Club Meeting 1pm - Presentation of Paul Harris Fellowship

President Bill Deans welcomed 13 other members to the first club meeting of 2015, and wished everyone a Happy New Year.

The secretary gave details of a Greenock Rotary Club coffee morning on Saturday in the Westburn Church, Nelson Street, Greenock, in aid of two stroke charities, and the Glasgow Rotary Club Burns Supper in the Marriott Hotel on Tuesday January 27 in aid of Alzheimer Scotland Action on Dementia.

After lunch he surprised the club's only surviving founder member, Gordon Burgess, by presenting him with a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of 50 years service to the club and to the Rotary movement.

He said that Gordon was president in 1980-81, his classification was Painting and Decorating, and he is now Senior Active. He was born on February 10 1935 so has a significant birthday in February.

Father of two sons and a daughter two of whom are doctors and a grandfather, he now lives at 28 John Street, just across the road from the West Princes Street shop and business he operated for all his working life.



In Rotary he has held many offices in the club, and his biggest interest has always been Rotary Foundation and in particular Polioplus, a personal matter as he suffered from polio in childhood.

President Bill said: "So it is particularly appropriate that the Paul Harris Fellowship award is made in the name of Rotary Foundation."

He added that Gordon had always been a faithful supporter of the club and its activities, living up fully to the Rotary ideal of service above self.

 Outside of rotary his many interests include local history, painting and writing, and of course his favourite pastime for many years was golf, so often with his close friend the late Dr Jim McBlane.

Gordon replied: "I am not often at a loss for words, but I am on this occasion. I am quite overwhelmed and very honoured all the more so as I know that this club very rarely gives this award. I feel very privileged that the club has thought of me in this way."

The year's first weekly raffle for a whisky miniature was won by Bryan Wight.