Honorary membership for Ian Grieve

At the club meeting on 10th June 2025 President Mark highlighted that Past President Ian Grieve and his wife Jennifer, are moving south to be closer to their family. He said:- 

“Unfortunately, our very own whisky expert is moving on. Ian Grieve, joined Rotary in 1980. He has served on all of the club’s committees and he has been a leading light in my time in community suppers and the fun golf, amongst a variety of other things. He's a strong advocate for Rotary values and traditions. He's also been a great support to me, sponsored many new member and it was Ian that introduced me to Rotary some ten years ago.

“Ian was President of the Rotary Club of West Fife from 2006-2007. He's been an active member through my term in Rotary and for many years prior to that.

“He's been awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship some 13 years ago. As most of you will know, he's made a decision to move closer to his family down to Durham. You have intimated your intention to remain as a member of the club until you find an appropriate club down there to join.

“It's with great pride that I'm going to offer you honorary membership of this club until you find that. I'm hoping you would accept that. You have been a great member to this club and you've done a lot for us.

“I'm wishing you all the best because I know this is your last meeting with us. I'm hoping you're going to come back for our 50th Charter Dinner but we'll definitely welcome you back if you ever wander back up to this neck of the woods. I'd like to wish you all the best both in your travels and hopefully you'll find a suitable club down south.”

Ian responded:-

“President Mark and fellow members. It's been a great honour to be a member of this club for all these years. Where does the time go? It can hardly believe I have been a member for 45 years. During that time I've had a tremendous amount of fun, met a lot of very interesting people. It would be a lie if I said one or two not so interesting but overall it's been a fantastic experience for me.

“Being President was quite a highlight. One of my other highlights was in February 2012 when I went to Nyumbani out in Kenya. That was wonderful to go there and to work in the slums of Niarobi and out in the villages as well.

“The club has done a tremendous amount over the years. We've been great followers and supporters of Rotary Foundation, I always recommend that. Also we've done a tremendous amount locally, increasingly we've done quite a few things internationally. They can be quite complex sometimes because of the people running them and the organisations out in these countries but it's great credit to the club for everything that they do.

“I'm moving south but I'm only moving 150 miles. Clearly it's a big move for Jennifer and I, we have family down there with no family up here at all. But we're very positive. We'll be back and forward with Scotland now and again.

“Scotland is a very special place. I originally come from Dundee, I left there when I was 29. I've been here 56 years. I'm not expecting to be 112 years in Durham but it'll be an exciting time for us. We'll keep in touch with people and if anybody is down in our part of the world you be very welcome to meet up. County Durham is a lovely county. People are very friendly.

“I wish the club and all its members continued success. The club has had its ups and downs but I'm delighted that when I'm leaving it, it's on an upward projectory at the moment. There’s a lot of very interesting, very hard-working people in the club who keep it on the right road and develop it to the way the club was when I joined it. I mean the club has totally changed since I joined, I can tell you but in any event, it's still a wonderful club. I'll always be very proud to say I was a member of West Fife. Thank you very much, I do appreciate the honour which you've given me.”

Ian's Presidential Year