DG's 6th Blog

  





On Monday the 18th of October Winnie and I set off West to visit the Rotary Club of Portree and District. The day started badly by a very silly mistake of mine in driving too close to a petrol pump at Inverness and bursting a tyre on the pump base. Winnie was not amused! However after a wheel change we set off along the Great Glen with the weather becoming more wintry by the minute. Nearing Kyle the mountains were clothed in snow down to a few hundred metres from the bases. After the Skye Bridge things were a little better but still blowy and rather wet. During the evening we were very warmly welcomed by President Graham and the Skye Rotarians, many of whom I had met before on previous meetings. The Club meets alternately in Portree and Broadford and is now known as the Rotary Club of Skye. Winnie was presented with books from the Club and we enjoyed the warm fellowship during the splendid meal. The journey back was much drier and brighter allowing us to see the glorious scenery of Skye and the West.

The Cuillin Hills at their best!

After a visit to the District 1020 Conference in Southport over the weekend of the 21st to the 23rd of October it was back home to continue our Club visits in 1010. On Wednesday the 25th we visited the Rotary Club of Dundee Camperdown at a well known site for us, The Invercarse Hotel. President Peter MacKay made us welcome as did the Rotarians present on the night. Unfortunately my visit coincided with a curling match between some of the area Clubs so one or two members had to leave during the evening. During the evening President Peter presented Winnie with some books for her book project to which she replied and thanked the members for their generosity.





The next day we were in the same area and visited the Rotary Club of Monifeith. Although I had not visited  the Club before I knew several of the Rotarians from the time of PDG Eric Simpsons year and his Conference. The meeting was held in the Monifeith Golf Club and the staff had dressed up in Halloween costumes to serve us at table. We had a very warm welcome from President Mike Leonard and the Club members, the evening was one of fun and good natured chat and 'banter' across the tables. Winnie was presented with a large number of beatiful books for her CHAS project and thanked the Club for their generosity 

My pirate, My Batman, Me,  My Theatre Sister, My Witch








Top Table Fellowship

Next day, the 27th of October I had a chance to visit another Club that I had not had the pleasure of visiting before, the Rotary Club of Cowdenbeath. Winnie and I met with President Dennis Brooks and the Club members at the Halway House Hotel in Kingseat for lunch on that day. There was a good attendance of members and after a good lunch Winnie was presented with more books for her book appeal for CHAS. The Club has been able to recruit one or two younger Rotarians which was good to see, however there were two very active members there who are in their nineties, a salutary message to some of us elderly gentlemen that you can still serve, no matter what age you are.



More books for Winnie from Dennis and the Cowdenbeath Club

Later on the 27th, Winnie and I made our way to St Michaels to visit the Rotary Club of North Fife. Some old friends, John Naismith and John Brewster were there on the evening and it was good to see them again.  President Gavin  Robertson welcomed us to the Club. After a fine meal I talked to the Club, with John Naismith assisting me with some of the points on TRF Future Vision. Winnie was presented with some books from the Club for her CHAS project, and was extremely grateful for their generosity.



President Gavin with us after the meeting.

During the evening of the 31st of October we had a short drive down the A96 to visit the Rotary Club of Huntly where we enjoyed a fine meal in the beautiful Huntly Castle Hotel with President Leslie Murray and the Rotarians present.

On the 1st of November it was back down the A9, firstly to book into the Travelodge at Broxden, before visiting the Rotary Club of Crieff. We were warmly welcomed by President George Penny and many of his Rotarians. The attendance that evening was 91% so I joked with George that he had not told his members that the DG was coming that evening. It was a great evening of fellowship with a superb meal. Winnie was presented with some books by the Club and spoke to them about her project, thanking them for their generosity



Smiles of a happy evening! President George and I.

The following day, the 2nd of November, was a visit for lunch to the Rotary Club of Perth St John's. we were welcomed by President Heather Stewart and SVP Louis Flood. Despite a few members having to be absent, representing the Club at an important Curling meeting that day in Perth, we had a very good meeting with fine food and fellowship.


Heather saying goodbye before sorting out Perth & Kinross Council that afternoon.

 From Perth we made our way on the short journey to Forfar for their evening meeting. During the journey we stopped for a cup of welcome tea and a chat to John Brewster who has the most marvellous house in Kinnetles. It is a converted Church of Scotland Kirk and John has made it into the most beautiful home. After spending some time with John we made our way to 'The Stag' in Forfar to visit the Rotary Club of Forfar. President Mike Cumming made us very welcome and introduced us to many of the members before going through to the dining room for a meal. It was a large turnout of members and guests. There were around 8 of the Laurencekirk members present as visitors. They were playing a gavel match with the Forfar Club later in the evening. We had a fine evening of fun and fellowship, just what Rotary should be! Winnie was presented with more books for her CHAS project and spoke to the Club of her appreciation for their generosity. The poor Laurencekirk Rotarians will have to hear me again next Monday when I visit their Club.

