A History of Inner Wheel

Early Beginnings - A history of Inner Wheel

Prior to 1924 for many years wives of Rotarians had been helping their husbands in Rotary Service setting up Ladies Committees under the Chairmanship of the Rotary President's wife. Our own district club of Motherwell and Wishaw beagan service life as the Ladies Auxiliary in 1939 as a precursor to Inner Wheel. Other such loose groups used various titles such as "Rotary Ladies" or "Wheels of Service" and then, under the leadership of Mrs. Oliver Golding (right), the MANCHESTER Club adopted the title of Inner Wheel. The adopted format was that of Rotary - guest speakers addressing a captive audience combined with various social events.

The first Manchester Club produced an invitation in November 1923 -

"Proposed Formation of a Ladies Rotary Club in Manchester"
- such a club was to be formed along Rotary lines and based on Rotary principles.

Inner Wheel was finally a reality on 10th January 1924 when Rotarians' wives met in Manchester, England where Mrs Oliver Golding was elected as its first President.Thus 10th January is now World Inner Wheel Day.

The club announced that £11 had been raised from its first fundraiser. In addition, 80 woolly garments for babies had been sent to St. Mary's Hospital in time for Christmas. Membership subscriptions were set at £1 1s. (a pound and a shilling) per annum. The idea of a women's Rotary Club was dropped immediately. Local Rotarians gave willing support but internationally there was little encouragement.

Mrs Oliver Golding

Paul & Jean Harris

The relationship with Rotary is strong and never better shown than by Rotary founder Paul P Harris who expressed support for Inner Wheel. Mrs Golding told The Rotary Wheel in 1934, "When I received the message that the founder of Rotary was anxious to see me I was so glad for all your sakes. He told me of the interest he had taken in the Club Reports given him in different places and of the activities undertaken, and what an inspiration they were to him. He is specially interested in crippled children work and is a member of the International Crippled Children's Association. In South Africa both he and Mrs Harris have done propaganda work for the "Inner Wheel" movement, and they have taken particulars to America with them. Mrs Harris intends to tell America about Inner Wheel Clubs with the idea of an international organisation which it is most thrilling to contemplate."

Mrs Jean Thomson Harris (the wife of Rotary founder, Paul) addressed the Inner Wheel in 1934 where she talked on the subject of Clubs comprised of the womenfolk of Rotarians. Jean Harris also suggested that Inner Wheel might consider helping the Crippled Children Movement to which she and her husband were keen supporters. She was made an honorary member of Edinburgh Inner Wheel Club in 1946.

Jean returned to Scotland after Paul's death and is buried in Edinburgh. Paul once said that Jean would crawl on her hands and knees to return to Edinburgh.

Jean's gravestone in Edinburgh

Click here to see some photographs on the Edinburgh connections to Jean Harris.