Carluke, Clydesdale’s largest town, sits on a high plateau overlooking the River Clyde, twenty-five miles south of Glasgow and 40 miles west of Edinburgh.

Carluke has been around since 700AD, when it existed as a hub for farmers and fruit growers from the Clyde Valley. Prior to that it was originally a Roman settlement.

The parish of Carluke has several outlying communities; Braidwood, Yieldshields, Kilncadzow, Waygateshaw, Cozie Glen and the largest, Law Village.  All of these have become larger also and have commuter populations.

In the 18th century Carluke was only a small village with weaving as its main industry but it began to develop with the advent of coal, iron and lime making all over the parish from the middle to late 18th century right up to the 1960's. The main colliery closed in the early 1950's.  The chief employers were the Coltness Iron Company and the Shotts Iron Company giving Carluke the name of Lanarkshire's “Iron Town”.  In more recent times, the manufacture of jam, bricks and the growing of the world renowned Clyde Valley tomatoes has sustained some local industry.

Nowadays the bulk of the 14,000 population works outside the town and the excellent transport facilities ensure easy access to all the major centres.

Notable locals include two men, Lance Corporal William Angus and Sergeant Thomas Caldwell who were both awarded the Victoria Cross in the Great War as was Lieutenant Donald Cameron in World War II.

David O’Keefe, Governor of Rotary District 102  (now District 1020), presented the Rotary Club of Carluke with its charter in June 1979 in Cartland Bridge Hotel, Lanark. There were 29 Founder Members, our first Club President being Dr Eric Paterson .  As at 4 March 2009, six of these founders , including Eric, remain members of this very active club

With a current membership of 43, the Rotary Club of Carluke is one of the largest in the District and has maintained around this level of members for a good number of years.  The Club's main project for the past 26 years has been our Sportsman's Dinner, a very popular and indeed the best-attended event , of this kind, in the area. Since it's first year, more than £200,000 has been raised for distribution to local, national and international charities and other organisations.

The Club's International and Foundation committee has recently become involved in major projects in Malawi and the provision of Aqua Boxes and Shelter Boxes is ongoing.  Additional funds for these projects are raised from our successful International Nights and Fiddlers’ Rallies.

The Community Service committee is involved in selecting and processing candidates for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, selecting a Citizen of the year, organising outings for the elderly and assisting in town community and school projects.

The Vocational Service committee organises, inter alia, the High School debating competition and in a recent initiative, a very popular Primary Schools' Schools' Quiz.