Newsletter - 265 - June 2015

Rotary Club of Stranraer

Monthly Newsletter No 265

June 2015

Service above self

Bill McWilliam

It was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Bill. Bill made a large contribution to the Club over the years having served on Council for several years and being President in 1988/89. I still remember the very warm welcome from Bill when I joined in 1989! His cheery disposition and smile will be missed!    

Imminent Activities

June 1^st – Pre – Assembly Meeting

June 9^th – Club Assembly

Mon 15^th June – Ian McIntyre

Sat 20^th June – Macmillan Sponsored Walk – starting at the Mull. Although this not an official Club activity, several of our members participate. Contact Tom Stevenson for information.

Mon 22^nd June – Ian McIlroy

Fri 26^th June – Golf – Annual AmAm

Mon 29^th June – Club Presidential Handover

Recent Events   

Tues 5^th May – Douglas Irving’s talk about his visit to the Falkland Islands was well illustrated by excellent slides.

Tues 12^th May – Ian Howie, a British Heart Foundation volunteer, provided an excellent talk about and demonstration of a defibrillator. He emphasised the need for urgent action if there is the slightest delay in getting help if there is any suspicion whatsoever about an attack. This talk was of particular interest bearing in mind the age profile of Rotary!

EVERY member should check https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/heart-attack. The information provided could save your life or the life of a loved one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thurs 14^th May –Golf with Canadian Golfers – see below

Friday 15^th – Golf with Canadian golfers followed by a BBQ – see below

Fri 15^th May – Christian Aid Lunch – see below

Sat 16^th May – Golf with Canadian Curlers followed by a meal – see below

Mon 18^th May –Brigadier Bill Bewley gave us a very interesting brief history of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) which was set up around the time of the 1^st World War. Many of its members were recruited by the SOE (Special Operations Executive) to act as agents/radio operators in Occupied France. 13 of them were executed. Brigadier Bewley, while on a visit to Rome, became aware of 90-year-old Rossanna Banti who had served with SOE and arranged for her to be presented with 3 medals - the Italian Star, the 1939-45 medal and the Victory medal for her work helping agents behind enemy lines.

Tues 26^th May – Lucy Miller, our Euroscolar, told us about her trip to Strasburg and how it has benefitted her.

May 30^th – Mull of Galloway Trail run/walk – details are not yet available and a full report will be included in the next Newsletter

Dates for your Diary

Sun 5^th July – Alex Cairns is having an Open Day at his home in Sandhead in aid of a school in Uganda.

Fri 7^th August – Portpatrick Raft Race (provisional date)

Eric Crone                     

We are sorry to lose Eric as a member and wish him all the best in his new home in Ayr.

Eric joined our Club in 1992 and kept us on the right track in his 10 years as Treasurer.

Christian Aid Lunch               

This annual fund raising event raised £725 with further monies still to come in. This was a great effort particularly as it coincided with the golf with our Canadian guests which involved some of the usual volunteers! Many thanks to all those who helped.

Firth O Clyde Rotary Trail

4 of our members accompanied by 4 representatives from Apex and a representative from Criminal Justice attended the official opening of this massive project by Sally Magnusson.

She was presented with a donation of £1,000, being £250 from each of the 4 Clubs involved, for her charity Playlist for Life which provides music for those suffering from dementia. Further donations will be made with our Club having raised over £300.

Rugby                   

6 members and 2 guests attended the crunch game on Sat 16^th May against Ulster. A fine Glasgow win meant a home semi final against Ulster which 5 members and 2 guests attended. This was a very close game with Glasgow managing to score in the last few minutes to reach the Final in Belfast.

Several members had planned to go to the Final but decided against because of the scarcity of tickets and the high cost of the few remaining unbooked hotel rooms in Belfast! A few members did however meet to watch the match on TV and celebrated appropriately!

On the International scene 8 members and guests will be attending the Ireland v Scotland game in Dublin on 15^th August. Please contact Tom Mitchell if you would like to join them.

Rotary District Golf

Hugh Parker and Ian McIntyre won their first round match at Cathkin Braes.

Golf – visit by Rotary Canadian golfers              

A party of 18 Canadians were guests of the Club from 13^th to 18^th May. Golf matches took place at Stranraer on the Thursday, County on Friday and Portpatrick on Saturday.

A  Scots Night and meal at Stranraer Golf Club on the Thursday evening were enjoyed by our guests, their hosts and other Club members. Thanks to Jock Smith, Hugh Aitken and George Davidson for their contributions to the entertainment. Hugh and Maureen Parker hosted an excellent BBQ at Inchparks on the Friday evening for our guests and their hosts.

Hugh then participated in a match against the Canadians in Glasgow and attended a farewell dinner

Thanks to Hugh Parker who organised events and to the hosts who did so much to enhance the reputation of this area and our Club!

The Canadians did some fundraising during their tour and have donated £475 to us to pass on to a charity of our choice.

Press Officer

Members should get in touch with Tom Mitchell, in his role as Press Officer, if they have anything they wish included in the Newsletter or reported in the press.

Some thoughts –

·       Toothache – the pain that drives you to extraction

·       Tomorrow – one of the greatest labour saving devices of today

·       Yawn – an honest opinion openly expressed