DG's Travels Week 51

One of the very enjoyable end of Rotary year activities is the evening jointly hosted by the Presidents of Dundee Rotary Club and the Inner Wheel Club. Held in a variety of venues over the years, on this occasion it was in the local John Lloyd Leisure Centre, where we could participate in sporting action, eat, and generally enjoy each others company. It is always a very relaxed way of celebrating the completion of another Rotary year. The major sporting attraction was putting, where I am sure that the surface had been specially engineered with a bias, specifically to misdirect the DG's best efforts! I can think of no other reason why someone who had never even seen a putter, let alone held one, could score three times as many points as I did! As one of relatively few occasions during the past year when I have been able to enjoy the company of members of my own Club, it was a specially enjoyable event.

DG's Travels Week 52

Later in the day saw Daphne and I travel up to Banff for the District Handover lunch, an event very ably planned and executed by the Turrif and District Rotary Club. Under the very capable chairmanship of President Rose, we enjoyed an excellent meal and soon moved on to the essential business of my valedictory address and the hand over to my successor, George Berstan. As always, there was not nearly enough time to adequately thank everyone at District and Club level for their tremendous efforts during the past year and for the phenomenal amounts of money which they had raised for good causes. It was a very convivial meeting, with the opportunity to meet up again with many old friends. It was a special pleasure to have District Governor Elect Iain Macdonald back in our midst, clearly now well on the way to recovery after being seriously ill. While my Governor's duties are not yet quite over, I have to admit to a lighter step as Daphne and I headed back to Dundee. It has been a fabulous year for us both and we will retain many happy memories.

DG's Travels Week 52

The end of the week saw Daphne and I attending the 40th Charter Dinner of the Rotary Club of North Fife. This is a Club with which I have had a long association from well before the time when I was their Assistant Governor, so it was an especial pleasure. We were regaled by a succession of good speakers following an excellent meal. I also had the great pleasure in awarding a Paul Harris Fellowship to one of their members, Phil Higginson, for his activities both in bringing much needed dental aid to indigenous people in South America, by taking a mobile surgery on a comparatively small ship up the Amazon, and for his fund raising and practical assistance in support of the Kigali School Project. All this took place against a background of good company and excellent surroundings in St. Andrews and it came as quite a shock to find that it was already after midnight before we headed home. Thoughts of a very early start later in the day did nothing to dampen the enjopyment.

DG's Travels Week 52

I was always aware that my last few weeks in office would be busy ones, as I think will be evident from the next few entries. Last Wednesday, I was delighted to be a guest at the annual prize-giving of the High School of Dundee, home of our oldest, and exceedingly successful, Interact Club. It was a great delight to see that not only were the young people exceedingly skilled in raising large sums of money for various charities, but that they combined this with high academic and sporting achievements. My faith in the future is always totally restored when I see such young people in action. Some will be returning for a further year of study while others set off now on new challenges at university and elsewhere. Some will be taking a gap year where they hope to not only see more of the world, but also particpate in various aid projects in different countries. In this, they received considerable encouragement from former pupil and guest speaker, Mark Beaumont, who talked about his adventures in cycling round the world and traversing the length of the Americas. Both journeys were no beds of roses and he highlighted the need to be committed and determined in overcoming life's challenges, as he had done on several occasions on the above trips.

DG's Travels Week50

Much though I would have preferred to be playing myself, I was delighted to be able to look into the St.Andrews RC International Golf Competition yesterday, on my way to another Rotary function. However, I could have wished for better weather for the participants. Torrential rain on Tuesday, followed by almost gale force winds yesterday, hardly provide the best mix for good scores. I was commiserating with one player's score saying that I would have been well pleased with 28 Stableford points under such conditions. What was evident thoughout was the great fellowship being enjoyed, irrespective of the weather. Above everything else, I think the great pleasure felt by all at being able to play on the famous St.Andrews Links was very evident. I hope that everyone enjoys better weather today.

