - on this table - Rotarians from the UK and Sweden enjoy each other's company

Italian Reunion 2016 - 60 years and counting

more Our annual international Rotary reunion of six clubs from the UK, Italy, France and Sweden took place in Alba, Northern Italy in September 2016

Rotary News Bulletins

News from Afar

more As part of the international fellowship with other Rotary Clubs, we send our newsletter to all our "twinned" clubs. In return, they send their latest news bulletins to us.

Enjoying Lunch at the Marine Museum

Crossing Borders - 2015

more International Rotary Fellowship at a "Double Triangular" Rotary Meeting - six clubs (Basildon, Billericay - UK; Alba, Ovada - Italy; Beausoleil - France) met in Sweden hosted by Karlshamn Rotary Club

Sweden 2015

more It's 2015 and time for our Fellowship trip to Karlshamn, Sweden.

Beausoleil Home Hosting 2014

more A major feature of the twinning visits between our clubs is the hosting of visiting club members and their wives by individual Beausoleil Club members at their homes.

Real Fellowship!

Riviera Reunion - Crossing Borders 2014

more Following our hosting of the twinning visit in 2013, Billericay Rotary Club enjoyed a wonderful programme in France this year, hosted by the Rotary Club of Beausoleil, along with Basildon, Alba and Ovada (Italy), Karlshamn (Sweden), from September 18-21.

The final Dinner - toasting our friends

Crossing Borders - 2013

more Everybody enjoyed a wonderful programme of social and historical events when Billericay Rotary Club hosted a reciprocal visit from its twinning clubs in Europe - Beausoleil (France), Alba (Italy), and Karlshamn (Sweden), from September 12-15.

Twinning visit to Italy 2012

more 2012 sees the turn of the Rotary club of Alba to host its twinned clubs of Billericay, Basildon and Beausoleil (France) for a programm of events and fellowship.

A Grand Day Out in 2010

more A great day visiting the Houses of Parliament with fellow Rotarians from Italy, Sweden and France, organised by Basildon Rotary Club.