This month’s contribution to WGC’s Rotary page is all about friendship, loyalty, trust and companionship.

Did you know that in this country around 70 couples are celebrating a platinum wedding anniversary this year - 70 years of marriage?

Alan and Enid Oates are one such couple. Alan is still an active Rotary member and his wife Enid very much involved too, having been a loyal Inner Wheel member and president of the organisation three times.

The couple, who married in July 1954, met and married in Newcastle, moved to West London, where Alan joined Hounslow Rotary Club, enhancing their already very active social life.

Later Alan became president of the new Rotary club of Heston and has fond memories of the regular personal meetings in various homes to discuss Rotary projects.

He enjoyed the contact with the local community and looking for ways Rotary could be supportive.

The couple moved to Welwyn Garden City in 1998 when Alan joined the WGC Rotary Club.

The WGC Rotary club was, in those days, rather different from what it is today.

Made up of professional men, the club was formed in 1926 by CB Purdom, secretary of the Garden City Company, who had been introduced to the organisation in New York.

He was attracted by the grouping of businessmen, with its high ethical standards, which aimed especially at helping the community in general. It obviously had much in common with the aims of the garden city movement. Sir Frederic Osborn was also a president.

The club raised funds for good causes through a variety of activities. Fondly remembered from the 1990s and beyond are the ‘Rotary Walk’ around the town and through Sherrardswood, the ‘Car Boot Sale’, held every month in the multi-story carpark and the famous ‘Music Hall‘ with Bill Griffin supported by Rotary and also Santa’s Sleigh’ to name but a few.

Internationally Rotary has played a large part in eradicating polio throughout the world, though most people do not know it!

Youth activities included ‘Youth Speaks’ a debating competition amongst local schools and ‘Young Chef’. The club has helped many students fulfil their dreams with foreign projects too.

Rotary, years ago, was a more formal affair involving traditional ritual with a gong to call meetings to order, with toasts and formalities that have gradually withered away.

Although ladies were permitted to join Rotary in 1989 WGC didn’t see the ladies until 1997, just one and later one other! It caused controversy! Now, however, the club boasts a healthy contingent of women our first lady president took the chair in 2020.

These days the club meetings to discuss how we will raise funds to be able to support local and global needs, happen weekly but within different settings.

If you want to get involved you’ll find us at Campus West where some of us meet at 11am on the third Tuesday of each month. We also meet online and often at a pub or local restaurant.

A Sporting satellite group of younger members helps our club with sporting events and with ‘Santa’s Sleigh’, our Christmas collection, with a fancy new sleigh you may have seen over the last couple of years.

There is talk of creating closer links with local businesses and organisations to share expertise on both sides helping each other to develop community links.

If you think you might be interested in this idea please get in touch. www.welwyngcrotary.org.uk.

Enid and Alan Oates said one of the things they really value is the wonderful friendships they have made through Rotary over the years.

With approximately 70 million people in the country and only 70 couples celebrating a platinum wedding anniversary this year, they are definitely one in a million!