Speaker Jim Allison 'From papers to poached eggs'

New President Isobel Clifford welcomed members to the first meeting of the Club in the new Rotary year in the Best Western Scores Hotel. Isobel was pleased to welcome new member Jim Allison as the speaker who gave a talk entitled "From papers to poached eggs". Jim's highly amusing talk outlined his career starting in January 1978 when he joined the Courier newspaper as a sports sub editor. This entailed getting involved in most aspects of the department including in his first year becoming the racing tipster "Vic's Tips" and even tipping the Grand National winner. It was a good year for sport although that was the year of Scotland's ill fated trip  to Argentina for the World Cup. He also got involved in making up banner headlines like one for Hearts FC "Sticky End for Jam Tarts". One he did make up however which was not printed related to a horse called "Gay George" and the heading was "Gay George liked it firm". Eventually Jim was promoted to the news side which had its own problems with the paper having 5 editions covering the whole area of publication the last, Dundee edition, being printed at 3am. He became Deputy Chief Sub Editor which entailed sifting through all submitted stories from Reporters to News Agency reports and then cutting them down to size. During his career Jim was on duty at the time of the Lockerbie plane crash, the Piper Alpha disaster and the Dunblane shooting. General Elections also proved to be busy events with each edition of the paper being updated as results came in. In 2003 Jim was appointed Deputy Editor until he retired in 2011. Quickly pointing out that although it was not his fault, in common with all other newspapers circulation is falling and in his career the Courier fell from 131000 to 63000. In 2006 his wife started a B & B business in St Andrews and on his retiral he became Basil Fawlty although he was the chef with a speciality being poached eggs. The clientele over the years has been varied and interesting. They had received a booking one day from a Mr Johnson, not knowing any more details, and on the appointed day who should knock at the door but Boris. Following many questions from the members, a hearty vote of thanks was given by Mike Dow.