Speaker Dr John Rankin

Rotary club of Stirling meeting of 24th January.

VP Alan Bradshaw welcomed a good turnout of members to our Friday meeting. Our speaker was Dr John Rankin who talked about Singapore, or Singapura as it is called by the locals.  John has been to Singapore several times visiting one of his daughters who has lived and worked there for some years, and clearly still finds it a fascinating place.
Singapore came into British hands in 1819 when Sir Stanford Raffles planted the flag in what was at that time a small but significantly placed tropical island. Even in 1968 when Singapore separated from Malaysia most of the island remained poorly developed jungle, but since then its development has been explosive.  The island of Singapore is about twice the size of Arran, but while Arran has 5000 inhabitants Singapore has 5.7M.  This level of development has meant building up or down, car parks often three or four stories down, and above ground a spectacular array of high-rise buildings. Despite this great care has been taken to preserve the landscape, areas of jungle remain and there are wonderful parks. Evidence of the past remains, the Cavanah bridge made in Glasgow and erected in Singapore in 1868, is still in use as part of one of the many walking routes. Development proceeds at breakneck speed, a tunnel under the harbour, twenty lanes in each direction built in under a year. John clearly finds much to do, golf not neglected, if a little expensive, and of course, he has the pleasure of catching up with his family.

Next week 31st January speaker our new member Prof David MacKay OBE. Visitor's host Derek Anderson.

On Thursday 6th February we have an evening meeting.

Ian Richardson