Speaker Evening

Thu, Aug 29th 2019 at 6:45 pm - 8:45 pm

Speaker - Enrico Prentice, title - Haphazard.
Plus 5 minute slot with Susan Williamson regarding the Telephone Box.
Raffle - Stewart Hutchison
Reception - Iain Fairbairn / Alistair Rarity


Haphazard was the title of the talk at the Rotary Club of South Queensferry on Thursday 29th August. Against a backdrop of 'near-misses' taken from car-cam videos, Rotarian Enrico Prentice outlined his thirty-eight-year career as a driving instructor. Enrico, who teaches students for heavy goods as well as car licences, showed how the driving test has evolved from its introduction in 1935 to its present form. The computerised theory test began in 2000. Regulations have also changed frequently. An example is the introduction of a test for pulling trailers, which caught out many private drivers such as caravanners as well as commercial companies when it was introduced. The necessity for more stringent exams is explained by the remarkable increase in the volume of traffic on Britain's roads. From 4million vehicles registered in 1950 the figure has risen to 39.3 million registered today! To conclude, Enrico set members and guests the current 50 question Driving Theory Test. Results were interesting. Though the great majority had sat their tests many years ago, when theory tests were not involved, most got a considerable proportion of answers correct although several could not complete the paper in time. There was a prize for the highest scorer, and the lowest received a copy of the Highway Code.

In other business, President Jim McCulloch read a letter from President of Rotary International Britain and Ireland Donna Wallbank congratulating the club on having raised £1million for charity over ten years from the Forth Bridge Abseil. She had used several pictures of the event at her presidential handover. Thanking the club on behalf of the charities, Donna said the use of Rotoracters at the event showed Rotary as an organisation with which young people wanted to get involved. The next challenge would be to reach £2 million.

The meeting was chaired by President Jim McCulloch. Enrico Prentice was introduced by Iain Fairbairn. Drew Graham proposed the vote of thanks.