Guests gathered along with members of the Rotary Club of Eastbourne to mark a hundred years since eight founder members met in 1922 to create an organisation that “the best men in town would wish to join”.
Fittingly, the evening also marked the culmination of the club’s centenary “Homes for Homeless” project and the presentation of a cheque for £100,000 to the Southdown Housing Association. Southdown is match-funding the donation to help purchase and furnish two self-contained flats in Eastbourne, to accommodate homeless people.
Receiving the cheque, Neil Blanchard, Southdown Chief Executive, said the project would create a lasting legacy and “help change the lives of many”.
He added: “The rotary club has done fantastically well to raise this staggering amount during the past two years in support of their campaign. I’d like to say a heartfelt thanks to its members for choosing to support homelessness for their centenary fundraising project. It has been a privilege to work alongside them.”
Club president Graham Marsden told the audience: “This is also an opportunity to remember our founder members, to look back with pride at our achievements and to rededicate ourselves to the Rotary motto of ‘service above self’.”
The speaker was retired Major General Tim Cross and dinner guests included Eastbourne and Willingdon MP Caroline Ansell and rotary district governor Paul Frostick.
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![Dinner guests take their tables for the centenary celebrations.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQzMjdlMmMzLWYzZTMtNGNhMi1hMGQyLTQ5ZTZkZmFhNzI2NzpjNDMyNDRkNS1jZTZjLTQyNzEtODJkZS03ZGVhZjJkMGFjZjI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Rotary centenary dinner
Dinner guests take their tables for the centenary celebrations. Photo: supplied
![A bird’s eye view of the splendid Grand Hotel setting.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjZmZmU1YzViLWU3ZmItNDJiNi1iMGYyLTAwM2NlNjRmYjliYzpjYWI5MmNiZC0zNmJiLTQyNjctODU4OS00ZDYyNzY4NTFlMmU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Rotary centenary dinner
A bird’s eye view of the splendid Grand Hotel setting. Photo: supplied
![Guest speaker retired Major General Tim Cross with club president Graham Marsden and his wife,Kay.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmQ3YWYxZjg2LWM1YTItNDY3Yi1hZmUxLTRiYWJkNzBhYjNiNDpkYmNiZDdjYy1kYWVhLTQwMzYtODUxMC1hOWUxZGNjZDE4NzE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Rotary Centenary dinner
Guest speaker retired Major General Tim Cross with club president Graham Marsden and his wife,Kay. Photo: supplied
![History in the making – guests celebrating 100 years of rotary in Eastbourne.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ3NWRkODk1LTQxMGUtNDBiNy1hNGM2LWIzZjAyMDUwNDQ4ZjozNDQ1NDI3Yy1mNzA0LTQ5OTAtYmUzNC1mYmJjNWIzZWMzZWI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Rotary centenary dinner
History in the making – guests celebrating 100 years of rotary in Eastbourne. Photo: supplied