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!