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.