The History of the
Rotary Club of Southgate

The following extracts are taken from "The First Sixty Years" A History of The Rotary Club of Southgate by Past Presidents John Haworth and Bill Easton.

Because the compilers are having to tackle the task without the benefit of written observations by early Rotarians, regretfully the first 30 years will have to be of somewhat factual record, taken one hopes in an interesting manner from the Minutes with personal observations by the compilers to give a now historical viewpoint.

We will of course be referring to many Presidents and Committee Chairmen by name or by way of events which took place in their Year of office. There must have been many early Rotarians who would have been excellent Presidents but who never aspired to take the Chair, and some of our hardest working past Rotarians have not made, or sought, the limelight and we are sorry we cannot record their names as they are unknown to us.

As each Rotary Year passes the events of that Year fade gradually into history and perhaps seem of less importance than events that have taken place within present—day memory, but we feel that at the time of Southgate Rotary Club's 60th Year, we should not give any more prominence or make more significant any recent events than say those that took place 40, 50 or 60 years ago, whether it be service, entertainment or fund raising, especially in this latter context when a £1 value in 1925 would in 1985 be £20 to £30.

Finally, to go some way towards making this record of interest, we have divided the history into sections approximately by decade, so please now read on.....

THE FIRST SIX YEARS 1925 — 1930

Rotary came to London in 1911; King George V had come to the throne the year before at the end of the Edwardian era. It was not until twelve years later after the Great War that it was realised that there should be more than one club in Greater London. In 1923 the Streatham Club was formed — No 2 in London. At the same time, the British Association of Rotary Clubs formed Districts, became RIBI, and Greater London became District 13.

In the year 1921 a young business man, junior director in a family firm of builders' merchants, was invited to lunch at London's then only Rotary Club. He records that he was ‘impressed' with the occasion, at which Sir Harry Lauder was the speaker, and three eminent 'barons' of Big Business, Lords Leverhulme and Melchett, and Sir Thomas Lipton, and many other notables, including a royal prince, were present. The suggestion of his host that this young man — Verrall Reed by name — should be nominated for London membership abashed him. Who was he to aspire to such distinction? In the course of a few years, however, Verrall Reed advanced in his local community to become President of the Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary, which he had felt too humble to join in London, came to invite him to become Founder President of a club to be formed at Southgate.

The Southgate Club, under the leadership of Verrall Read, was to be the progenitor of a vigorous family in North London and the leader himself became not only Chairman of the District but the President of Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland and Director of Rotary International.

(A feat repeated by PP Tony de St Dalmas in the present day)

1925

In 1925 we were still recovering from the first World War. George V was King of Great Britain and Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the seas, Emperor of India, etc etc. Stanley Baldwin was Prime Minister. Income Tax was 1s 2d.Southgate was still an Urban District. Richard Bell JP a former Member of Parliament, was Chairman of the Council. Rates were 12s 7d. We had no Oakwood or Arnos Parks. The old Thatched Cottage was still standing near the Palmers Green Triangle. There had been a Chamber of Commerce for some years. There were no electric trains nearer than Finsbury Park. Most of the travellers to Town went by steam train from Palmers Green Station, or by bus to Finsbury Park. None of the newer shops had been built at Cockfosters, and we still talked of “Southgate Village”.

The Inaugural Meeting was held at the Southgate Council Offices on 22 October 1925. The arrangements were made by Fred Galleway, a local accountant who had a brother in the Rotary Club of Whitby, T J Oldland and C Stanley Brown. The District Chairman Arthur Chadwick attended and explained the principles of Rotary, while Verrall Reed was elected to take the Chair. Finally, it was agreed to meet at The Fox Hotel on Mondays at 1pm. The day and time has never varied.

The first lunch meeting was held on 2 November 1925, and on 16 November the 22 prospective members signed a petition to form a Rotary Club. On 23 November District representatives were appointed, House and Fellowship, Membership and Programme Committees were appointed. The first Council meeting was held on 2 December and on 21 December 1925 the application for membership was approved by RIBI.