Really President Mike there is no need to bow - I am just a Rotarian like you.

On Saturday evening of that week, the 4th of November Winnie and I attended the Annual Charity Ball of the Rotary Club of Alloa. It was a great evening of fun, fellowship and dancing! President Graham Kerr and Judith were wonderful hosts. The meal was excellent and the Rotarians present were very generous towards the raffle and the table envelope grand draw. I think the Club should be congratulated in still being able to produce such a fine evening considering the present economic climate. The festivities went on well past the witching hour with both of us being still at Grahams house at 2am - well it was his 60th birthday!!


The DG's wife in full flow!

 On the morning of the 5th of November a rather bleary eyed pair set off from Menstrie, where we had been overnight (well most of it anyway) and made our way to the Trossachs and the beautiful town of Callander. That evening was the 40th Charter Dinner of the Callander and West Perthshire Rotary Club to which Winnie and I had been invited as guests. We were met by Jen Shearer and Peter Mehta for lunch, they were to be our hosts that night, The evening was a spendid affair with Gordon Brewer of BBC Newsnight fame as the principal speaker. President Ken Stewart had arranged for a founder member of the Club, David Brown, to cut a cake in celebration of their Charter. Winnie was also presented with books from the Club towards her CHAS project



David cutting the 40th Charter cake.




Winnie, Samantha & Nicola at Callander

 

During the evening of Monday the 7th of November we visited the Rotary Club of Laurencekirk to visit President Maitland Wilson and the Rotarians there, including President of Inner Wheel District 1, Sandra Bartram. We were later than we had hoped to be because of heavy traffic on the A96 and the A90, we were still on time for the meeting but mildly 'ticked off' at not being as early as we should have been, so apologies to the Club for that. We enjoyed the fellowship of the Club and a very nice meal at the Crown.



President Maitland et moi.

The following evening, Tuesday the 8th, Winnie and I made our way along the coast to the East on our way to visit the Rotary Club of Peterhead. It was a drizzly night and the journey was dreich to say the least. I had never been in Peterhead before so was looking forward to seeing some of it, however the town was shrouded in autumnal misty conditions and sightseeing was not really an option. The weather might have been dour but the welcome of President Lynn Smith and her Rotarians was certainly not. We were made to feel very much at home and enjoyed a fine meal of local fish, well you don't go to one of the leading fishing ports without enjoying the local produce.



It was a fine night at Peterhead!



DG's Fifth Blog

On Monday 26th September we moved residence to the Premier Inn at Westhill so that we could visit some of the Rotary Clubs in the Aberdeen and surrounding areas. That evening we travelled West to visit the Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside in their second home at Ballater. we were received warmly by President Gordon and the members of the Club, and the evening was one of fun and fellowship, as it should be of course. The DG and President enjoying the moment before the DG talks to the Club.

The next day, on the 27th, Winnie and I visited the Aberdeen Club, who will be celebrating 100 years of Rotary in Aberdeen in about five years time.. The Club meets in the Copthorne Hotel where we had a very nice lunch and experienced warm fellowship. President Stewart and the Club are looking forward to their daughter Club Keith's 60th Charter in November, as I am. Winnie was presented with books by the Club for her CHAS project and thanked them for their generosity. Stewart and I on the right, posing!

On the evening of the 27th of September we made our way West and North to visit the Rotary Club of Alford. Senior Vice President Alistair and the Rotarians made us feel very much at home. As is always the case in Rotary I met an old friend Jim Rawson, who was a fellow 41 Club member of  Banchory whilst I lived there in the 80's. The Club once again presented books to Winnie and told her that they were giving £1400 to CHAS from their very successful Duck Race in the Summer.

Another two 'posers' on the left.

Very early in the morning of the next day, the 28th, it was out of bed and on the road to visit the breakfast Rotary Club of Aberdeen Bon Accord who meet at the Cults Hotel. Like most breakfast Clubs, Bon Accord are enthusiastic and it is a great pleasure to see that. We were given a very warm welcome by the President Robert Gordon and the members of the Club. Winnie was presented with books for her project and was asked to speak to the Club about it. The photographer once again was negligent in her duty!

