The Club celebrated its 95th Anniversary on 9th October2025, when the formal charter was presented to the Club at a Charter Meeting in the Queens Hotel in Grays.
According to club records*, our Club was the offspring of the Southend on Sea Rotary Club, who decided there was a chance of forming a new Club ‘up river’. Arthur Boatman, a jeweller in Grays was the leading light at the Grays end and he had two sons who were members of the Southend Club. Ground work went well and, on the 13th February 1930, nine potential members met with Rotarians from Southend on Sea at the King’s Arms Hotel in Grays and agreed on the formation of a Club. A further six members were added over the next two weeks and the inaugural meeting of the club was held on the 6th March 1930 at the Queen’s Hotel Grays with fifteen members present.
Arthur Boatman was elected Founding President, Brett Asplin the Secretary and Percy Davy the Treasurer and since then the Club has never looked back.
The Club met for many years at the Queens Hotel where their initial meetings consisted of a 4 course meal at only 2 shillings (10p). Then on to the Masonic Hall, initially at Lenthall Avenue then at the Cross Keys in Chadwell. We have met at the Orsett Hall since 2013 and still do on a Thursday Lunch time where anyone is welcome to attend. Please let us know in advance by emailing our Dinner Secretary
The Club hopes to honour this milestone in Club history in an appropriate way shortly. Here’s to our centenary in 5 years!
*Quoting from a ‘History of the Club 1930 to 2020’, by Derek Worrall and Bob Paterson. Club members can find more interesting facts by clicking here.