Join Us
You would be very welcome

We are a friendly, active group of people from the Kirkby Stephen area who get together every week to help others, hear interesting speakers, and have a good time along the way. If any of that appeals to you, read on — and please do come along and meet us.

A Message from our President

The last time I stood here as your President was five years ago — and what a five years it has been. Older and hopefully wiser, I'm back with renewed purpose.

My aim for this coming year is simple: to ensure every club member feels valued and included, and to make sure the wider community understands who we are and what we do. We are people of action — we organise, we contribute, we collaborate — and together we make a real difference at home and overseas. I also intend to continue dispelling a few myths about Rotary membership along the way!

Working together, guided by our committee priorities from Club Assembly, I look forward to another successful year of service.

Rosemary Varley
President, Rotary Club of Upper Eden 2026–27
president@upperedenrotary.org.uk

A Word from our Vice President

Upper Eden is a good, inclusive and active Rotary Club. Our members come together for community work, social events and supporting those in need closer to home and further afield.

We recognise that, like many clubs, our membership spans a wide range of ages — and we see that as a strength. Our more experienced members remain active and engaged, bringing wisdom and continuity, while those of us perhaps a decade or two behind value their contribution enormously.

Friendship matters deeply to us. But so does service — it's at the very heart of what Rotary is about. If you're someone who wants to feel part of something that genuinely makes a difference, in our local community and beyond, we'd love you to come and find out more. When we connect with other clubs to tackle bigger challenges, we know the impact is real.

John Andrew
Vice President, Rotary Club of Upper Eden 2026–27

What is Rotary?

Rotary is one of the world's largest humanitarian organisations, with 1.4 million members in over 200 countries. Local clubs — like ours — are made up of ordinary people who give their time to help others at home and abroad.

Every Rotary club is guided by a single motto:

Create Lasting Impact.

It sounds simple, and it is. Rotarians do not join to advance their careers or their profiles. They join because they want to make a difference — locally, nationally and internationally — and because doing so alongside like-minded people is genuinely rewarding.

Rotary has been doing this since 1905. In that time it has raised hundreds of millions of pounds for good causes, driven polio to the brink of eradication worldwide, and delivered emergency aid to disasters on every continent. The Upper Eden club has been part of that story since 1979.

Our Impact

International Work

If you want to make a difference on a bigger stage, we do that too. We have driven aid trucks to Mali, delivered medical supplies to Ukraine, funded a science lab in a Nairobi slum school, and contributed over £28,000 to the global campaign to eradicate polio. Rotary's international network means that even a small club in rural Cumbria can have a global reach.

No Specific Skills Required

Members bring whatever they have — practical skills, professional expertise, time, enthusiasm. Everything is welcome. The only requirement is a willingness to help and to be part of a friendly group of people who care about making a difference.

What Would I Be Joining?

Weekly Meetings

We meet every Tuesday evening at 7.30pm at the Bay Horse Inn, Winton, Kirkby Stephen. Most meetings feature a guest speaker — recent topics have included Interpol, Red Squirrels, caving in Borneo, a South Pole expedition, and the Bonnie Prince Charlie rebellion. No two evenings are the same.

Occasionally we visit a local farm, business or place of interest instead of meeting at the pub. Supper usually follows.

Community Projects

Members get stuck in to practical local projects — maintaining the gardens at Christian Head care home, renovating public benches around Kirkby Stephen, running a free hearing aid clinic, and supporting people with memory difficulties. Recent larger projects have included building an outdoor communal area and gazebo for the Growing Well mental health charity at Tebay — 306 man-hours over 13 working days.

Fundraising & Events

From the annual Summer BBQ and Burns Night Supper to concerts at Kirkby Stephen Parish Church and bucket collections at Tebay Services, there is always something on. We raise money for local causes, national charities and international aid — and we try to enjoy ourselves in the process.

Come to a Meeting

The easiest first step is simply to come along on a Tuesday evening and see what we are about. There is no obligation, no sales pitch and no pressure. Just come and meet us.

When	Every Tuesday at 7.30pm
Where	Bay Horse Inn, Winton, Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4HS
What to expect	A warm welcome, a drink, a guest speaker, good company
What to bring	Nothing — just yourself

If you would like to let us know you are coming, please drop our secretary a quick message so we can expect you and arrange catering. But if you prefer to just turn up, that is fine too.

How to find us

Get in Touch

If you would like to find out more before coming along, or if you have any questions at all, please get in touch. We are always happy to hear from people who are curious about Rotary.

President
Rosemary Varley
president@upperedenrotary.org.uk

Secretary
David Prince
secretary@upperedenrotary.org.uk

You can also follow us on Facebook to get a feel for what we do before you come along.

Not sure yet? That is absolutely fine. Just come along one Tuesday and see what you think. No commitment, no pressure — just a warm welcome at the Bay Horse Inn, Winton, at 7.30pm.

Email our Secretary All Contact Details

Join Us You would be very welcome