A new Rotary Club was set up in Furness in 1991 to cope with increasing demand.

Although Barrow and Ulverston already had their own clubs, officials said the new organisation would complement and not clash with the established groups.

More than 118 Rotarians from 24 clubs in south Cumbria and north Lancashire attended the inauguration of the Rotary Club of Furness.

The new club had been sponsored by Barrow Rotary Club but would have completely separate members.

In 1997 The Rotary Club of Furness followed its policy of visiting Rotary Clubs in different countries when international committee chair Jim Thorp and past president Ken Riley visited two clubs on the Costa Blanca in Spain.

Under the headline ‘Flying the Rotary flag in Spain’, The Mail reported that the first visit was to the Rotary Club of Altea, founded in 1994, with a membership of 24 and held at the Cap Blanch restaurant.

Altea club president Senior Modesto Romero Marin exchanged flags with the Furness Rotarians and asked many questions about north-west England.

The Rotary Club of Altea drew its member from the business community of the area, so its international residents were represented, including a member from Argentina.

Carlos Boracchia, a retired dentist who had also practised in Canada and studied many years previously in England, and Guillermo Alejana Rey thanked the Furness Rotarians for being the first English club to visit.

Before leaving, the Furness Rotarians presented the president with an illustrated limited edition Rotary District 1190 map.

The Furness pair also visited the Rotary Fellowship Club of Albir, held at the Los Grillos restaurant in Carbonara.

They were welcomed by vice president Franz Erdhart and, after exchanging flags, Ken was asked to give a short talk on the Furness peninsular and Barrow.

This met with great interest and many questions were asked about Furness Abbey.