Details of Meeting held on 1 August 2013

'What next?' was the title of club member David Batty's talk  on Thursday 1st August.

David is a dedicated climber and has already bagged all 282 Munros (Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet) - twice! In 2011 he started on the 222 Corbetts (mountains between 2,500 and 2,999 feet) and has only 20 left to do. Thursday's talk concerned 'the Furths' - mountains furth of Scotland - in the Lake District, Wales and Ireland. In a spectacularly well illustrated presentation, we saw David and his companions scaling Scafell Pike, reaching the summit of Snowdon by the ridge of Tryfan and the Gyders, and climbing many challenging and beautiful mountains in McGillycuddy's Reeks in the south west of Ireland. David's talk prompted many questions, several about where he found the stamina. On being asked to compare mountains in the other countries of the British Isles with the Scottish ones, he said all were exciting in different ways, but Scotland definitely had the most spectacular scener although whether this would still hold good with the ever increasing march of wind farms remained to be seen. David was introduced by Allan Smith. David Buchanan proposed the vote of thanks.

President Iain Fairbairn thanked all Rotarians and family members who had helped in various capacities with the recent Hopetoun Town and Country Fair. As well as providing drivers (in a fleet of Range Rovers, no less) to ferry competitors and VIPs during the horse trials, Rotarians also raised funds for the Send A Cow project which helps African families become self-sufficient by providing livestock. Particular thanks go to Gerald Smith, Chairman of the International Committee who also liaised with Hopetoun in organising Rotary participation.