Club Meeting 1pm — Happy 80th!

President Bill Deans welcomed eleven other members on what was the 80th birthday of Gordon Burgess, Paul Harris Fellow and the sole surviving founder member of the club. A birthday cake showing a very young Gordon in 1938 in St Andrews, organised by Lesley Kennedy, was presented to him, and members later enjoyed a small piece of the cake.

There was even bigger surprise a few minutes later when his son Craig and daughter Joanna, both doctors, arrived totally unexpectedly with an 80th birthday balloon. Gordon had not expected to see them until he journeyed to England later in the week.

Youth Service convener Adam Muggoch reported on two successes last week. The club's first ever S1 Young Baker competition was held at Hermitage Academy, attracted 15 entrants, and was won by Drew McKendrick. Adam said that the standard of baking was exceptional, and that next year it was hoped to extend the competition to take in P7 and S2 pupils.

On Saturday he was at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow for the District 1230 Young Musician of the Year finals, and Helensburgh's representative, Helensburgh's representative, Lomond School pupil Ciprian Panaatescu from Romania, won the instrumental section and goes forward to the Scotland and Northern England finals at the same venue on Sunday March 29. Helensburgh's vocal winner, Sally Ram, performed very well in a close competition, but did not make the top two.

Gordon Burgess made the draw for the weekly raffle for a whisky miniature