A MEMBER of the Former Bracknell Rotary Club has thanked residents for their support over the years after it was announced the club would close at the end of 2020.

Bracknell Rotary Club, which has raised funds for various local charities and organisations for decades, officially closed its doors on December 31, 2020 - according to the club, this is due to members ageing and 'a lack of recruitment of new, younger members'.

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Dave Donaldson, former member of the Bracknell Rotary Club, said in a letter to Bracknell Residents: "It is with great sadness that we announce the demise of one of the oldest and most successful service clubs in our area.

"The Rotary Club of Bracknell, which has served the community locally, nationally and internationally for nearly six decades, closed on December 31, 2020.

"The club has struggled but soldiered on in recent years with membership dwindling through old age and health related issues coupled with the lack of recruitment of new, younger members."

The club was officially formed in 1962, established by Ascot Rotary Club. The Bracknell club went on to form another new club in Easthampstead in 1980, which has since become the largest Rotary Club in the area.

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Mr Donaldson added: "People will remember the Bracknell Show, Water Aid, Shelter Boxes and many other worthwhile events.

"In recent years, the club organised an extremely popular Service of Nine Lessons and Carols in December in the beautiful Chapel at Wellington College in aid of the Borough Mayor’s Fund and every January for ten years organised a Gala Burns’ Night Dinner at Sindlesham Court raising money for Help for Heroes and the Gurkha Welfare Trust."

The Club was also well known for managing the Three Counties Cycle Ride, started in 1983 by Bracknell Rotaract Club (a junior club) and then later managed by Bracknell Rotary Club.

According to the Club, the event successfully raised more than £600,000 for local charities over the years.

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Mr Donaldson added: "We are incredibly pleased to announce that our daughter club, the Rotary Club of Easthampstead has agreed to take over responsibility for the Three Counties Cycle Ride taking under its wing the existing Steering Group. This assures the survival of the event.

"It is hoped that another Rotary Club may take over the running of the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. The future of the Burns’ Night Dinner is uncertain.

"As the club winds down towards the end of the month, all the financial assets have been donated to a range of worthwhile charities.

"On behalf of President Nigel Boshier and the members and Honorary members of the Rotary Club of Bracknell, we would like to thank the people of Bracknell and District for their tremendous support over the lifetime of the club and we hope that the Rotary moto of ‘Service before Self’ will continue to flourish in Bracknell. Thank you."