DG's Travels Week49

Saturday morning saw us up with the morning bird song for a very early start, to get from Tain down to Oldmeldrum for the District final of the Primary School Quiz. However, I was determined not to miss out on the Morangie House Hotel much praised breakfast. It was no disappointment! However, we could not linger and were through Inverness well before most people were stirring. After a coolish start, the weather soon warmed up and it was a rare occasion this year to need the air-conditioning on. Oldmeldrum was bathed in sunshine and looking splendid, but I had no time to enjoy this, as 80 certificates for the final participants had to be signed before the start. The young people, well supported by families, teachers and Rotarians, were already in evidence, some having travelled from considerable distances the previous day. There was a real buzz about the place but with a nice mixture of competitiveness and willingness to make new friends. The competition was soon under way and was keenly contested throughout. The lead changed with almost every round, and the final outcome was in doubt right to the end. In the event, a play off was necessary to get the final order for first, second and third. The young people were all so knowledgeable , with most of the discomfiture at not being able to answer questions most evident in the ranks of the audience. I have no idea what a second class stamp costs nowadays! All the participants, at all stages, were winners, but a ranking order had to be arrived at in the end to award the prizes. In third place were Cults(Aberdeen) Primary School, in second, Crown(Inverness) Primary School, and in first place and winner of the shield, Robert Gordon's College. Events like this do not just happen. The organisation was absolutely impeccable on the day, as indeed at the earlier stages. I wish to particularly thanks Iain Matthews and all the Rotarians who were involved throughout the competition. I have watched as the event has grown over the years to a stage now where hundreds of primary schools are involved. This is very much another jewel in District's crown.

DG's Travels Week49

Friday saw Daphne and I heading northwards again to Tain for the new Club's first Charter Dinner. Driving through the Cairngorms on a glorious summer day was sheer magic and a brief stop at Aviemore saw us exposed to air which was like pure champagne. Roadworks not withstanding, we made good time and were soon esconced in the comforts of the Morangie House Hotel, in time to check over the evening's arrangements with District Extension Officer Bill Leslie and his wife Mary. As always, events more than full occupy the available time and we were sitting down for our meal before I knew it. The evening was a most convivial one with the official side of speeches and presentation of gifts to the new Club, matched equally by the enjoyment of meeting up again with so many old Rotarian friends. I was delighted that so many Rotarians from around the District had made the effort to be present and help to launch the new Club safely on its way. In the course of the evening we learned more about the new Club's ambitious fund-raising activities, not least Rob Pope's plans to visit every quarter of Scotland, England and Wales in 48 hours. I wish him every success in his endeavours in which he seeks to better the large sums he has raised previously. I see a great future for the Club, with President Ken very intent on ensuring that the Club makes a big impression from the word go. I have to record my sincere thanks to Bill Leslie, Alistair Risk(President of the East Sutherland parent Club) and Mike Phimister for the huige amount of work they have put in during the past year to bring the new Club into existence.

DG's Travels Week49

Tuesday morning was due to see me gazing in wonderment at the patience and skills of our Rotarian fishermen at the Lake of Menteith as they endeavoured to catch all these fish which had got away in previous years. However, a combination of unexpected events at work and the fact that I was highly unlikely to know my dorsals from my pectorals, persuaded me that I should quite literally be let off the hook. I hope that the participants had a really excellent day and look forward to hearing the results, the excuses and the multitude of fishy stories.

DG's Travels Week49

I have had a long standing relationship with the Rotaty Club of Buckie, so it was no hardship on Monday night to travel north to visit them again. The given reasons for my visit were as part of my farewell activities to my DG's year and to join in the partners' evening. There was a third and perhaps ulterior motive, in that I was there to present two Paul Harris Fellowships. The first was to Hugh Patience, formerly of the Rotary Club of Dingwall, who had given many years of service to the Buckie Club, including being their President, while outside he had a lifetime of work and commitment to the fishing industry. A real mover and shaker, it was always Hugh's aim that everyone should be the best they could be, whatever their skills. The second was to another Past President of the Club and one of my past colleagues on District, Malcolm Watt. Malcolm not only has a wealth of good ideas but he puts himself about to bring them to reality. This time round, his idea was to give £50 to a number of schools, with the challenge to see by how much they could make that sum grow. His target was to raise some money for Shelterbox. In this he was outstandingly successful, with a likely total of 31 Shelterboxes being funded. Both are true examples of Service Above Self and I was delighted to make the presentations. The Club was not above some subterfuge to hide the impending awards and, to questions as to why the District Governor was visiting again, a range of somewhat dubious answers were given. However, in view of the cause, I am sure that none of this breached Roatry's high ethical standards.