An International Women’s Organisation in 100 countries,having 120,000 members in 4200 clubs
A Brief History of INTERNATIONAL INNER WHEEL and Inner Wheel in Singapore
Inner Wheel began on 10th January 1924 when Mrs. Margarette Golding presided over a club formed of Rotarian wives in Manchester, UK.
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Margarette Golding born in 1881 of Welsh extraction was a trained nurse and besides her professional expertise was also a philanthropist, a business woman and the founder of Inner Wheel.
The roots from which International Inner Wheel has grown were established in 1934 when the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain & Ireland was formed. In the 1930's, clubs were formed in Australia, New Zealand and Norway.
Gradually Districts were established and then Associations and National Councils.
In 1967 International Inner Wheel was formed, which gave an opportunity for qualified members in any country to serve as officers and to strengthen the unity of the organisation throughout the world. 10th January was chosen as International Inner Wheel Day by Helena Foster, the 2nd IIW President, during her term from 1969-1970.​
Important Milestones since 1974
IWC Singapore has 2 daughter Clubs, that is IWC of Singapore East and IWC of Singapore West which were chartered on 27 October 1975 and 29 October 1975 respectively.
The three Singapore clubs were part of District 330 then there was a split and were part of D331 for 10 years and finally in 2022 to District 332.
The 4th Club in Singapore, IWC Singapore Central, was formed 2 years ago and the Charter President was from IWC Singapore.
Because of the British connections in Singapore, the Inner Wheel Club of Singapore was formed on November 17th1946. Mrs. K. M. Englemann was installed as the Charter President by the then British High Commissioner General, the Right Honourable Malcolm MacDonald.
Her husband Mr K M Englemann was president of the Rotary Club of Singapore in 1951-1952. Later in 1952, while on a trip to Australia he died rather unexpectedly, and she left for the UK. Charter member Mrs Myra Cresson was the second President. She had international connections due to her husband’s work with the UN. The Third President was Mrs Clara Anciano, of Filipina origin; and the fourth President Mrs RKS Adams was the wife of the Principal of St Andrew’s School, an Anglican School in Singapore. He took over as principal on his release from the prisoner of war camp after the Japanese occupation of Singapore.
The history of the Inner Wheel Club of Singapore is the story of all these brave and outgoing women. It would be so fascinating if we could speak with these women who had been through the war in Singapore or arrived soon after the war. Singapore was poor, diseases abounded and there were many who opposed the colonizers. Independence was around the corner.
The club had more than 60 members at that time. Most of the members were of British, Australian, or other expatriate origins with a few locals. They were all the wives of Rotarians.
Many Rotarians were British, Australian, or European businessmen or Military men. The British Army was sometimes called upon to assist with major projects. All this changed gradually, and the British influence waned with the increasing local membership and leadership in the 1960s.