Speaker Prof. David MacKay OBE

Rotary Club of Stirling meeting of 31st January 2020.

President Sandy Farquharson welcomed members, and our speaker and new member, Prof David MacKay OBE to our Friday meeting.

David MacKay is a Son of the Rock born in Wallace St, attending the Territorial school, one of six bright youngsters whose lives were brought to a halt by the sudden death of their mother and the subsequent dispersal of the children, David ending up in Buckhaven. He did well at school but at this stage had no idea what he might do. After two years at Strathclyde University National Service took him to Germany, a good experience during which he began to see where his life might go. After the army he returned to university and then as a freshwater biologist he worked first at Loch Faskally studying what fish ate, then in the USA investigating marine pollution, and in 1975 to Hong Kong as deputy director, and consultant to WHO covering environmental protection. This was a happy time for him and he had clearly found his role, in an area of increasing importance as the problems arising from pollution became better understood. After a further short spell in Hong Kong as manager of water purification, he returned to Scotland, bought a 165 acre farm, where over the next 20 years he planted thousands of native trees. He remained involved in environmental work, but in 2000 a major car crash left him badly injured, and he eventually returned to Stirling, but still working with Strathclyde University. We were all impressed by David's interesting life, clearly a scientist of international importance in the study of the environment. The vote of thanks was given by Colin Bayes who worked with David for some years.

Next week our meeting on Thursday 6th February is an evening meeting 7 pm at the Golden Lion.  Speaker's host Alan Bradshaw, speaker Natalie Fergie, visitor's host Ian Richardson.

Ian Richardson