Presidential Handover

Thu, Jun 27th 2019 at 6:45 pm - 8:45 pm

Raffle - Derek Clark
Reception - Sybille Handley-Schachler / Alan Armes


Thursday 27th June saw the end of the Rotary Year. President Sandy Mackenzie brought his unbroken year of chairing every meeting of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry to a close by welcoming Honorary Member Jim Boyd and other guests.

Sandy congratulated Echline Primary School for coming third in the Scottish Final of the Rotary Primary Schools Quiz at Stirling.

Sandy said it had been a very quick twelve months and it had been an honour and a privilege to be president. He thanked members for supporting him in a year in which the club had gained many new members and had had yet another successful year of fundraising. The club was in good spirits, with a vibrant social life. Sandy particularly thanked his council and said a major reward of his year had been working with the support of the membership.

During this evening President Sandy had the great pleasure of awarding one of Rotary's highest honours, a Paul Harris Fellowship, to a club member who has rendered exceptional service not only to Rotary but to the local community. In reading the citation, proposer Stuart Ridge said that Past President Neil McKinlay richly deserved the fellowship. As vice-president and president, Neil had reformed and updated the club's systems and structure to comply with current legislation. He had also greatly contributed to promoting Rotary's support for young people through long-term involvement with Queensferry High School on several projects including arranging job fairs and mock interviews for senior pupils. Neil was also a keen supporter of Queensferry Sea Cadet unit for which he also arranged mock interviews. In the broader community, Neil has a deep commitment to the environment. He was instrumental in the development and maintenance of the Ferry Glen as well as supporting GreenFerry and many other projects aimed at improving  Queensferry for the benefit of residents and visitors alike. President Sandy said Neil was a most worthy recipient of the honour, a sentiment warmly endorsed by members and guestsPresident 

Sandy then made two awards for exemplary service to the club. The Jim Boyd Paperweight went to Craig MacKenzie, who had worked unstintingly as club secretary. The John Rennie Trophy was awarded to Grainger Falconer, International Convenor, who had anticipated the many calls upon Rotary for international assistance had ensured that the club was well placed to respond to requests for aid during natural or man-made disasters. 

President Sandy then handed the chain of office to incoming president Jim McCulloch who presented the vice-president's medal to Irene Brownless and the junior- vice president's medal to Derek Clark. Eric Proven became treasurer.

In his opening remarks, President Jim congratulated Past President Sandy and thanked him for leaving the club in such good shape. He said Sandy had been a great help in preparing him for presidency, but joked that by chairing every meeting, Sandy had never given him the chance to experience power.  He hoped that his presidency would be as successful as that of his predecessor.