Dinner = Speaker, Lt Col, Andy Middlemass speaking about the Battle of the Somme

On Thursday 8^th December 2016, President Brian Johnson welcomed 20 Rotarians to this lunch time meeting held at the Gilvenbank Hotel.

Five apologies for absence were received.

On reception, this week was Geoff Sampson who said grace and Peter May.

President Brian Johnson supported by a picture board updated us on the Ugandan project where progress in building the new Health Centre which we had given financial support to is ongoing.

Tracy Thomson advised that the Christmas Fayre will take place at the Markinch Parish Church Hall on Saturday 10^th December 2016. Tickets costing £3 for adults free for children with Tea and coffee and cakes provided and a Hamper prize for the winning entry ticket.

Geoff Sampson advised that the annual High 5.s Gavel competition would be taking place at Kirkcaldy High School with the Rotary Clubs of Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes participating along with Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes High Interactors on Thursday 15^th December 2016 commencing at 6.30pm

Community Chair Anne Sampson asked for names to support the senior Citizens Christmas party which will be taking place at Auchmuty High School on 16^th December 2016.

The speaker this week Thursday 8th December was Lt Col, Andy Middlemass also a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Kinross speaking about the Battle of the Somme. This Battle was fought in northern France. For five months, the British and French armies fought the Germans in a brutal battle of attrition on a 15-mile front. The aims of the battle were to relieve the French Army fighting at Verdun and to weaken the German Army. However, the Allies were unable to break through German lines. In total, there were over one million dead and wounded on all sides. The first day of the Battle was the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army and one of the most infamous days of World War One. On 1 July 1916, the British forces suffered 57,470 casualties, including 19,240 fatalities. They gained just three square miles of territory. British and German troops faced each other's trenches only separated by a few hundred yards of “no-man’s land”. The British force consisted of soldiers from Britain and Ireland, as well as troops from Newfoundland, South Africa and India. The British generals staged a massive artillery bombardment and sent 100,000 men over the top to take the German trenches. They were confident of victory. The British soldiers were unable to break through the German defences and were mown down in their thousands by machine gun and artillery fire. This day set a bloody precedent: the Somme campaign wore on for five months and, in all, more than a million soldiers from the British, German and French armies were wounded or killed.

The Rotary Vote of thanks was given by Jim Boyd.

On reception, this week Thursday 15^th December will be Anne Sampson and Peter May with this being a business meeting with no speaker, being held at the Gilvenbank Hotel. please meet at 12.45pm for 12.55pm.

The Christmas Fayre took place at the Markinch Parish Church Hall on Saturday 10^th December 2016. with Santa in attendance. So much thanks to Markinch Parish Church and for the community support, funds raised in nearly two hours about £300 to support Rotaries many good causes. Special mention to prefects Jack Morrison from Auchmuty High for helping again on the day. The Hamper which had generously been donated by Glendale Plastics was won by Ian Orr from Markinch.