Later that day we once again visited the Cults Hotel and this time to visit the Rotary Club of Aberdeen Deesside. We were met by President Mary Lennox who introduced us to the members of the Club. The Club is once again a very enthusiastic Club involved in many youth and community projects. It was a most enjoyable evening. Winnie was asked to speak on her book project and was presented with books by the Club. President Mary and I share a moment after the meeting.

 

On Thursday the 29th of September we visited the Rotary Club of Westhill. The evening was a partners

Fiona, John, Winnie and her cheque et moi.

 evening so a large number of Rotarians, partners and guests were present. I have so many old friends in the Westhill Club and we had a very warm welcome from President John and his wife Fiona. PDG Bill Leslie and Mary looked after us before the meeting and we were able to exchange memories of past times and discuss the Rotary of today.I also met another old friend in Peter Tong whom I had not seen for some time. It is always difficult to make a DG's talk and message to non-Rotarians but by all reports it seemed to go down well, which is comforting. Winnie was delighted to receive a cheque of £300 for her project from the Club and thanked the members for this donation to CHAS.

On Monday the 3rd of October Winnie and I made the short journey to Keith to visit the Rotary Club of Keith. We were welcomed by President Peter and the members but found out that Peter had very recently suffered a slight stroke whilst on holiday. Vice President David acted for Peter during the evening whilst Peter enjoyed the meal with us. It was a very relaxed and pleasant evening which Winnie and I enjoyed very much. The Club has come far from the days, not so long ago, when things were looking bleak about whether it could continue. But with some new very positive and active members, and the committment of the secretary Jill, the Club has revitalised and is moving forward with enthusiasm. Once again my camera person failed to take any photographs but we will do at the Clubs' 60th Charter Dinner next month.

On Wednesday the 5th of October we both made our way to the Kenmore Hotel at the Eastern end of Loch Tay to visit the Rotarians and Rotary club of Aberfeldy. It is a beautiful setting with much evidence of the angling fraternity in the hotel and it's connection with fishing over many years. President Frank and the Rotarians gave us a very warm welcome and the whole evening was one of fun and fellowship. Winnie and I both recognised one of the members but couln't put a name to the face. It turned out to be the entertainer and comedian Freddie Davies who has retired to the area and is a member of the Club.




The Aberfeldy 'boys' at table having fun.



Peter and Mark



On Thursday 6th of October we drove the reasonably short distance from Perth to vist the Rotary Club of Bridge of Allan and Dunblane. We had another warm reception from the Vice-President Iain Smith and the Rotarians of the Club. Peter Farr, a member of the Club and fellow selection committee member for the GSE team to visit Australia, was at the meeting and had taken along one of the successful candidates Mark Bryce, a firefighter, as a guest for the evening. It was a very pleasant meeting at which Winnie was presented with books or her CHAS project.



A happy President and DG after a great evening



During the evening of Monday 10th October, after an afternoon meeting with the MPRC team at Hilary and Mick Gordons' house in Methlick, we visited the Rotary Club of Old Meldrum. President Ray made us very welcome, as did all the Rotarians. We were privileged to hear a selection of music by a young man, George, who had been a winner at the recent Young Musician of the Year at Old Meldrum. The playing was excellent and the first piece was truly evocative. The business of the evening went very well and I my talk to the Club appeared to hit the right note.



Alexander gets everywhere!



At lunchtime on the next day Winnie and I had one of our shortest journeys to a Club by heading Northwest to Nairn. We were met by President Glen Stewart at the Golf Hotel and made to feel very welcome in a Club which, of course , I know very well and whose members I have come to know over the years. The meeting was conducted in a very friendly fashion with a good deal of fun and fellowship at the table.



The secretary asks Bill ,  'Is this your name on the list''



The next day, on the 12th of October, another reasonably short journey saw us in Aviemore for the evening meeting of the Rotary Club of Spey Valley in the Cairngorm Hotel. The venue was well known to me since it had been the favourite meeting place of the Zone 2 Clubs in my days as President of The Rotary Club of Forres. I had also visited as Chirman of The Rotary Foundation some years ago. We were welcomed by President Elspeth Mackay and the members of the Club and made to feel very much at home.

DG's Fourth Blog

On Thursday the 1st of September we visited the Kirkaldy Raith Club for breakfast. It was a refreshing change to see so many young Rotarians with such an enthusiastic approach to Rotary. Tracy McCallum and her young team made us very welcome. Winnie was given books for her CHAS book project as well as cash donations. Needless to say she was very pleased indeed with the response by the Club to her project.

