The Rotary Club of Elstree and Borehamwood is looking for women members.

The club's spokesman David Clout said the 25 male members have moved to bring club rules into line with current practise nationally.

"Rotary was an all-male organisation when it was set up around 75 years ago -- but since then we have opened up," said Mr Clout.

The Elstree and Borehamwood branch of charity fund-raisers, which meets at the Civic Offices in Borehamwood on Thursday lunchtimes, is 50 years old and from July 1 it will be actively hunting female members.

Radlett businesswoman Jean Dennis was involved in setting up Aldenham Rotary Club, which has been going for five years.

Miss Dennis, who owns the Old Masters Art Gallery in Watling Street, welcomed the move by her immediate neighbours.

She said it was sad to think that many Rotary clubs still did not admit women: "Rotary needs support, regardless of gender."

Rotary is primarily a service organisation, she said, not a men's club.

The Aldenham club meets at Elstree Golf Club in the evenings, and when it was set up members were keen to support local charities.

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