A brief history of
Dover Community Association (CIO)
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Frederick Cleary CBE
(1905 - 1984)
Dover Community Association was set up in 1969 by the Rotary Club of Dover. It was originally based at Cleary House in Maison Dieu Road, Dover which was purchased by a donation from the Cleary Foundation, a general grant making charity with emphasis on issues local to Kent and reflecting the wishes of Frederick Cleary CBE (1905 - 1984) a Chartered Surveyor and property entrepreneur from Crouch End, London, who became resident in St Margaret's Bay in the late 1940's.
After a period of financially hard times during the late 1970's and early 1980's, treasurer Arthur Thomas made it financially viable.
In the early 2000's, Cleary House needed significant investment in order to maintain the fabric of the building and to keep it fit for purpose. With income in decline, maintenance cost rising and against great opposition, moves were made to sell the building.
In December 2012 the property, Cleary House, was sold at auction as changing demands made it no longer the ideal place for the Association.
In March 2016 Dover Community Association received, via a community asset transfer from Dover District Council, Biggin Hall, a 19th century building situated just behind the Town Council Offices.
Following months of hard work by Rotarian volunteers and friends, on Saturday 15th April 2017 Dover Rotary Club celebrated the re-opening of Biggin Hall. The first event to be held there was the Student Makers' Market, hosted by Future Foundry, which proved to be a big success. The event was attended by Dover Rotary President (2016) John Wiggell, Town Mayor of Dover Cllr Neil Rix, Rotarian Simon Crowley (also of Dover Community Association) and Lisa Oulton, Director of Future Foundry.
With acknowledgement to The Cleary Foundation, Lorraine Sencicle (The Dover Historian) and The Rotary Club of Dover.
Dover Rotary Volunteers
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