THE ROTARY CLUB OF GREENWICH – some early history Deptford Rotary Club in its Club “Notes for March” 1926 recorded on 10th February 1926, that a prospective interim President and Secretary of a new proposed Club in Greenwich had been welcomed by Deptford Club on several occasions past, and that the birth of the Greenwich Club as the 21st Club in District 13, was celebrated at the conference of Rotary International’s 21st birthday.

At the conference, held at the Wharncliffe Rooms, Hotel Great Central in London on 22nd February 1926, it was resolved at 3pm that a Greenwich Rotary Club be formed as a member Club of Rotary International RIBI. It was agreed that Deptford Club was largely responsible for the birth of its dutiful daughter,the new Greenwich Club.

The first luncheon meeting of The Rotary Club of Greenwich was held at 1o’clock on Tuesday 2nd March 1926 at the Ship Hotel Greenwich, famous in Victorian times for its Whitebait Dinners. The Club met every Tuesday thereafter. The elected first President was EH (Bert) Berryman, and the Secretary GF Fry. A joining fee and annual subscription of 2 guineas wasagreed upon. The Club Charter was granted on 14th April 1926.

One of the founding Club members was Astronomer Royal, at the Greenwich Royal Observatory 1910 to 1933 – Sir Frank Dyson. He introduced the ‘six pips’ – that is, the six beeps leading up to the hour on radio broadcasts of Greenwich MeanTime.

On his retirement in 1933, his successor, Astronomer Royal 1933 to 1955 – Sir Harold Spencer Jones, also became a Club member. He worked with The General Post Office – GPO, in introducing the beloved telephone speaking clock, still in use today.

There can be few Clubs with a designation of “Astronomy” and certainly none with two Astronomers Royal as members.

The Ship Hotel, hard by the river Thames, was bombed by then German Airforce during WW2. Both it and the pier it sat on were finally demolished to make way for a dry dock for theworld-famous clipper ship Cutty Sark to be permanently moored there in 1954, following an initiative supported by HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Baron Greenwich of Greenwich.

Despite this rather rude interruption the Club continued to meet, firstly at the Express Dairy nearby, then later at the Express Dairy at New Cross. A speaker there was saying “and this is my last word”, when it very nearly was as a flying bombexploded outside – fortunately without killing anyone. The Club never missed a meeting throughout the war. After the war it met in the restaurant of The National Maritime Museum, whereClub visitors delighted in being escorted around the museum after lunch. The Club later met outside of its territory in various venues, including the restaurant of Cheiseman’s department store in nearby Lewisham.

In 1928 the Club started to raise £500.00 to purchase a site at Cudham, near Downe in Kent, as a camping ground forGreenwich Boy Scouts. The camp was close to Down House, where naturalist Charles Darwin and his family lived from 1842 to 1882, and where he wrote his ground-breaking work “on the origin of species by natural selection”, and to the aerodrome of RAF Biggin Hill.

Over a period of many years there had been a close link between the Club and Greenwich Boy Scouts Association. The freehold of the camp site was eventually purchased by the Club and made over as a gift to the Scouts in May 1930.A short time before 1955, the Club deliberated on how they might celebrate the Golden Jubilee Year of Rotary International 1954 -1955. The Club Vice-President Arthur Hull, who was also Chairman of Greenwich Boy Scouts Association, reported that the camp site hut had fallen into a bad state of repair, largely because the ground could not be used during the war years as it was in a prohibited area on account of its proximity to Biggin Hill aerodrome. It was agreed that a new hut would be erected at a cost of £1,200.00, to which the club contributed £550.00. The cost of furnishing the Chapel within the hut was also a gift from the Club – by the generosity of three members. On 14th July 1956 with the support of Club President Arthur Prothero and Rotarians and their ladies, the new Hut was opened by Revd. Canon WT Money, a Past President of the Club in whose term of office the site had originally been presented. Before the dedication of the Chapel by the Archdeacon of Greenwich Rt. Revd. LA Brown, President Arthur unveiled a plaque inscribed: “The sanctuary within was dedicated on 14 July 1956 to the memory of Founder-President Bert Berryman and in recognition of his service to Rotary 1925-1953 by his fellow-members of The Rotary Club of Greenwich”.

