The History of
Whitchurch Rotary Club
1938 - 2008

Visitors Welcome

We meet in the Dodington Lodge Hotel every 1st & 3rd Tuesday evening at 6:30pm for Dinner, every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 12:45pm for lunch, and if there's a 5th Tuesday, we meet at 7:00am for Breakfast. Visitors are welcome.

Presidents of Whitchurch Rotary Club

PRESIDENT 1969/70 and 1999/2000
SAM (RJL) ECCLESTON

Sam was educated at Whitchurch Grammar School and Rossall School. After National Service in the Middle East and training in Liverpool, joined his father in the proprietorship of The Whitchurch Herald, publishers of the local newspaper, - his grandfather being the printer engaged to print the first ever paper in March, 1869. In 1976, Sam formed Herald Printers (Whitchurch) Ltd., Colour and commercial printers when the newspaper was sold to the Thomson organisation. He retired in 2000. Past President of the Chamber of Trade, vice-chairman of governors and the PTA at Sir John Talbot's School, secretary for over 50 years of the Whitchurch August Bank Holiday Show and Fete committee. He is a past president (25 years)and captain (4 times) of Whitchurch Rugby Club and skippered the local cricket club for two years in the 50's. Keenly interested in most sports, except soccer, he is a member of the Rotary golf circle, winning the club's Bellis trophy on three occasions, and enjoys walking and swimming. In Rotary his particular involvements have been Foundation (25 years chairman), during the Polio Plus campaign from 1987 when over £4200 was raised in just four months, and also a significant number of Group Study Exchange team members, an ambassadorial scholar and in PP David Williams, whom Sam had introduced into Rotary, the club's first team GSE leader to Mexico. He was created a Paul Harris Fellow in 1991, and received a R.I. commemorative certificate along with Rotn. Eric Wright to mark his 50 years membership. Fourth member to serve as president for two terms, when he took the chair during the Millennium celebrations.
Joined Rotary 10/11/1953. Mother President Inner Wheel 1946/47. Uncle (AG Eccleston) Founder President, father (RJ Eccleston) Founder member.