Historic Projects

Dec 1978 Portland Disaster   

Portland suffered tremendous damage by flooding when the sea breached Chesil Bank. Parts of the causeway subsided and the residents of Chesil were made homeless. All the emergency services and the R. N. were involved in the clear-up operation. Portland Rotary Club launched an official Portland Flood Disaster Fund.

Rotary President George Blake said that he hoped that money would be paid out to residents of the Chesil area before Christmas. Rotary Clubs from all over the country sent subscriptions. Collections were made in pubs and clubs and many local organisations made contributions. The fund finally exceeded £11,000.

Portland Couple to help Hong Kong Boat People Nov 1980

Dr. Keith Barnard-Jones and his wife Judy are travelling to Hong Kong under Rotary's Health Hunger & Humanities Scheme to administer medical help to the 50,000 Vietnamese Boat People at Kai Tak refugee camp.

Rotary Clubs worldwide have donated $100,000 to the scheme which will also help to eradicate polio in Costa Rica and the Philippines. Keith & Judy both expect to learn much from the experience. Without people like them there would be no medical care as the local authority is unable to cope.

Rotary Club Proposes Great Wessex Marathon 1981

The first ever Great Wessex Marathon, a run in aid of charity will take place in Weymouth and Portland next year. It is being organised by Portland Rotary Club and will cover the full distance of 26 miles 380 yards. The race will begin on the playing field at H.M.S. Osprey, go through and around Weymouth before finishing back at Osprey. If successful it will become an annual event. It is partly sponsored by the South of England Building Society, and further sponsorship is being sought. Said one of the organisers Mr. R. J. King, "ln addition to the appeal for both runners and spectators one of the prime objects is aiding charities." The marathons were held until interest waned. Full marathons were held in 1982, 1983, & 1984.

A full and half marathon was run in 1985. A half and mini-marathon in 1986.

July 1982 Colour Video Monitors for School

Thanks to Portland Rotary Club, Portland Secondary School at Easton will receive three Colour Video Monitors which will be used to train pupils in computerisation, an essential part of all business in this technological age. Funds were raised for the monitors and Hitachi supplied them through Combens electrical at half the normal price.

Hospital Car Service Nov 1983

A new scheme being launched by Portland Rotary Club could go a long way to alleviating the worry and distress caused to hospital patients and their immediate relatives through lack of transport.

Mr. Andrew Child, Chairman of the Community Services Committee presided over a meeting at Portland Health Centre where he proposed the formation of a hospitals visitors car service.

Pointing out the difficulties faced particularly by the elderly and infirm who have no transport to visit members of their immediate family in hospital, Mr Child said there was a need for such a voluntary service on the Island.

The service was inaugurated in the following spring.

Rotary deliver 370 parcels Dec 1983

A total of 370 parcels were delivered on Christmas morning by seven Portland Rotary Santa’s in the annual project which this year has raised £200 for Rotary charities. The Rotarians, who were transported around the island by wives and friends, spent the better part of the morning on what they look upon as the most enjoyable task of the year, when the young recipients of the parcels greet them with a mixture of awe, wonder and excitement.

Soccer Pontoon ran from 1992 until 1995 raising £400+ per season

Rotary Drug Work Wins R. I. World Prize June 1991

Portland Rotary Club has come out on top of the world in its work for the prevention of drug abuse. The project, which gained the club the prestigious plaque was the brainchild of Mr. Andrew Child. His aim was to raise the £100,000 needed to purchase a Life Education Mobile Classroom for the use of schools throughout Dorset.

Support came from Rotarians, Mr. P. Allsebrook, Dorset Health Trust, Telethon and Dorset Education Dept. Mr. Child said "The Life Education Classroom will be of great benefit to our children and the system is proving its worth in other parts of the country and the world." Accepting the award the club President thanked Rotarians Andrew Child, Martin Brain and Vic Pomeroy for their hard work.

July 1993 Rotary Club opens the Ken Ford Rotary Garden Project at Grove infant’s School

Island Launches Business Group Dec 1994

Based on an idea put forward by Rotarian Ron Smith, Portland Rotary Club have set up an organisation to give local businessmen a united voice in determining the commercial future of Portland.

The organisation known as the Association of Portland Businesses, held its inaugural meeting at the Portland Heights Hotel and was attended by almost 100 people. President Vic Pomeroy welcomed those present and Rotarian John Heather outlined the constitution. John Culley (Management Consultant) was elected Chairman, and Gina Walker (Director R. J. King) was elected Treasurer.

Mr. Richard Burgess W & P. B. C. Chief Planning Officer told the meeting: "This is the opportunity for the concerted voice of businessmen to make itself heard without cutting across any other organisation." He spoke of the Single Regeneration Budget and said that the existence of the A.P.B. will strengthen the hand of the SDEP in going forward for funding from the EU and KONVER 11.