Speaker Sandy Leven

Stirling Rotary meeting 21st August 2015

Senior Vice President Alan Rankin welcomed members, together with visitors Ian Dunn, Jane Wilson, Gillian Ferguson and, from the Dundee club, Andrew Macmurray.  The October Jazz Cruise on Loch Katrine will cost £20 per head, whilst the Mac and Mabel outing will be £44.  More prizes would be welcomed in connection with the imminent AmAm golf competition.  The annual barbecue will be on September 5th.

Our speaker was past president Sandy Leven, who chose as his topic David Douglas, horticulturist of renown. Born to a stonemason in 1799, Douglas received his childhood education at Scone and at Kinnoul School, Dundee.  He worked at Valleyfield House, where the owner, Mr Preston, allowed the young man access to his many books on horticulture. Following further studies in Glasgow, Douglas made three trips to North America, including California. The last of these was to the Pacific North West, which involved a trip of nine months under sail, including rounding Cape Horn.  He collected orchids in the Straits of Magellan, touched land at the Galapagos Islands and eventually landed at the spot where Portland, Oregon now stands.

The Hudsons Bay Company more or less owned Canada, trading with the indigenous people in furs, etc.  These people had established trails through the mountains, which Douglas used and explored.  He dressed like a local, travelling by foot and canoe.  He never forgot his protestant faith, though he sometimes prayed with Spanish monks.  He explored the Columbia and Athabasca rivers and is the first European known to have climbed the North Rockies He covered 10000 miles in 2.1/2 years, collecting plant specimens and seeds. On returning to London, he was feted and made a fellow of the Geological Society. 

He set off again in 1829, with his Scottish terrier called Billy, collecting 500 species of mosses, plants, etc.  At 31 years old he looked more like 45 and suffered from altitude sickness, rheumatism and failing eyesight, the latter proving his undoing.  He apparently fell into a bull pit, which had an animal in residence, though a pouch of money he had with him was never found.  Douglas died on July 12th. 1834, aged 35.  He was a David Livingstone of his time and there is a memorial to him and his achievements near Scone Parish Church.  His true legacy, however, is seen in practically every garden in the UK.

The Vote of Thanks was given by Colin Bayes and well supported.  There will be no meeting this week, due to the running of the golf Am Am.  Stirling Rotary normally meets at the Golden Lion every Friday at 1 pm and is keen to recruit more members, both male and female.  More information is available via our site www.stirling.rotary1010.org.


Ranald Ross-Watt
Communications Convener