Rotarians in Wigton and Silloth want to protect their clubs’ legacies – and safeguard their futures.

With more than 100 years service between them, the towns’ Rotary clubs are aiming to recruit some new blood to ensure they have as many more years to come.

Wigton currently has 12 members – 10 to 15 years ago there were more than 30.

Now a series of open meetings have been arranged – with the first on Tuesday at Wigton Rugby Club from 7.30pm – to encourage people to find out more about the organisation.

The meetings are also all about how people can influence the way Rotary develops in that part of Cumbria in the future.

The idea is to move away from the way Rotarians traditionally meet – with dinner and a speaker – and to make the gatherings more informal to encourage a younger generation.

Meeting fortnightly, concentrating on project-related activities – or for members to catch up online – are suggestions.

Don Cooper, president of the Rotary Club of Wigton, said: “There has been a gradual decline in members.

“Some of us believe it is tied to the perception about Rotary being an old man’s club. Well it isn’t.

“We are holding a series of meetings with a view of trying to change the perception and show people how Rotary has changed.”

He said they were going to explain just how it had changed.

“We are aiming to alter the perception and show people how rotary can be organised,” he added.

“We will have one or two younger members there.

“There is a whole array of ways of approaching this to make sure people can still gather together for friendship but also to undertake projects for the benefit of the local community.”

Mr Cooper, 60, a retired bank manager who lives in the town, has been a Rotarian for about 25 years.

He is currently the youngest member of the club but is confident that can change.

He is certain the decline in membership is down to a perception people have of the organisation, rather than the demands of 21st century life.

“People are busy. But probably 30 years ago I would be working 60 hours a week as a professional,” he added.

“I had a busy lifestyle and still made time for Rotary and other interests as well.

“It is partly to do with lifestyle and partly to do with a change in society,” he said.

“Life has changed and Rotary, I think, hasn’t changed with it. But we are now.”

Kevin Walsh, of the Rotary Club of Brampton and Longtown and national new club formation officer, said the situation in Wigton and Silloth reflects the national picture.

“It’s a concern nationally that we need to develop a new-style club wherever we can to try to bring a wider range of people into Rotary,” he said.

“Where we’ve had groups getting together in a much more informal way, but concentrating on projects in their community, we find that people are engaging better.

“In Wigton and Silloth they have accepted there needs to be a legacy in their area and they want to make sure the years that they have had in service are not lost by making sure there is another group of people coming along behind.”