Rotary Club of MKGU from Conception to Charter and beyond . . .
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This item has been compiled and kindly written by Rotarian Pat White who was one of the Club's Founder Members and the First Club President. The early photographs included are borrowed from her personal collection. |
The Club was formed after it was decided that Milton Keynes was ready for a new club and the format of a breakfast club had proved popular in other areas, therefore it was decided by Charles Potter (Extension Officer for District 1260 at the time) and others to give it a try.
Charles himself was a member of a club in St Albans and was assisted in his work by several members of the existing Milton Keynes clubs. Most notable amongst these were Aldred Evershed and Frank Mattison from Bletchley, Frank Collins from Milton Keynes Club, Neil Beeton and John Goss from Newport Pagnell. Many others also gave us great help and support along the way to creation.
Picture taken during the evening of the Charter Dinner outside the Sculpture Gallery at Woburn Abbey
Left to right, front row. Pamela Meakins, Sonia Banks, Denise Carter, Irene Edwards, Esmé Hopson, Sally Collings, Pat White, Jackie Wilshire, Gill Beeson, Christina Rowe, Jean How and Philippa Eccles.
Back row, left to right. Trevor Clarke, Trevor Dimmock, Roy Everist, Paul Isherwood, Colin Rodwell, Preston Ayres, Martin Winup, Neil Bailey, Stephen Carbert, Steve Pocock, Mark Wilson, Colin Offor, David Hough and David Hobbs.
The names of those invited to the very first breakfast in September of 1993 were proposed mainly from the existing clubs as being thought to be of the correct Rotary material! Several weekly breakfast meetings were held at which Aldred, Charles and others tried very hard to get us all to understand what we were doing and eventually in the November we elected our first officers and had an inaugural breakfast at the CBX in Milton Keynes in the same month.
"That breakfast was a daunting experience for me" says Pat White, first Club President, "because it was attended by many guests from numerous other Rotary Clubs in the District and I was expected to give a speech and presentation of what we hoped to achieve and at 6.45 am, I was absolutely terrified. The Charter Dinner on April 21st 1994 was as bad, if not worse, because we had even more people in attendance and it went on for the entire evening."
The name of the club was decided upon democratically by a vote of the members. Aldred had put forward two alternatives, Milton Keynes Middleton and Milton Keynes Vikings (??? editor). Pat had suggested Grand Union because it was felt to be more representative of the idea behind the Club in that as the baby of the other four clubs who had come together to make it happen. We were also the first club in the area to be dual gender and hence the Union of men and women working together to make a difference in the community. The association with the canal of the same name was not lost and because the others agreed, the Rotary Club of Milton Keynes Grand Union was up and running.
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Pat White with the RIBI President and District Governor (Norman Davison) |
 Left to right. District Governor, Martin Winup (Vice-President,MKGU), Gina Negus (Treasurer, MKGU), Pat White (President, MKGU), RIBI President, Charles Potter (Extension Officer, District 1260 |
After the inaugural breakfast, the Club remained "in care" for several months whilst being closely minded and monitored by Charles and others until the Charter. At that point is was judged that the club was capable of being released unfettered into the world. Despite some ups and downs over the years, the Club has done well and should be proud of its achievements, both large and small.
Over the years, the Club has had a few homes for breakfast meetings. The Club started out at the Wavendon Golf Club, but because of some inconsistencies the club transferred its allegiance to the Wayfarer Hotel (now known as Lakeside) in a picturesque setting next to Willen Lake. Unfortunately after a while the proprietors appeared to lose interest in providing the venue for the breakfast meeting and a switch was made to Metro's Brasserie in the centre of the business community in Milton Keynes. After some time, financial constraints made another move necessary and the Club now holds its meetings in the Beale Suite at the Open University.
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Wayfarer Hotel, Willen Lake (now Known as Lakeside) The Beale Suite at the Open University
Many of the Founder Members still remain with the Club to this day (September, 2004) and a debt of gratitude is certainly due to those who persevered to create such an interesting and vibrant club bringing in members from both Milton Keynes and the surrounding area.
