Welcome to the first of our news bulletins for Friends of the Rotary Club of Grays Thurrock.
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President Dave's Message
It is a great honour to be selected as President of such an enthusiastic Rotary Club with a history going back 96 years. My President's Jewel has the names of many pillars of the Grays Thurrock community; I am proud to be wearing it for this Rotary Year.
One of my main aims as President is to get the community more aware of our existence and what we can do to support them. Hence this News Bulletin which is being ably produced by Clive Page the Chairman of our new Public Image Committee. We will also be publicising more widely how we can support the community with our small grants.
The Rotary Club of Grays Thurrock held its annual Charity Golf Day on 18 August at Orsett Golf Club, welcoming an impressive field of 115 golfers for a superb day of sport, fellowship, and fundraising.
The weather provided ideal playing conditions — fine, dry, and cooler than recent weeks — making it a perfect day for golfers to enjoy the beautifully presented course.
Our Club President Dave has recently visited clubs in New Zealand where they have a Pot Luck Supper as a social event. Every member is welcome and all you have to bring, apart from yourselves is an item of food and the drink to share on the buffet table. It would appear this also happens to some clubs in the UK where they are held on a Friday and called TGIF (Thanks Goodness it's Friday).
The Club has rewarded long serving member Peter Brainwood with Honorary Membership of the Club. Past President Paul Smith recently made the award at Peter's home. Peter was a recent recipient of a Long Service Award, was a former President and until recently was our Dinner Secretary.
The new Rotary Year starts on the 1st July and so it’s all change at the Club. Today was the handover from the existing to the new President and it also marked the last Thursday lunchtime meeting the Club will hold at Orsett Hall.
Twenty‑three members and guests of the Rotary Club of Grays Thurrock enjoyed a fantastic social evening on Tuesday 9 June as we travelled to Chelmsford for the T20 clash between Essex Men and Kent Spitfires.
The Rotary Club of Grays Thurrock was delighted to host the 65th Tripartite of the Rotary Clubs of Iserlohn, Voorschoten‑Leidschendam and Grays Thurrock, and extended a very warm welcome to everyone who attended.
The weekend was held from 15 to 17 May 2026 but many of our guests stayed in the UK for longer and visited London.
On Wednesday 1st June the Club organised an annual ‘Rotary Children's Fun Day’ day by taking on a hot and sunny day, two coach loads full of children, their carers’ and teachers from Treetops School to Adventure Island and the Sealife Centre at Southend-on-Sea, Essex for an enjoyable day out.
As for many years in the past, our Club has been giving disabled and disadvantaged young people the chance to enjoy new experiences, taste adventure and have a fun day out and we are glad to say we achieved the objective.
Since 1 January 2025, we have donated £38,503 to charities and good causes.
Every pound of this has come from the incredible generosity of the people and businesses of Thurrock, and from the hard work of our volunteers throughout the year. Thank you — your support allows us to make a real difference in our community.
Each year the Club organises for members a mystery trip to a secret location to enjoy fellowship, good food and drink and the possibility of learning a little about another country or city. The unique point about the trip is that the destination is kept totally secret to everyone but the organisers until we’re on the bus to the airport, though we are given some indication of climate and currency in advance.
Well where did we go to on 20th April? Answer – Albania.
The Club held its cheque presentation lunch on 26th February at Orsett Hall and invited all of the charities we had supported over the Christmas period and representatives from third party businesses who helped the Club in its collection efforts. In total the Club collected a record £13,300 from three activities: our Christmas Sleigh around the streets of Thurrock; collections at local supermarkets; and through a Club Christmas card initiative.
