Speaker Sandy Morrison

Stirling Rotary meeting and barbecue, 4^th and 5^th September 2015 

President Peter Mehta welcomed members to the Friday meeting; there were no visitors. Six members are needed to attend the film show for Strathcarron Hospice, at the McRobert on October 2nd.  The Am-Am golf competition had proved a great success, with very slick organisation, including a great raffle, yielding a substantial sum, which will go to good causes. The Jazz Cruise on Loch Katrine is scheduled for 3pm on October 4th., with a meal afterwards at the pier head, if required.  The autumn golf outing is to Kilsyth Lennox at 2 pm on Thursday, 17th. September.

Malcolm Cordwell-Smith announced a number of prospective trips, which were under investigation.  These included a possible visit to The Transport Scotland offices, overlooking the River Forth, and controlling the construction of the new road bridge.  Likely dates for this are in October.  Another option is an outing to the Stirling recycling centre, for which Malcolm has received good reports from those who have already been.

The speaker was our own Sandy Morrison, who takes nearly all the photos accompanying these Stirling Rotary reports in the Observer.  Sandy stepped in with just 24 hours’ notice, to replace the scheduled speaker, who had sustained an unfortunate injury.  Sandy’s presentation consisted of a varied selection of photos he has taken over the years, together with an explanation of each one.  Subjects of these high quality shots included Hercules (wrestler Andy Robbins’s bear),  the flypast of the Red Arrows at the Battle of Britain commemorative event, Armed Forces Day in Stirling, puffins, ospreys at Boat of Garten, eagles, a LandRover experience and tall ships in the Clyde.  These were well received and the Vote of Thanks by Stewart Wilson was enthusiastically supported.

The following evening, Saturday, the annual barbecue was held in the grounds of Tommy Thomson’s magnificent home in Stirling.  Weather was superb and the event took place entirely outside, in order to take advantage of the evening sun.  The burgers and the rest were superb though special mention should be made of Robin Sutton’s amazing, freshly prepared crepes, which wouldn’t have disgraced the tables of a Michelin star restaurant.

This week’s Speakers Host is Jeremy Fox, with Visitors Host Stewart Wilson.

Ranald Ross-Watt
Communications Convener