Tracy contemplating the words of the DG

At lunchtime on the 1st we made our way to the Glenrothes Club to be welcomed by President Wilna and a very good attendance of the Club. The Club is thriving and doing a large number of very worthwhile projects, both at home and overseas. The Club has two MP's as members, Tricia Marwick (MSP) who was absent because of a family bereavement and Linsday Roy Westminster MP. Lindsay liked the theme badge for this year 'Reach within to embrace Humanity' so I presented him with one which he said he would wear at the Palace of Westminster during the coming week when Parliament resumed after the break.

The next stop for us was to visit President Mike Sowden and the Rotarians at Arbroath. The Club gave us a very warm welcome and Winnie was very pleased to be looked after during the meal by one of the youngest Rotarians in District 1010, Jamie by name. The Club is very active indeed undertaking a great number of local and International projects. One of the newer projects is to sell 'Arbroath Smokies' with the profits going to The Rotary Foundation. To celebrate the start of this venture I was presented with a pair of the Smokies which I dealt with appropriately after I got home - they were delicious! At the end of the meeting Mike presented Winnie with about 200 books for her project, she was overwhelmed by this gesture and thanked the Club for the generosity.

Young Jamie on the left with some older guys!



On Sunday the 4th of September I attended the District Executive meeting in Perth whilst Winnie deputised for me at a welcome lunch for the GSE team from District 9700 in Australia. The meeting was at South Queensferry under the shadow of the Forth rail bridge. The team were very pleased to be in Scotland after their long journey and were looking forward to their visit to District 1010.



John McKenzie and his Aussie team

On the 5th of September we had a relatively short journey to visit the Rotary Club of Buckie, a Club I had visited several times before and where I knew many of the members, including Alex (Growler) Fowler, the onetime District Secretary of 1010. We had a very warm welcome from the Club and once again Winnie was presented with a large number of books for CHAS. She spoke to the Club and gave her thanks on behalf of the children who would receive these books.

                                    Some of the wonderful selection of books from Buckie RC

On Tuesday the 6th of September we made our way to the Rotary Club of Pitlochry where the President Ian Rattray and the Rotarians made us feel very welcome. It was a very enjoyable visit to the Fishers Hotel and it brought back memories of a famous win in the Gavel where Forres RC were victorious in the Final. It was a special visit in other ways as well with the District Secretary Graham as a member there, as was Maureen who is Secretary.


A certain lady dining with the DG

 We were staying the night of 6th September with Graham and Maureen so Graham drove Winnie and I to visit The Perth Kinnoull Club. It was great to see Brian Raine again after his illnes. He was looking great and feeling much better he said. I was so pleased to see him looking so well after such a severe stroke. That evening I was not feeling too well and had to forgo a lovely meal because of that but managed to say my bit before the main speaker of the evening from Perth Prison spoke on the sentencing laws and lengths of jail terms.

On Wednesday the 7th of September we were invited to a very special concert in Elgin Town Hall by the band of Her Majestys Marines from Rosyth. The concert was arranged by the Rotary Club of Elgin and was in aid of the 'Help for Heroes' charity. The concert was excellent and most enjoyable as was the welcome and hospitality of the Elgin Club.



Some suits and soldiers!

On Thursday the 8th Winnie and I went the short distance to Inverness to vist theRotary Club of Inverness. We were welcomed by President Robbie Kerr and the Rotarians from this the oldest Club in this area. Some 'weel kennt' faces were there including the past District Treasurer, Doug Ritchie, who is now back in the District 1010 fold as treasurer of the District Conference Team. 


I always think a happy treasurer is a comforting thought!

On the 13th of September came another short journey North of Inverness to the Rotary Club of Dingwall in the impressive surroundings of Tulloch Castle Hotel. As always it is a pleasure to visit this well established Club and our welcome was warm and friendly. My photographer failed to remember to take any photos of the visit.

On the 15th of September it was time for the Forres Conference team to meet at the Holiday Inn in Aberdeen to discuss final arrangements for the 61st Annual District1010 Conference. Nineteen of the team met during the evening over a very pleasant meal. JVP Doreen is only collecting the empty bottles!!

