The Rotary Club of Knaresborough

05/11/2026

🤔 I knew I should have been a Lion! 🦁 🤣🤣🤣

29/10/2026

25/10/2026

Knaresborough Castle turned purple for Polio
Saturday 24th October was World Polio Day and to mark the event Knaresborough Castle was floodlit in purple, a reminder of the purple dye used to mark the left little finger, the ‘purple pinkie’, of children given the Polio vaccine by immunisation teams in countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan where Polio is still endemic. In 1985, Rotary pledged to rid the world of polio spearheading the campaign at a time when there were over 1,000 polio cases a day in 125 countries. Today only two countries have endemic Polio, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Rotary's efforts over the years have seen 2.5 billion children immunised against the virus in 122 countries. Rotary Worldwide has donated $2.1 billion to the project. Rotary’s aim is to make polio only the second disease eradicated by vaccination and public health measures since smallpox. Knaresborough Rotarians are planting 4000 purple crocus bulbs around Knaresborough and with schools this October. Last year it was at the Linden Homes ‘Castlegate’ estate on the A59. Rotary plants purple crocuses to raise awareness of Rotary's End Polio Now campaign, as the purple crocus resembles the purple dye used on children's fingers to show children have received the vaccine. To donate go to Rotary Club of Knaresborough - JustGiving

24/10/2026

“The last chapter of polio is being written.”
World Polio Day 2026.
Today is World Polio Day, and a chance to reflect on just how far we’ve come, and to look ahead with renewed optimism.

For decades, Rotary members around the world have united behind an extraordinary ambition: a world free from polio.

That goal is closer than ever, thanks to the determination, generosity and commitment of Rotary members here in Great Britain and Ireland, and across the globe.

As we mark World Polio Day, we celebrate that remarkable progress of reducing cases by 99.9%, recognise the work still to be done and remind ourselves of what is possible when Rotary comes together behind a shared purpose.

The Minister of State for International Development and Africa, Kirsty McNeill MP, has highlighted and thanked Rotary as part of a special video message she recorded for World Polio Day.

“I want to pay tribute to the generosity of the British people, Rotary and other fundraising initiatives who have helped support the immunisation of tens of millions of children.” She said.

“The progress against polio shows what’s possible when countries and communities come together.”

21/10/2026

Our Speaker this week was Zoe Cooper from Day One Trauma Support who gave a very interesting presentation on this amazing, but lesser known, Leeds founded charity which is now providing support nationwide.
They support many hundreds of people who have experienced sudden life-changing injuries. Their vision is to ensure no one is left to cope with catastrophic injury on their own.
Visit Dayonetraumasupport.org to find out more or to make a donation.
Photograph shows Zoe (left) with Knaresborough President Stephanie Blevins.

19/10/2026

Knaresborough Castle to be turned purple for Polio
Saturday 24th October is World Polio Day and to mark the event Knaresborough Castle will be floodlit in purple, a reminder of the purple dye used to mark the left little finger, the ‘purple pinkie’, of children given the Polio vaccine by immunisation teams in countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan where Polio is still endemic. In 1985, Rotary pledged to rid the world of polio spearheading the campaign at a time when there were over 1,000 polio cases a day in 125 countries. Today only two countries have endemic Polio, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Rotary's efforts over the years have seen 2.5 billion children immunised against the virus in 122 countries. Rotary Worldwide has donated $2.1 billion to the project. Rotary’s aim is to make polio only the second disease eradicated by vaccination and public health measures since smallpox. Knaresborough Rotarians will be planting 4000 purple crocus bulbs around Knaresborough this October. Last year it was at the Linden Homes ‘Castlegate’ estate on the A59. Rotary plants purple crocuses to raise awareness of Rotary's End Polio Now campaign, as the purple crocus resembles the purple dye used on children's fingers to show children have received the vaccine. To donate go to Rotary Club of Knaresborough - JustGiving

08/10/2026

Knaresborough Rotary Club is a Bronze partner with ShelterBox
and collected £1,000 in Knaresborough Market place recently for ShelterBox.
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📍 Nepal Project Update
More than 85,000 people have been affected by the devastating flash floods that swept through Nepal, leaving many families displaced and facing an uncertain future.
A ShelterBox team is in Nepal working with local partners to provide emergency shelter and essential items. Together with Islamic Relief Nepal, Rotary International in Nepal and People in Need, we've already distributed tarpaulins, sleeping mats, ropes and pillows to hundreds of households, with support reaching around 1,000 families.
Flights carrying family tents, solar lights, thermal blankets and winterisation kits have also arrived. With damaged roads and collapsed bridges continuing to isolate communities, helicopters are being used to transport aid closer to remote villages.
This support will help families create safer places to sleep, protect themselves from the weather and prepare for colder temperatures in the months ahead.
Learn more about our response in Nepal and how your support is helping families recover after disaster 👉 https://bit.ly/4rbWSCB See less

05/10/2026

Rotary is not all about fundraising! Thirteen of our members recently enjoyed a fellowship weekend in Scarborough. An excellent theatre trip on the Friday evening to see the latest Alan Ayckbourn play. Saturday included a brilliant talk & tour by the volunteers at the Scarborough (RNLI) Lifeboat station. Founded in 1801, it is one of the oldest UK stations still in operation. Its new state-of-the-art Lifeboat house opened 10 yrs ago and the crews have received 35 awards for gallantry. Today the station operates a Shannon class all-weather lifeboat and a D class inshore lifeboat. John, our guide, explained that across the UK there are on average 25 lifeboat launches each day saving 23 lives. At Scarborough apart from 2 full-time staff, all 40 trained crew can respond in 5 minutes. There are also 30 support volunteers, all of them unsung heroes. The weekend ended with a visit to Scampston Hall Gardens on Sunday. Rotary is very much about fellowship and enjoyment. If you are interested in finding out more about Rotary email [email protected]

20/09/2026

Knaresborough Rotary Club have presented member Peter Wilson with a Paul Harris Fellowship. Named for the Founder of Rotary Paul Harris, the award is available to Rotarians and non-Rotarians who demonstrate high professional and personal standards and exemplary community service. Peter joined Rotary 34 years ago in 1992 and served for five years as a Club President and two years as a Club Secretary for the Rotary Club of Bacup. Having retired from a career as a pharmacist our man and his wife came to their senses and moved to God’s own county and joined Knaresborough Rotary Club where he has taken on the role of Assistant Secretary, shown his expertise with a spade, planting crocuses for the End Polio campaign as well as helping with the Technology Tournament. Apart from giving considerable service to Rotary, Peter is also a volunteer with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway as a driver, guard and signalman as well as working on the restoration of carriages. At Gracious Street Methodist church, he helps organise the monthly Men’s Breakfast and is adept at operating the projection system for services. A modest man Peter is universally respected as someone who just gets on and does things without any faff! The award was presented by the Rotary District Governor Elect Anne Griffin at the club’s 64th annual Charter celebration lunch at Henshaw’s Arts and Crafts Centre.

17/09/2026

This week Bohdan Antonychev and Isla Brindley came to tell us about their time on the RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) course this summer. They had enjoyed making new friends and learning how to deal with the challenges set both physically and mentally. Knaresborough Rotary has sponsored young people on the RYLA course for many years and will once again be looking for suitable candidates in 2027. Photograph shows Bohdan (left) and Isla (right) with Past President Deborah Wilson.