Thus was the Rotary Club of Southgate, the 14th Club in District 13, formed.

1926

The first Annual General Meeting was held on 9 February when all the officers were re—elected and the Budget presented. On 15 March, RI celebrated the 21st Anniversary of its foundation, and Southgate agreed to assist in forming clubs at Finchley, Wood Green and Hornsey. The Charter Presentation was made by Arthur Chadwick, President of District 13, at the club luncheon on 22 March with 100% attendance, representatives from the clubs of St Pancras, Camberwell, London, Paddington, Kensington, Clapham, West Ham, and potential rotarians from Hornsey, Wood Green, Enfield and Finchley.

On 25 March the Club held a Charter Presentation Celebration at the Midland Grand Hotel with Rotarians, Ladies and Gentlemen present. Our President, G M Verrall Reed, presided. The Toast of the Rotary Club of Southgate was proposed by Arthur Chadwick, Chairman District 13, and replied to by G M Verrall Reed. The Toast of the “Ladies and Visitors” was proposed by Vice President H L Sheat and replied to by Mrs I J Oldland, Rotarian J Mitchell, President of the St Pancras Club, and Councillor Richard Bell JP, Chairman of the Southgate Urban District Council. The Toast of Rotary International was proposed by Vice President J G Stapleton and replied to by Director RIBI Edwin Unwin Jr.

By 8 June, six new London clubs had been formed with Southgate "well represented at each Charter Presentation".

Later in the year the first daughter club of Southgate, Finchley, was formed. It is interesting to note that, as a result of the experience of Verrall Reed in forming Southgate, he formulated a procedure for the formation of Rotary Clubs in RIBI which was first used for Finchley, and is effectively the method used ever since. Verrall Reed became the first District Extension Committee Chairman and wrote the pamphlet “How to Form a Rotary Club” published by RIBI.

1927

The first Council meeting of the year “commenced at 8.00 pm and terminated at 1.30 am with business all the time”. Membership increased to 24. The first Honorary Member, Alderman G Marlow Reed (Verrall's father) was elected. A Joint Dinner was held with Finchley Club. Rotarians and their Wives entertained crippled girls at Halliwick. A gift of an Oak Rotary Wheel and two Flags was made by G Stanley Brown and W S Lovelace. Suggestions from the Club for standardisation of all Rotary badges of office were sent to District 13 and afterwards adopted by RI. Ostend Convention — Verrall, T J Oldland, J Kendall, R A Galleway with their wives attended, and afterwards had a week's tour of Clubs in Belgium. 1st July 1927 — Post Ostend Hospitality — the Club entertained a party of overseas Rotarians to dinner at Freemans Restaurant, Enfield, and enjoyed a coach trip to Temple Bar and Epping Forest. Proposed Enfield Club preliminaries were arranged. Twenty—seven needy families were assisted at Christmas.

1928

Joint Meeting with the Welwyn Garden City Club at the Cherry Tree Hotel, Welwyn, and a visit to the Shredded Wheat Factory. Verrall Reed was elected Vice President, District 13. Rotarian A Page conducted a party of “Innocents Abroad” to visit the La Louviere Club, Belgium, R B Brown, H G F Gamble, T A C Trumble, W E Silver, C Stanley Brown, J Ralph, A Page, and they appear to have had a grand welcome and brought back a Flag. On 10th September 1928 we had a special ladies' lunch at Cedars Hall. The President and two other members from the La Louviere Club attended and presented a large Belgian flag as a symbol of friendship. A Whist Drive was held to provide wireless sets for hospitals. Boxing gloves were presented to Toc H. Grovelands Hospital Fete was actively supported. Club Sports sections were formed and a Ladies Festival was held at Alexandra Palace.

