President's Night

The Club President’s Night was held last Friday night in the Green Rooms at Mansfield Park when 66 Rotarians and friends were present. President Scott Elliot was delighted to welcome representative from 9 out of the other 10 Clubs in the Borders, including 8 current Club Presidents. Also in attendance from our District 1020 were District Governor elect Agnes Ritchie from Bathgate, who brought greetings from our current DG Lindsay Craig, Currie Balerno; and Assistant Governor, Borders area, Calum Thomson from the Tranent Club. Anna Casalme, Rotary’s Global Scholar from America, being hosted by Ron and Pat Sutherland from our Club, was there with her friend, also from America, Lex Calaguas.

After a delightful and enjoyable meal served by Deborah Brown and staff, the company listened to some brief, but interesting speeches from Anna, presently studying at Edinburgh University; Club President Scott on the theme “Each member of a Rotary Club can make a difference, Together Rotarians make change” when he mentioned joint workings amongst Border Clubs in a project for the Phillipines, led by the Selkirk Club, and the various activities of our own Club;  DGN Agnes, formerly Chief Nurse for NHS Lothians Head and Neck Directorate at St John’s Hospital, Livingston, brought greetings from the District and her own Club, and congratulated our Club on the various activities and projects in which we are, and have been involved; and lastly Calum explained his role as supporting Border Clubs.

The main beneficiary of the raffle is the McMillan Centre Extension at BGH, with the public appeal only having been launched earlier this month. A donation from the £428 raised is also being made to the recently opened Hawick Dementia Cafe.

The musical entertainment provided by Ronnie Templeman and Kevin Wilson – Humble Scribes – was enjoyed by all, with the evening brought to a close with the votes of thanks by Vice-President Mairhi Trickett, thanking amongst other Iain and Nancy Smith for their organisation of the night, Humble Scribes, and all catering and bar staff. This was followed by the company joining in “Auld Lang Syne” to end an enjoyable evening.