Speaker Malcolm Cordwell-Smith

Rotary club of Stirling  meeting of 24/7/15

President Peter Mehta welcomed two visitors, Gordon Samson and Bob Anderson.  Stewart Wilson reminded members of the AM/AM golf to be held at Stirling golf club on Friday 28/8/18. A good number of teams have already entered with more expected. Members were asked to donate prizes for the draw at the event, either to him or Robin Sutton.
Our speaker Malcolm Cordwell Smith spoke about the Riverside museum in Glasgow, opened in 2011 at a cost of £74 million to replace the old transport museum. The museum is housed in a fine building on the Clyde, and has a huge collection of exhibits including cars, trains, bikes and moored nearby the Glenisla a sailing vessel built in Glasgow. Malcolm's particular interest was in a Sedana Bentley 3.5 litres built in 1934 GK90, with which he has a strong personal connection. The car had been discovered by his father lying in the open, and he bought it for £60, bringing it home to Stroud, providing his son Malcolm with a wonderful life sized toy around which he spent many happy hours. Unfortunately for Malcolm his father sold the car for £120 to an enthusiast living near London. Over the next two years the car was extensively rebuilt restoring it to it's former glory. At this point Malcolm lost track of the car. By now living in Scotland, he saw an article in a Glasgow newspaper covering the new Riverside museum.There, to his great surprise was a picture of GK90, his long lost car. He discovered the car, one of only two built, had been sold to the museum in 1988 for £54,000. Malcolm was reunited with his old friend and interviewed by the museum who are keen to add a personal history to their exhibits. There the Bentley sits in all it's restored glory, but sadly Malcolm is not allowed to play with it now.
The vote of thanks was given by Alan Rankin.
Next week's speaker's host Jim Kerr, Visitor's host Martin Ross.
Rotary welcomes applications for membership from men and women who wish to cotnribute something back to our community while making new friends and contacts. Further information about Stirling Rotary club can be found at www.stirling.rotary1010.org.
Ian Richardson