Business Meeting,talk on Battle of Waterloo by member Ranald Shepherd and reports on Marie Curie Coffee Morning and Strathcarron Hospice Midnight Walk

President Peter Farr chaired his last business meeting of his Rotary year (and one of the quickest), to enable time for a special speaker, Club Member Ranald Shepherd, to give what turned out to be probably one of the most exciting talks of the year.

Ranald is a battlefield historian and guide and gave his talk on the Battle of Waterloo, which took place exactly 200 years previously.
In setting the scene, Ranald noted that there had been 23 years of war and that battles were won at that time by gunpowder, smoke and strategic geography. Napoleon had abdicated in April 1814 and had returned to Paris in March 1815.
The war involved over 800,000 troops and Wellington’s army was 36% British, 45% Prussian, 13% Dutch and the balance Belgian. Ranald described the generals on both side in graphic detail making the listener feel he knew the men personally. One of note was Thomas Picton, a foul mouthed Welshman, a great leader of men and who was the most senior officer to be killed at Waterloo.
There were infantry and cavalry charges, cannon volleys and musket volleys from soldiers who had been hiding in the corn, standing to fire on the French; a total of 31,000 French and 24,000 British casualties.  The French marshal, Michel Ney, a commander to the end, ordered his firing squad to fire on himself, following his defeat.
After lively questioning President Peter thanked Ranald for his excellent and well researched talk.
 
Friday’s Bloomin’ Great Tea/Coffee morning in aid of Marie Curie was held at Dunblane Sports Club and raised over £300 for the charity. A tasty array of home baking from brownies to bakewells; meringues to marzipan slices; pecan biscuits to pancakes, was enjoyed by the customers, Thanks are due to the Sports Club Committee for the use of the facilities and to members, partners and others who supported the event.

Below are l-r Luisa Jones, QVS Innteract President Caitlin Yool, Peter and Paddy Holmes, Agnès Hilley and Claire Reid



And finally, on Saturday night, 16 club and family members turned out to support the Strathcarron Hospice Midnight Sparkle Walk. The hundreds of ladies who took part were all in excellent spirits and, helped by dry and mild weather, were setting a brisk pace on their 5 or 10 mile walk to raise much needed funds.
Next week is the Club’s 30th Am-Am Golf Competition at Dunblane New Golf Club which, over the years, has raised well in excess of £300,000 for Strathcarron Hospice. There will be no meeting at the Westlands Hotel but normal service will be resumed on 2 July.