Celebrations in Rugby to mark completion of The Great Central Way centenary project
The event will recognise the work of volunteers who have restored the former railway line over the past three years
Volunteers David Sims, Andy Wright and Bob Holloway with one of the new benches
Submitted by Rotarians in Rugby
Rotarians in Rugby, Warwickshire, have invited residents to join a community celebration marking the completion of their centenary project, to upgrade a 1.2km section of The Great Central Way.
Members from all three of the town’s Rotary Clubs will host a special event in the town centre to recognise the work of volunteers over the past three years, on Saturday, April 2.
Rugby Rotary Club has been working in conjunction with Rugby Borough Council and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to upgrade the section of the former railway line between Hillmorton Road and Abbey Street.
Last year the project received the Rotary Club of Great Britain and Ireland Environmental Award.
It was selected as the winner from projects across the UK which fulfil the sustainability criteria, as set out by a judging panel made up of members of The RGB&I Environment Sustainability Group and ESRAG British Isles Chapter.
The celebrations will take place outside Hunt’s Bookshop from 11.45am until 12.15pm and feature street theatre, music and songs.
Rex Pogson, from the Rotary centenary committee, said: “The three Rotary Clubs of Rugby regularly work with young people and adults from organisations for the good of the community and all are invited to join the fun and bring their friends.
“It’s a delight that the Rotary Clubs in the town are celebrating the 100 years since the founding of the Rotary Club in Rugby first brought the Rotary motto of 'Service Above Self 'here.”
As part of International Children’s Book Day, it will also feature the launch of the Rotary Reading Relay, a collaboration with more than a dozen schools from across the borough, themed on railways and the environment.
The Great Central Way ceased use as a railway in 1965 when Rugby Central Station was also demolished.
Without the resources to manage it along its full length, the council handed over the lease to Warwickshire Wildlife Trust which now maintains the section south of Hillmorton Road - but the Trust didn’t have the resources to manage the northern section.
As part of the upgrade, three new bespoke benches, funded by The Rugby Group Benevolent Fund, were installed along the Way last summer.
The design, by Cawston artist and former Rotarian Eric Gaskell, incorporates trains, pedestrians, and a cyclist as well as wildlife.
Rex added: “We’re marking the year in all sorts of ways. It’s the culmination of a four-year project to improve the Great Central Way.
"Laurence Wilbraham and a team of volunteers, working with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and the Rugby Borough, have put in thousands of hours.
“That’s given us the themes for this informal celebration of them, and a celebration too of the thousands of young people and adults in the town who do so much, year after year, for the quality of our community life.
“Rotary is honoured to work with them in so many ways. This is a bit of fun to say thank you to them all.”
Some volunteers have even been specially trained in strimming and hedge-laying for the project, which has managed to continue despite lockdowns.
For further information about the Great Central Way project or any of the Rugby Rotary Clubs, visit here.
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