Our Team

Every Member was allocated to one or more committees. Finance, Lydney & District, Buildings, Publicity, Out-of-Lydney and Internal 'club'. Each Member's business experience, know-how and professional expertise was used to the advantage of the project. (It was soon realised that we faced a much bigger undertaking than we had at first realised and that we would need all the extra help we could get!)...President Ernest spoke to the Forest "LIONS CLUBS' and they promised to raise £2200. ‘ROUND TABLE promised assistance without any specific target. ‘THE ARMY APPRENTICES SCHOOL at CHEPSTOW' undertook as a training project to do much of the building work. 'FLI.IMM & Co." agreed to see that all building standards were met. Companies were canvassed for help in cash or materials and as a result ‘DURAMIN ENG.CO.‘' designed and fabricated a long span beam which enabled two supporting pillars to be dispensed with, considerably increasing the usable space; ‘LYDNEY PLYWOOD’ supplied the chairs and other furniture; ‘ARNE KARVTK, ARCHITECT' (and a Club Member), provided plans and schedules to meet Planning, Environment and Fire Service requirements.....

In all £12,900 was contributed to the project. The greater portion of this was spent on the equipment needed for the kitchen, which was bought to the requirements of the Social Services Department.
By the time the project was nearly Finished, the President was Hubert Smith of Coleford. He now organised the Members of the Rotary Club, the Lions and Round Table into working parties, to clean and decorate the building.

 So, what began with a letter from Rotarian Douglas Marfell to Mr H.D. Nicholls, the Director of Social Services on August 2. 1974 under the Presidency of Rotarian Eric Futcher via the persistence of President Ernest Horritt, culminated in President Hubert Smith handing over the keys of a fine building to the Management Committee on April 16, 1977… together with a sum of £400 which was left over from all the fund-raising that had taken place.

The name 'The Victoria Centre’ was suggested by Mrs Glenice Horritt, the wife of Ernest. The building was officially opened on May 28, 1977. by Lady Bledisloe. The first ‘Management Committee’ met on WEDNESDAY, 26 MAY 1976 and was as follows...

President of The Royal Forest of Dean Rotary Club, Ernest Horritt.
Mr D. Marfell, Committees for Disabled Persons (and a Rotarian)
Mrs E. Amer-James, WRVS.
Mr V. Stracey, Senior Citizens' Club.
Mrs P. Beeley, Chairman, Senior Citizens' Club.
Mr S. Gresty, British Legion (and a Rotarian).
Mrs V. Jones, Women's Institute.
Mrs P. Woodward, Organiser, County O.P.W Committee.
County Councillor J.C. Wolridge, rep. Glos. c.c.
M.E. Holsworth, rep. Forest of Dean Council.
Mrs K.R. Chapman, rep. Lydney Town Council.
+ appropriate officers of the Central and Area Social Services offices.
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