Second DG Blog 2011

Our travels began again with a visit to the Anstruther Club. It was great to be back in the 'Craw's Nest'. We had a warm welcome from President Derek Mathie and the Rotarians of the Anstruther Club. Winnie was given books for her CHAS project and was asked by President Derek to say a few words about the project and how it was going. She replied by saying that the response was amazing and that she was so grateful to all the Rotarians who had taken up her appeal for books. She finished her short talk with a small poem to entertain the assembled Rotarians. The attached photo shows us sharing a top table talk in the 'Craw's Nest'

On the 16th of August, after staying overnight with Ann and Harry Mitchell at Kirkaldy, Winnie and I visited the Kirkaldy Club where I met some old friends from past District times. Past District Governor Bill Moodie is in great form and looking as young as ever. President Ian Taylor made us welcome and during his business points to the Club he mentioned that he was undertaking a solo charity run across the Forth Bridge but would be accompanied by a number of local Interacters dressed as fairies. Well! In all my time in Rotary this was the first time that I could truthfully say that the President "was away with the fairies" I trust that Ian completed his run and that the fairies brought him back.



A 'weel kent' face at Kirkaldy

During the evening of the 16th we visited the picturesque venue of the Scores Hotel in St Andrews to meet with the St Andrews Kilrymont Club. The President Ranald Barrie and the Kilrymont Rotarians made us very welcome and we enjoyed a superb meal and a great evening of  fellowship. Winnie was presented with a large number of books for the CHAS appeal and thanked the assembled company for their generosity.

President Ranald with Winnie and the CHAS books

On Wednesday 17th of August we drove from Kirkaldy to Alloa to visit the Rotary Club of Alloa where we met with President Graham Kerr and the Alloa Club Rotarians. The Club meet in a beautiful Hotel, Gean House, with superb tree lined gardens and lawns. I had never visited the Club before so it was a great pleasure to at last have the opportunity to do so. Winnie was given more books for her appeal as well as a book token to go to CHAS. 





President Graham and his 2011-12 team with Winnie and I.

After our visit to Alloa we drove to make our 'home' in Stirling for a couple of days. That evening, on the 17th, we visited the Rotary Club of Carse of Stirling. This visit was another first for me. The venue was the Terraces Hotel where President Eddie Cramb made us very welcome. We both enjoyed a tremendous evening of fun and fellowship and this, even with a District Governors address thrown in. Winnie was again presented with more books for her project - my car is now feeling like a white van!



The DG at work in Carse of Stirling!



At lunchtime on the 18th we drove up to Perth to visit the Rotary Club of Perth. President Ian 'Ben' Gunn and the Perth Club Rotarians welcomed us the their 'home' at McDermaid Park, St Johnstone's Football Club Stadium. After a fine lunch I met a young Indian cricketer, Suna, who was visiting as a guest. His family in India are all involved with Rotary and he is with a youth touring cricket team in Scotland.



I had the pleasant experience of accepting an Indian Club banner from Sanu



Later on that day, Thursday the 18th, was a visit to the Rotary Club of Auchterarder at the Auchterarder Golf Club. The Club is very fortunate to have such a beautiful setting as it's meeting place. Unfortunately the weather was not kind enough to allow us to appreciate the wonderful scenery of the Ochil hills. The welcome to the Club however was very warm from President Carol Coutts and her team. More books were presented to Winnie for the CHAS appeal. The generosity of Rotarians around the District is truly overwhelming.



A happy group at Auchterarder.



The last visit of our week was on the 19th of August, to the Rotary Club of Stirling. This was also my first visit to this prestigious Club which meets in the Golden Lion Hotel in the historic City of Stirling. President Frank Kelly welcomed us into the Wallace room of the Hotel, a very iconic setting with items and pictures of some of our glorious past. The meal and fellowship was great. Afterwards there was a Club photo of the 2011-12 members with the DG and DG's wife. There is also one of me apparently having a discussion with Alexander, the Meerkat.



Over the weekend of the 20th and 21st of August I attended the General Council of RIBI. This was my first meeting as a Rotary International Officer in the hallowed halls of Alcester. It was an 'interesting' meeting over two days, much was discussed, some of which will become apparent later this year or early next year. It could be an interesting year!

On Wednesday I flew to Shetland to visit the Shetland Club. During the evening I was welcomed to the Club by the President Peter Campbell. He is a Campbell from Argyll so we realised that 250 years ago or more he and I could not possibly have sat together and enjoyed a civilised meal in peace. I as a MacDonald of Clanranald and he a Campbell of Argyll would have been at each others throats. It was nice to be back on the islands and in Lerwick meeting some Rotarians I had not seen for some time. I met our 'Viking Princess' Silvija Crook who was President when I was an AG for the North and Beatrice Wishart who worked with me in Rotary Foundation some moons ago.



A very Shetland Symbol