IT WAS with much regret that I read of the demise of the Rotary Club of Southampton East. (letters Sat 4 July).

Sadly, Rotary clubs are not the only community service charitable organisations in the UK struggling to recruit new members.

Lifestyles, social change and work place pressures have played a part.

There has also been a lack of interest from bosses in business especially large companies to see the value of encouraging employees to join Rotary as a means of discharging their commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Southampton East started life over 70 years ago as the Rotary Club of Bitterne & Woolston (B&W).

Apart from the normal charitable activities that clubs involve themselves in, B&W formed a housing association with the advent of the Housing Corporation (HC), creating sheltered housing for elderly couples and singles.

Under the scheme it built and operated over 18 units in the area providing accommodation for a large number of elderly people.

Clearly a commendable and highly successful initiative.

Following pressure from the housing corporation the name was changed to Rosebrook HA.

The housing corporation wished to remove the link between a Rotary club and the housing corporation because of a possible conflict of interest as it might be perceived as a cosy refuge for retired Rotarians, patent nonsense of course.

It was the early manifestation of what we now know as political correctness which today is in danger of burgeoning out of control.

Further regulatory pressure from the housing corporation to encourage the merging of smaller associations into fewer much larger ones to simplify control and management resulted in 2006 in Rosebrook HA carrying out a stock transfer of all its assets to Saxon Weald HA where it still flourishes.

Rotary Clubs nationwide frequently ‘pump prime’ many charitable projects.

One outstanding example is Shelter Box started by the RC of Helston Cornwall which is now a charity of International standing, and long may the Rotary emblem appear on the boxes and equipment.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Rotary can go online and find a large number of clubs in the area any one of which would welcome an enquiry.

SG Prince

Southampton