Rotary Club of  Bargoed Last Updated 04 August, 2002

History of Bargoed Rotary Club:

Thanks to Ivan Hill for this background to the club...

'Rotary Club of Bargoed'

The town of Bargoed developed around its coal mines and power station during the last 150 years. It is situated on the banks of the River Rhymney and is about 700 ft ASL. It is 16 miles due North of Cardiff.

In 1955 a group of business men in Bargoed led by Ben Rosser decided to form a Club. The Inaugural Meeting brought together 21 Founder Members listed below with their Classification.

The Inaugural Meeting took place at the Hanbury Hotel. Bargoed, on Wednesday 27th July 1955. The Chairman of the meeting was Rotarian Dick Jones, Rotary International Representative District 15, who declared the formation of the Interim Rotary Club of Bargoed.

On the 19th January 1956 the Club was presented with its Charter No: 815, at the Workman's Institute Bargoed where the first President Ben Rosser received the Chain of Office.

One Founder Member Ken Caesar (Paul Harris Fellow) remains in the Club. Two other Founder Members Alf Matthews and Trevor Luke, are still alive but both are living out of the area.

Ken recalls the venue of their first meetings at the Middle Berni's Cafe (Central Cafe) one of two Bernis Cafes in Bargoed. The proprietor was John Galozi and he made available the "upper room" of the Cafe for them. After several years the venue changed to the Hanbury Hotel managed by Rotarian Bert Burgess where the Club was well served helped by his wife Mary who is still active in the Inner Wheel.

Whilst the Reading Desk presented at the time by W C Thomas, is still in use, the Gong has been replaced by a bell.

Earlier projects included delivering food boxes and coal.

A Speaker was found for each week and the President's Changeover was held at a Lunch meeting, there being no evening meetings.

A Celebrity Dance held in the old Cafe Ballroom was packed to the doors, raising money for the Club's Charities. The ticket price was four old shillings and the Raffle tickets six old pence! 

The Club currently has two Paul Harris fellows namely Ken Caesar and Sam Jones. 

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