Speaker Evening

On Thursday 2nd March, the speaker at the Rotary Club of South Queensferry was Richard Love of the Dry Stone Wallers Association. Started in Kirkcudbrightshire in 1968, the association aims to promote the traditional craft and to encourage the repair and maintenance of dry stone walls or dykes. The association runs training courses and an accredited craftsman certification scheme. Dry stane dyking in the British Isles goes back at least  3 1/2 millennia to Skara Brae in Orkney and the Iron Age brochs of northern and western Scotland. In Richard's well-illustrated presentation members saw examples of walling ranging from the ancient cleits of St Kilda, built to store seabirds for food, to small harbours with vertical stones and the unusual dry-stone fences of Caithness which use large flat stones set on end. There were also pictures of dry-stone features included in modern building projects not only for aesthetic appeal; but often as an integral part of the structure. A local example of Richard's work can be found on the Queensferry Cycle Route adjoining the Ferry Glen where a recently built stone bench forms an impressive feature. Richard's talk prompted many questions from the floor. He was introduced by Alan Armes and the vote of thanks was proposed by Gordon Wood.

In other business, it was announced that a donation of £300 had been given to the orphanage in Kenya which the club has supported for many years. It will go towards a quantity of clothing which will be presented by Rotarian Gordon McInally when he visits the project this month.