In June 1931, a Rotary Garden Party in aid of the Greenwich and Deptford Babies Hospital, was held in the grounds of the Greenwich Royal Observatory – rarely opened to the public.

In June 1932 the Club visited London’s Airport at Croydon aerodrome, delighting in a 20-minute flight over Greenwich and environs, in “Heracles”, a Handley Page HP 42 biplane. The aeroplane was the largest airliner in regular use anywhere in the world, flying the Empire air routes, Despite being slow and obsolete by the 1930’s, it was extremely safe – the eight aircraft in the fleet flying over ten million miles without a fatality. As one Rotarian wag at the time was keen to point out – it had two wings in case one should fall off! Following a safe return to Croydon, a high tea was enjoyed at the nearby Aerodrome Hotel.

Club members were enthusiastic participants in the 1933 Greenwich Night Pageant at the Royal Naval College held in conjunction with an Industrial Exhibition, which from 16th June, showcased the products of local firms from which Club members were drawn. The Pageant between 10pm and midnight excepting Sunday, was on a massive scale. It was estimated that over a hundred thousand attended the exhibition and the performances – played out in four themes …

The christening of the future Queen Elizabeth I – daughter of King Henry VIII. The remains of the christening chapel in the medieval Palace of Placentia, are now under a car park in The Old Royal Naval College.

The triumphant return of Drake’s ship Golden Hind after his great circumnavigation of the globe, and the dropping of his cloak in a muddy puddle for the convenience of the Queen, to his subsequent knighting and scattering of the Spanish Armada. A replica of the Golden Hind can be seen at St Mary Overie’s Dock hard by Southwark Cathedral.

The execution of King Charles I. Followed by the triumphal gathering at Blackheath of King Charles II and his magnificent procession to London, in celebration of the restoration of the monarchy.

To the strains of Handel’s Water Music – the arrival at Greenwich of the first Hanoverian King George I. The victory of General James Wolfe at Quebec, Canada. Wolfe is buried in St Alfege Church in Greenwich.

And lastly… The arrival of the dead Nelson after the Battle of Trafalgar and his lying in-state in The Painted Hall at Greenwich. Followed by his subsequent departure by funeral barge, upstream to St Paul’s Cathedral, on January 9th, 1806.

Ticket prices ranged from 1shilling and sixpence, to 12shillings and sixpence, with 1guinea seats in the enclosure next to the Royal Box. The largest scaffolding stand ever built in Britain was erected, able to accommodate over twelve thousand spectators at one sitting who could view proceedings on a huge “shadowgraph” screen erected in the College Central Grand Square. Royal patronage was bestowed with HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH The Princess Royal and the Duke of Kent attending. King Feisal of Iraq – on a state visit – was present. The Victorian custom of Whitebait Dinners were revived at The Ship Hotel (the old Club stomping ground) and at The Trafalgar Tavern.The whole event, although massively successful, was reluctantly ended on 24th June.

In 1934 the Club “visited” The Rotary Club of Greenwich Connecticut USA, by “proxy”, when members of the Port Chester N.Y. Rotary Club “impersonated” members of our Club, at an International Day Club luncheon meeting at The Pickwick Arms. Some of the Port Chester Rotarians took the part of Greenwich Rotary Club Rotarians, as if they were present. The meeting opened with a welcome speech by the Greenwich Connecticut Club President – W Jay Willison, when the entire gathering sang God Save The King. Four new Club members were inducted, then the entire gathering rose and drank the health of HM King George and President Roosevelt. Bradley A Duzenberry, Past District Governor of District 29 and Past President of the Port Chester Club, took charge of the meeting explaining that he was representing E H Berryman, founder Past President and Secretary of the Greenwich England Rotary Club. From this point on the meeting was conducted just as though the Englishmen were present. A few “my job” talks were presented including Sir Frank Dyson KBE, by Rotarian James Phillips. Sir Frank said that although he was now retired, he knows of no more enjoyable occupation than that of Astronomer Royal. He also pointed out that at the Greenwich Royal Observatory a visitor could stand over The Prime Meridian Line and have one foot in the Eastern Hemisphere and one foot in the Western Hemisphere. Although he had the opportunity of being in touch with others of his kind worldwide,

having attended 20 or so world conferences, he was at pains to point out that the rate of pay was not very good!

