Welcome to the website of the Rotary Club of Wolstanton  The club meets each Thursday evening at 7.00pm for dinner at 7.30pm We meet at The Borough Arms Hotel, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 1HX Tel: 01782 629421 Wolstanton is mentioned in the Domesday Book consisting of 14 villeins (peasants), 2 ploughs and a priest who had his own plough - typical. The "village" has changed a little. It now has a Rotary Club formed in 1986 with 26 members of various ages and backgrounds who mix social activities with charity works. Since its formation it has raised over £130,000 for local and international charities. Rotary is a secular, non-political organisation open to all. There are more than 1.2 million men and women in over 33,000 Rotary Clubs in 2,000 countries who donate their expertise and time to support local international projects. Wolsanton village has changed but the character of the population has not. Industry has gone - Wolstanton Colliery one of the deepest shafts in Europe closed in 1985 and was demolished in 1987 and is now the site of an Asda supermarket. Past residents include Henry Faulds - the fingerprint pioneer and who is buried at St Margaret's Church. James Brindley the pioneering canal engineer lived in the area until his death in 1772.  Picture of a Gargoyle at St Margaret's Church. The headstone in St Margaret's churchyard of Sarah Smith (deceased in 1783) includes a short poem written in the first person in which she suggests she was murdered. "With half a pint of poyson he came to visit me" and then she provides a clue to the killer. "It was C---- B-------- who brought me to my end". Who is C B ????????? Our members include an Alchemist, two Physicians and two Magistrates. Do pay us a visit you will be made very welcome. Contact wolrotary@yahoo.co.uk |