The Conference took place in the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th and by all accounts was a great success. I certainly was very pleased with the presentations and the speakers.The House of Friendship was a tremendous hit with enough space to wander round the various stalls as well as have enough room to enjoy a cup of coffee with shortbread. There were many notable highlights from the Conference, The CHAS presentation on Friday followed by a Civic reception hosted by Aberdeen City Council's Bailie Neil Cooney. After an excellent meal we were bowled over by the fantastic after dinner musical evening provided by Glen Munro and his very talented young Moray Concert Brass. They were well worth the standing ovations at the end of the evening. Saturday was a Rotary morning with presentations by the RIBI President Ray Burman, the RI Presidents Representative Paul Knyff from Holland. We also heard from Sandra Bartram the Chairman of Inner Wheel District 1 as well as presentation on Women in Rotary by Cath Chorley, Dianne Rigg and the CEO of RIBI Annemarie Harte. After a farewell presentation by our own 1010 GSE Team who went to District 7950 and a talk by myself on where we are in this District now and in the coming year we finished the morning with a sparkling and hilarious presentation on Scots Law by the distinguished QC Donald Findlay.



The fabulous Moray Concert Brass in action on Friday evening.

Winnie's CHAS book project for the Conference was a great success and as well as having around 2500 books having been given either at the Clubs when we visited or brought to the Conference, she has been able to raise over £2000 in donations and by the prize draw at the Gala Ball night. CHAS are extremely delighted with the success of her project and the books are being prepared to be given as presents to the children in the hospices as well as their brothers and sisters.

Ray Burman RIBI President with Winnie & I, Sarah Secombes of CHAS & Paul Knyff of RI. with the book collection.

On Saturday afternoon there were various opportunities to relax, curling, a visit to the Maritime Museum in Aberdeen, a presentation by lady Claire MacDonald on Scottish Food or just a trip to the shops in the City.

In the evening I gave a drinks reception for the delegates attending before we adjourned to the Boyd-Orr suite for dinner and a Ball thereafter, dancing till midnight to 'Tripper'. We also presented the golf and curling prizes, one of which was a curling quaich given by the Forres Club in memory of our member Les Hester who died earlier this year.

The Conference started on Sunday with 'Lift up your hearts', a moment of quiet reflection and thought led by Rotarian the Rev Eleanor Macalister. This was followed by presentations from our visiting GSE team from District 9700 led by Rotarian John McKenzie and after superb presentations by Charlie Philips, Liz Bentley and the inimitable Professor Sue Black we had a final word from the RI Representative Paul Knyff.  Robin Rippin DGE gave the vote of thanks and the advance notice of the District Conference 2012 at Aviemore before I rang the final bell to close the 61st Annual District Conference.



The DG with John and his GSE team from 'Down Under'.

I started visits again to Inverness Culloden on the 20th of September. The Club gave us a warm welcome and President Gavin presented some books for Winnie as part of their donation to the CHAS book project. She was delighted, as you might imagine, at the generosity of the Rotarians there as well as at all the Clubs she has visited that have presented books.



President Gavin, Mike and some of the Rotarians with us.

Next day we were up early for a visit to the most Northerly Breakfast Club, Inverness Riverside. The Rotary Club meets in the splendid setting of the Kingsmill Hotel, Inverness. After a superb breakfast I spoke to the Club and Winnie was again presented by more books for her CHAS project. The Club is putting on a Pantomime in a local Community Centre in October which we will attend. It should be fun!

President Alastair with books for Winnie.

On the 22nd of September it was a big day for me personally, I was visiting my own Club for the first time since I had become District Governor. I was expecting a hard time with some heckling but not so! I was received very well and the Club gave me a very good response and some very kind words about the Conference. The team from Forres were superb, not many had ever been to a Conference before but they were brilliant and even enjoyed it thay said. The Sergeant-at-Arms, Ally Urquhart and the Registrar Chris Combe worked very hard to make it a success.

'We'll make this the best Conference ever - just you watch!'

The following day was a trip to Anstruther to celebrate the 60th Charter of the Club. I was to give the toast to Rotary International. We were met and warmly welcomed by President Derek Mathie at the 'Craw's Nest'. It was a great night of fellowship and celebration and well attended by neighboring Clubs and their Mother Club Leven.



President Derek and I on the Charter Night

Next day, Saturday the 24th, Winnie and I went to the Scores Hotel to meet the new group of Ambassadorial Scholars who have come to study in St Andrews. We were met by my old friend Sylvia Donaldson, who is Coordinator for the Scholars, and enjoyed a very nice lunch with them and some of the St Andrews Clubs Rotarians. The four young people were very nice and were so happy to be in Scotland. We all must remember to invite them to speak at our Clubs, they are keen to do so. All you need to do is pay their fare, feed them, perhaps look after them overnight if it is some distance and let them talk to you about their experience. Remember to build this into your speaker diaries when a slot become free, contact Sylvia she will do the rest.


Diego, Robbie, Myself, Jordan and Zachary