The presentation of a History of Greenwich England, was received with considerable interest – the legend read something along these lines ……

1st Century – Romans made a permanent settlement at Greenwich 5th Century – Jutes landed here 9th Century – Danes settled here

In 1011 the Danes brought Alfege, Archbishop of Canterbury to Greenwich where he was martyred on April 19th, 1012, on the site of the present St Alfege Church. The first church was built on the site in 1085 and stood until 1710. In 1718 the present structure was opened and the pre-Reformation organ, which was saved in 1710, was again set up….

In 1759 General James Wolfe the conqueror of Quebec Canada, was buried in the church. Various North American colonies are held “as of the Manor of East Greenwich”. Canada is in this sense, part of Greenwich today.

The Palace of Placentia was a favourite Royal Palace from the time of King Edward I to that of King James II. On the site of Placentia arose Wren’s famous Royal Naval College. The Royal Hunting Park of Greenwich was enclosed in 1432.

VII, King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth 1, and Cromwell. Here the defeat of the Spanish Armada was planned. Here William Shakespeare played before the Queen.

Geoffrey Chaucer, John Milton and Samuel Johnson lived and worked here. Drake, Frobisher, Hawkins and Raleigh planned the rise and fall of empires. The remains of Lord Nelson lay in state in The Painted Hall after the Battle of Trafalgar. On the site of Duke Humphrey’s Tower, Wren’s famous Royal Observatory was built. The present Astronomer Royal is Rotarian Sir Harold Spencer Jones, a distinguished member of the Greenwich Club.

The meeting was agreed to have been a great success being avidly reported by the popular local Greenwich Connecticut newspaper – The Greenwich Press – on Thursday March 22nd1934. The meeting was reported as being conducted as though the Greenwich England members were present. It was deemed to have created a kinship, and a new understanding in the meeting of minds though the physical presence of the men were some 3,000 miles apart.

A modern version of this adventure might be to perhaps venture out by “Zoom” messaging – but surely it would not be with the same meeting of minds …

In celebration of The Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey on 12th May 1937, the Club organised a Coronation Ball on Friday 28th May, held in The King Charles Building of The Royal Naval College – the proceeds in aid of local charities. The event, by kind permission of President of the College – Vice-Admiral S.R. Bailey C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., was one of the exceedingly rare occasions when the establishment allowed a function of any sort to be held within its precincts. The guest list of a host of dignitaries included Vice-Admiral Bailey, Sir Ion Hamilton Benn, Bt., C.B., D.S.O., The Worshipful The Mayor of Greenwich and the Mayoress of Greenwich, and No 13 District Chairman RIBI, Rotarian James Beeby and Mrs Beeby.

Entertainment during the evening which ran from 8.45pm until 2am, was provided by Marius B Winter’s Famous Broadcasting Band. Marius B Winter’s Dance Band was the first ever to broadcast in Britain, from Marconi House London, in 1923. Since then, he had been broadcasting regularly with his orchestra, from the BBC and Luxembourg. 704 tickets were sold and although a modest £274 profit was made, it was agreed to have been one of the most successful events ever organised by the Club.

On September 7th, 1948, HRH The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh Baron Greenwich of Greenwich, whilst attending The Royal Naval College on a course of instruction as a Naval Officer, lunched with the Club at The National Maritime Museum. In extending a welcome to the Royal visitor, Club Service Committee Chairman Rotarian TB Thompson, paid tribute to the Duke and the affection and esteem in which he was held by all members of the community. The Club President Victor W Hindwood, was in the Chair. District 13 South Vice Chairman Rotarian Mark Stanford, members of surrounding Rotary Clubs, together with several non-Rotarian members including the Director of the Museum F.G.G. Carr, were also in attendance.Founder – President E.G “Bert” Berryman gave a resume’ of the history of Rotary and described the inception of the Greenwich Club in 1926. During the meeting Commodore Sir Roy Gill was inducted as a Club member. His wartime service as Commodore of Atlantic Convoys was a distinguished one. He was feted, as at that time war time experiences were still vivid in people’s minds.

March 2022 John Furlonger – Club Past President