The great work of this year was the part the Club undertook in relieving the distress in the Welsh Mining districts of Pontlottyn and Fochriw. Over £100 was collected in the Charity Box, and in conjunction with the Urban District Council and “Palmers Green and Southgate Gazette”, over £1,000 was raised, and RB and his wife personally arranged the collecting and despatching of over 10,000 garments. RB certainly lived up to our Rotary motto — Service above Self. Rotary Ladies Circle was formed with Mrs R B Brown as Founder President, Mrs H L Sheat, Secretary, Mrs T J Oldland, Treasurer — 14 members.

1929

Verrall Reed was elected Chairman of District 13 and Southgate attended in full force to support him.

21st January 1929 — Minutes report that owing to the illness and absence of the Secretary it was found that the records of the other members of the Council attending could not be deciphered. Membership increased to 30. Garden Fete was held at the Shredded Wheat Factory at Welwyn Garden City. Joint meeting of Welwyn, Enfield, Wood Green, Finchley and Southgate Clubs. Albert Page presented Bookcase for Club Library, and A R Wiseman arranged for it to be placed in the “Palmers Green and Southgate Gazette's offices, at Aldermans Hill.

A District Ball was held to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the formation of Rotary, Southgate being well represented.

Subscribed to Kensington Club lawsuit which cost £1,293. Assistance was given to Hospital Scheme for supplying wireless sets. £28 was expended to supply Christmas parcels for the needy. Transport was arranged for Hospital patients and friends. Halliwick Cripples Home — Christmas Tree and gifts were supplied.

Contacts were made with Madrid Club and Spanish dresses obtained for a District Ball in National Costumes, of those countries in Rotary.

1930

The Ladies Festival was held on 6 March at Holborn Restaurant with a discussion “Should Southgate become a Borough”.

British Industries Fair — Club helped to man Rotary Room. Headquarters moved from the Fox Hotel to Broomfield House, Broomfield Park. Civic Lunch was held on 14thm July. Most of the members and chief officers of the Urban District Council attended, Rotarian A C Crane, the Chairman, and Rotarian T Hopper, Vice—Chairman of the Council spoke and mentioned that for the first time in history the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Council were Rotarians, members of the Canvey Island and Wood Green clubs respectively.Verrall Reed went to Chicago Convention.

Rotarian Albert Page died (A very popular member). 14 fellows attended the last sad Rites.

The President and Verrall Reed attended Folkestone District 12 & 14 Conference, and Woodford Charter Presentation. TJ had his car stolen at the latter (afterwards recovered). Presidents Board was presented to us by the Ladies' Circle. District Ball Covent Garden — Verrall was well supported from Southgate. £40 spent on Christmas Gifts for the Needy.

Even in 1914 the district remained predominantly rural. However development along Fox Lane meant that Southgate was for the first time linked to the London conurbation. Even after World War I relatively little development had taken place. The Southgate House Estate (Meadway etc.) was developed from 1924. By this time the end of rural Southgate was in sight. Luckily, Southgate Council had taken the wise precaution of acquiring land as public open space: Grovelands Park (1913), Arnos Park (1928) and Oakwood Park (1927).

Public transport innovations were largely responsible for the obliteration of rural Southgate. Development remained slow for as long as Southgate was fairly remote from public transport. In 1930 Parliament sanctioned an extension of the Piccadilly Line north of Finsbury Park to Cockfosters. Trains reached Cockfosters in July 1933.

The effect of the new railway line was spectacular. The builders moved in on Southgate. The landowners of the nineteen-thirties were only too happy to sell to the builders. Since the Second World War Southgate has been prevented by the Green Belt policy from expanding further. The main change has been the progressive demolition of older houses to make way for blocks of flats. In the seventies the shopping centres at Southgate and Oakwood began to look more and more dated and business was lost to Wood Green and Enfield Town. Despite the survival of remnants of the old village and evidence of earlier phases of development, the overwhelming impression conveyed by Southgate is of the nineteen-thirties.

In 2000 to celebrate the club's 80th Anniversary we published the History of the Rotary Club of Southgate 1925-2005.
Price £10.00 +P&P. Order your copy here HERE

 

The Club Bell
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