Annual Gala Dinner & Ceilidh - 2017

Fri, May 12th 2017 at 7:30 pm - 11:45 pm

Our Gala Dinner, organised by P.E. Andrew Murray, will celebrate the work of Rotary in Motherwell and Wishaw. We shall present an award to our Citizen of the Year and a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Pres. James with P.H.F. Aamar Anwar and Citizen of the Year Elizabeth Seaton

Our Gala Dinner, held on Friday, 12th May, 2017, celebrated 86 years of Rotary in Motherwell and Wishaw.

The venue was Strathaven Hotel, Hamilton Road, Strathaven, and Rotarians and guests enjoyed a 'Welcome' glass of ‘fizz’ (or soft drink) on arrival.

The programme for the evening was:

Welcoming Remarks – President James Gibbons

Grace

Dinner

The Loyal Toast – President James

Presentation of Citizen of the Year to Mrs Elizabeth Seaton – President James

Presentation of Paul Harris Fellowship to Mr Aamar Anwar – President James

Presentation to Past President George Pollock – President James

Closing Remarks – President James

Vote of Thanks – President Nominee Andrew Steven

Final Toast – Rotary and Peace the world over

Interval

Ceilidh – The Reelie Jiggered Ceilidh Band

End – 12.00

Citations for the presentations are:

2017 Citizen of the Year - Elizabeth Seaton

In 1995, with plans made for a leisurely retirement with her husband Jim, Elizabeth’s dreams were shattered when Jim was involved in a traumatic road traffic accident which left him with life limiting injuries. Elizabeth retired from full time employment to become a principle carer for her husband. During that period until his death in 2005 she battled officialdom to ensure the best of care was possible for her husband often at the expense of her own health and wellbeing. 

On the death of her husband, Elizabeth took her concerns not only for the cared, but for the carer, a step further by becoming the chairperson of North Lanarkshire Carers Together. 

In all her work she brings a practical approach for all carers and service providers, but has developed a particular focus for the work of young carers, who through the care needs of a relative have to juggle education or employment with their caring duties. 

Elizabeth is also involved with North Lanarkshire Health and Social Care partnership as Chair of Partnership for Change providing a carers' view at a strategic level to assist the authorities in developing their strategic delivery plans. 

Elizabeth has been assiduous in lobbying the Scottish Parliament in the introduction of the Carer’s Bill Scotland Act which will commence on April 2018.

Given her strenuous efforts on behalf of carers, not only in our own community but across Scotland, Elizabeth is a most worthy recipient of our Citizen of the Year Award.

Paul Harris Fellow - Aamer Anwar

Aamer Anwar is a prominent Scottish lawyer and the current Rector of the University of Glasgow. He is noted for human rights campaigns and he has worked tirelessly on behalf of the family of murder victim Surjit Singh Chhokar of Overtown.

In particular, he spent many, many weeks supporting the family through the various cases against the killer of their son.

In 2012, following the reform of the double jeopardy law, he approached the Lord Advocate on behalf of the Chhokar family to request that the case be reopened and reinvestigated. On 2nd May 2014, Anwar and the Chhokar family met with the Lord Advocate who confirmed that following reinvestigation by Police Scotland, the Crown was seeking to have the original acquittals of three men set aside in an application to the Appeal Court for a retrial over the murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar.

In October 2016, after a five-week trial, the killer was found guilty of the murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar.

Following the conviction, Police Scotland acknowledged the role of the campaigning by the Chhokar family and Aamer Anwar.

Current Awards gained by Mr Anwar include:

Lawyer of the year 2016

Solicitor of the Year in the Herald's Law Awards 2016

Criminal Law Firm of the Year at the Law Awards of Scotland in 2006 and again in 2014.

Lloyds TSB Jewel Awards in 2007 in respect of his work UK wide.

He was recently elected Rector of Glasgow University 2017.

Aamer Anwar provided a significant service to a family in Wishaw and in consideration of this the Club considers him worthy of a Paul Harris Fellowship.

'What We Do' Main Pages:

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When asked if we could help one of our local primary schools make and build a hut for their garden projects how could we refuse, and what a fantastic day we had doing it.

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Well dedicated to Past President John Chapman

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The Furniture for Families Project provides furniture and household items to families in need within our service areas - Motherwell, Wishaw, Bellshill and Larkhall.

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Picture L-R: F Dickson, N Hamilton, Pres. Jane Allan, A Tweedie, C Graham & O Chambers

Picture L-R: F Dickson, N Hamilton, Pres. Jane Allan, A Tweedie, C Graham & O Chambers

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Interact Logo

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Jean Murray, our newest member

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The Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw recognises the importance of building and maintaining close links with the youth of today, through the schools and youth organisations in our community

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The members of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw are proud to support the Rotary Club of Chelmer Bridge, in the 2019 Rotary Poppy Pin Appeal to raise funds for the Royal British Legion, including Poppy Scotland

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For a Registration Fee, members of the Club will support cyclists, riding to raise funds for named charities.

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For the second year, the members of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw welcome our new President, Charles Keeper, online!!

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Santa and Our Sleigh

On 15th and 22nd December, Santa, and some Rotarian helpers, toured Motherwell, then Wishaw, spreading Christmas Spirit and raising funds for various charities.

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Pres. James with the participants

Golf tournament, for the Douglas Clementson Trophy, participating teams being from our local secondary schools to be held at Colville Park Golf Course

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The participating pupils

An annual event for primary schools in the Larkhall area being held for the first time by the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw (previously run by Clyde Valley Rotary Club)

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