Speaker Edmond Mansion

Stirling Rotary meeting 30^th. October 2015 

Senior Vice President Alan Rankin was in the chair for this, the first meeting of the club’s 91^st. year.  President Peter Mehta is making a strong recovery from his recent op. and hopes to be back by Friday 6^th. Members, together with regular visitor Jane Wilson, were delighted to welcome past president Mike Queen, after a considerable absence.  The club Gavel (pub games) team had won their latest match 13 – 3, though a previous defeat makes further progress in the competition uncertain.  Shoeboxes containing relief supplies should all be returned to Stewart Wilson by the 13^th. 

Speaker for the day was our own Edmond Mansion, Club Treasurer, who elected to talk about a recent two week trip to Africa.  Landing in Nairobi, Kenya, Edmond and his wife took a light plane up country to a very nice hotel, from which, almost immediately, they departed on their first game drive. Soon they sighted cape buffalo, bustards, leopards, hyenas, colourful starlings, rhinoceros and a group of 5 elephants, led by a matriarch. Next day, they set off at 06.00, taking breakfast in the field.  The knowledgeable guide introduced them to jackals, plains zebras, greys zebras, giraffes, many more elephants and lions grooming themselves.  Dinner in the evening was by candlelight, against the background of the sounds of wildlife. 

The following day, they took a light plane to the famous Masai Mara reserve, where they viewed at first hand the damage done to trees by elephants, searching for any source of water in the arid landscape.  They viewed baboons, jackals, many lions, thousands of migrating wildebeest, hippos, elephants and the sacred ibis, afterwards staying in a most magnificent tent.

The Vote of Thanks was given by David Paterson and well supported.  This week’s Speakers Host is David Paterson, with Visitors Host Alex Galloway.  For further information on Stirling Rotary, please visit www.stirling.rotary1010.org.

Ranald Ross-Watt

Communications Convener