Purley Rotary club is approaching its centenary year in 2023; it's also approaching the centenary in 2025 of when the club generously raised the money to buy Rotary Field, and to donate it to what is now Croydon Council. A branch of the Surrey Iron Railway which was (one of) the world's first public railways ran through the site from Godstone up to Wandsworth. Please see my earlier blog on this:
https://www.croydonconservatives.com/news/new-iron-horse-sculpture-rota…;
Geoff Shaw was one of Purley Rotary's members and he bequeathed a substantial sum of money to the club to be used for the benefit of the community. One investment was in the new play equipment at St Giles' school in Pampisford Road which I referenced a few days ago, and another was in the splendid musical theatre which has just been installed in the Fields' play area.
The Deputy Civic Mayor Cllr Sue Bennett opened it officially yesterday on a very cold and frosty morning, after which we all enjoyed hot drinks and mince pies in the excellent cafe at Christchurch which is just over the road.
