story by: DAVE KING

The centenary of Jersey Rotary Club has been marked by a set of stamps being ​produced by Jersey Post.

To mark 100 years of Rotary on the island, six stamps have been produced ​especially, and these went on sale in June. Each of the stamps showcases the ​different initiatives the club has undertaken in the last century.

The Bristol-based graphic design agency SoDesign illustrated the stamps using ​Rotary’s worldwide projects as inspiration:

Conservation tasks at Les Mielles (60p)

The 60p stamp depicts the conservation work Jersey’s Rotary Club has ​undertaken since 2021 to preserve the natural beauty and wildlife found in Les ​Mielles, which is a protected area of openly accessible landscape on the Island’s ​north-west coast.

Construction of sand dams in Kenya (98p)

A global initiative Rotary Club Jersey has aided in is the construction of sand ​dams in Kenya. Sand dams are built to sustain communities living in dry land ​areas where access to water is limited and where there are seasonal rivers that ​have sandy bottoms. The Rotary Club of Jersey has been supporting a charity ​that specialises in pioneering the building of these dams. In Kenya alone, there ​are now 450 such dams built and maintained by the local community.

Children’s days out in Jersey (98p)

To help develop local children’s social and communication skills, the club has ​aided in arranging days out for students. These days are made possible by the ​generosity, sponsorship and support of local businesses, that the club has ​worked with.

Promoting Peace and Conflict Resolution (£1.65)

In 2015, the Island of Jersey was declared a Rotary Peace Community. The Jersey ​branch has worked tirelessly to promote the five principles of the Rotary Club, ​which are: respect, rejection of violence, resolution of conflict, reconciliation, and ​freedom of expression.

Good Companions Club (£2.15)

Since 1948, the Rotary Club of Jersey has been a pioneer of the Good ​Companions Club. The club brings together various senior members of the local ​community and aims to combat loneliness and isolation. Part of the work ​includes arranging regular meet ups and social activities.

Global Polio Eradication Initiative (£2.95)

Jersey’s Rotary Club has been supporting the Polio-Plus campaign since the ​initiative began in 1987. Due to the generous support, there are now just two ​countries in the world where polio remains endemic.

“We were delighted to see the issue of stamps from Jersey Post, highlighting the ​various projects the club is involved with, both locally and internationally,” said ​Jersey Rotary Club President, Madeleine De La Cour.

“I worked with Jersey Post on this issue and I really like the stylised images they ​produced.”

Jersey Rotary Club of Jersey held its preliminary meeting on October 26th, 1923, ​following a visit to Jersey by a Liverpool Rotarian in 1922. Following this visit an ​advert appeared in the local press inviting interested people to get in touch.

The initial meeting was chaired by the then Constable of St. Helier, J. E. Pinel, who ​was the club’s first President which had 17 members at its inception. The founder ​of Rotary International, Paul Harris, visited the island in 1936.

Madeleine De La Cour, said that the club had been busy marking the centenary ​with a tree planting in St Helier, and enjoying a gala dinner with present and past ​Rotarians, as well as Rotarians from Guernsey, friends from other service clubs, ​and a visit from District Governor, George Phillips.

“In May we installed a Peace Pole in a tranquil corner of the island and invited ​local school children to come and join us to recite the languages of their own ​communities which appear around the pole,” added Madeleine.

“Another project which is underway is a floral display at the end of Victoria ​Avenue – Jersey’s only dual carriageway.

“The last project organised by the centenary team is the opportunity for locally ​registered charities to apply to the Club for grants of up to £5,000 for a specific ​project, contribution towards a project or specific piece of equipment - priority is ​being given to those projects which align with Rotary's seven Areas of Focus.”

Co-incidentally, neighbouring Guernsey Rotary Club celebrated its centenary in ​2023 when Guernsey Post’s philatelic bureau published a series of ​commemorative stamps. The club was chartered on March 3, 1923.

Bridget Yabsley, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post, said: at the time: “The Rotary ​Club of Guernsey was officially chartered on 3 March 1923 and has achieved a ​great deal over the last 100 years.

“Not only does it support key community projects within the Bailiwick of ​Guernsey but as part of the network of Rotary International, it supports the goal ​to eradicate polio worldwide and assists in relief efforts for those suffering ​following worldwide emergencies.

“We are delighted to celebrate The Rotary Club of Guernsey’s centenary year by ​depicting some of its important work on our stamps.”