About Us
How it started
One of the most important Rotary Projects was initiated in 1974. It was eventually finished in 1977. It was started by the late Eric Futcher of Cinderford during his Presidential year 1974/75, continued by President Ernest Horritt of Lydney 1975/76 and finished by President Hubert Smith of Coleford in 1977.
This was the alteration and re-building of the old Fire Station in Lydney and equipping it to became the Victoria Centre: a place, to enable the elderly and disabled to meet and enjoy each other’s company, a Luncheon Club, and to allow the ‘Meals on Wheels” service for Lydney to develop and expand into the surrounding villages.
Rotarian Douglas Marfell, a Founder Member of the Club, wrote to the Social Services Department at Shire Hall, Gloucester, on behalf of the Club President Bric Futcher, to say that the Rotary Club wished to take up a project during his year of office, which ‘would benefit the Forest community’. Resulting from this a meeting was held in November 1974 which was attended by Rotarians Eric Futcher, Douglas Marfell and Ernest Horritt, Mr Bayliss and Mr Nichols representing Social Services and Mrs Patterson representing the Community Meals Services. A number of suggestions were tabled and President Eric decided to investigate the setting up of a day centre in Lydney. It was the logical step to ask Senior Vice President Ernest Horritt to look at various venues as he was a resident of Lydney.
The first serious proposal was the Town Hall. which in most respects was very satisfactory. However, it was rejected because it lacked exclusivity, and the catering arrangements would have been very difficult. The next place to be considered was the old unused Fire Station, and a meeting was held there in March 1975 which was attended by the County Valuation Officer. He raised a number of objections, principally concerning the cost. He persuaded the meeting that what they were proposing was not a feasible proposition. It so happened that Ernest Horritt was not at this meeting because of his business commitments abroad. When he came home and was told that the whole project had been cancelled he was ~ to put it mildly – annoyed. He felt that as a great deal of preliminary work had been done by a great many people; the building had been approved by the Social Services Committee and as we were not asking the County for any financial help, the whole matter should not just die.
So Ernest, together with another Rotarian, Ron Aldridge, met with County Councillor J. Wolridge who had supported the Project from the beginning. It was agreed that Mr Wolridge would work on the members of the various County sub-committees and we, The Club, would re-open the discussions with the Social services Department.
Their efforts were successful! In late 1975 planning permission to make the old Fire Station into a ‘Day Centre’ was granted.
The whole of the Club now became involved.
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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Our Team
People Who Love Our Place
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