The Inner Wheel Club
of
Cuckfield & Lindfield

The Inner Wheel Club of Cuckfield & Lindfield (President Winkie Grundon and District Chairman
centre stage) at its September 2000 meeting

President Liz Robinson at the Charter Dinner, with President John Craik and Angie. Alan Robinson seems to be getting in the way as usual

VERY SOON after the foundation of the Rotary Club of Cuckfield & Lindfield, a group of members' wives got together for a few informal meetings at the home of Angie Craik, wife of Founder President John Craik.

They soon decided they would like a more regular way of getting to know one another and enjoying each other's company, and an inaugural meeting of the Inner Wheel Club of Cuckfield & Lindfield was held on 10 April 1985. At the Charter Dinner on 26 June at the Birch Hotel, Haywards Heath, 22 founder members were listed on the programme for the evening, with Liz Robinson the first President.

Since then the Club has gone from strength to strength, meeting regularly every month — at members' homes in the first few years, then at the Bent Arms in Lindfield, but for some time now at Lindfield Golf Club.

Memorable events in the life of the Club include the Rainbow Party in 1988, the Mad Hatters' Tea Party in 1989, and the Turkish Bazaar in 1991, to name but a few. Theatre outings, lunches and suppers, and fashion shows have all been regular features of the Club's social programme.

1986: Liz Robinson cuts the first birthday cake (left) and hands over to Mary Gratwick (right)

Yes, it can only be the Mad Hatters' Party, folks (1989)

Members of the Club have frequently supported District events, attending quarterly District Delegates' meetings and the annual District Rally, and the Club has also been represented at the National Conference.

The Club has a consistently good record of fund-raising for a wide range of charities, starting with the Pestalozzi Village in 1986. Practical help has also been given regularly, from supporting patients at the old St Francis Hospital in Haywards Heath to the orphan children of Romania.

The Club has several fund-raising events each year, and supports charities locally, nationally and overseas — and members make sure they enjoy themselves at the same time.

Over the years, the charities supported include the Sussex Autistic Society, Motor Neurone Disease, Kangaroo/100 Club at Court Meadow Special School, Friends of Princess Royal Hospital, St Peter & St James Home & Hospice, Headway Hurstwood Park ....

1992: Sally Dew, Barrie Robb and President Margaret Wilson at the District Rally

Eighth Birthday Party candle-lighting ceremony (1993)

.... the Parkinsonian Society, Citizens' Advice Bureau, St Patrick's Night Shelter for the Brighton Homeless, McMillan Nurses, the Marie Curie Foundation, the RNLI, Chase Children's Hospice, National Osteoporosis Society, Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust, Arthritis Research, Age Concern, Red Cross, Save the Children Fund, Family Social Work, Shoe Boxes to Romania and Kosovo, Water Aid, Children of Rwanda, the Friends of Russian Children, the Honduras Disaster Fund, child education at the Barbara Kelly Home in Madras, and more.

In recent years, the Club’s programme has included an Open Garden/Plant Sale to raise funds for the Golden Lions Children’s Trust, a Valentine Evening to raise funds for the Heatherley Cheshire Home at Copthorne, a Fashion Show & Sale for Hope & Homes for Children in Kosovo and the Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia. Other fundraising events include Bridge Drives, Soup & Pate Lunches, Coffee Mornings, and an Old Time Music Hall. Members are also making colourful blankets, little dresses and shorts for overseas hospitals and care homes, giving additionally opportunities for a cup of tea and a good gossip in members' homes.

Valentine Party: all those hearts are a dead giveaway, girls (1995)

Christmas drinks (1996)

Past Presidents

1985 Liz Robinson 1986 Mary Gratwick 1987 Jill Goodrich 1998 Vanessa Forbes 1989 Liz Law 1990 Julia Young 1991 Margaret Wilson 1992 Barrie Robb 1993 Moira Kinnear 1994 Sally Dew 1995 Val Dearden 1996 Sue French 1997 Veronica Griffiths 1998 Carole Sharp 1999 Sue Landauer 2000 Winkie Grundon 2001 Carol Davey 2002 Diane Negus 2003 Eileen Sawyer 2004 Deborah Ruse 2005 Valerie Clapp 2006 Rosemary Hands 2007 Diane Martin 2008 Norma Jarvis

Valerie Clapp wrote at the start of her year: I joined the Inner Wheel Club of Cuckfield & Lindfield in 1999. It was a privilege to be President in 2005/06 during our 21st Charter year and an honour to entertain the Association President Jean Matthews. I had no thought of being on the District Executive Committee but, at the end of my Presidential year, I was approached by the incoming District Chairman and asked to join the District Team. I have now served on the Committee for two years and continue to enjoy the experience of fun and friendship.

My year as District Chairman officially begins on 1st July, 2008 with the Association Annual Assembly in Leicester, followed by our own District Assembly a week later. I will then look forward to visiting all the Inner Wheel clubs in District 25. I have invitations to club meetings, special anniversaries, the Overseas Rally and many inter-club events. I will also attend the Rallies of District 12 and District 14. I am also fortunate to be attending our Association Conference in Belfast and the 14th International Inner Wheel Convention in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

The highlight of the year will be my own Rally. This will take place in the Norfolk Pavilion, Ardingly, preceded by a service in All Saints' Church, Lindfield. It is a very exciting year for me and I would like to thank my Club for the support they have given me so far together with the promise of more to come – it is greatly appreciated.

District Chairman visits her own club ...

The Inner Wheel movement came into being on 10 January 1924, when Mrs Oliver Golding presided over a club formed from Rotarians' wives in Manchester. By 1934 there were 79 Inner Wheel clubs and they united to form the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland.
The movement extended overseas and the International Inner Wheel was set up in 1967.
The Aims and Objects of Inner Wheel are to promote true friendship, to encourage the ideals of personal service, and to foster international understanding.