Our early years

The Rotary Club of Dundee soon established itself as a prominent organisation in the city, with reports on its proceedings regularly published in The Courier and Evening Telegraph.

It succeeded in attracting figures of national renown to address its meetings, with legendary Scottish entertainer Sir Harry Lauder stepping forward as guest speaker in July 1924.

The speakers didn’t dodge the issues of the day, with such subjects as the local business and employment scene, unemployment, the challenges of adolescence, emigration and racial differences in American society covered.

Here we produce selection of the reports on our early meetings. We are very grateful to Iain Flett, former City Archivist and now of Friends of Dundee City Archives, and Adam Swan, director of Dundee Historic Environment Trust, for their assistance in researching this information.

Dundee Courier - Friday 06 May 1921

DUNDEE “ROTARIANS.” The first weekly luncheon of the Dundee Rotary Club was held yesterday in the Queen's Hotel—Mr Charles G. Soutar presiding, in the absence of Lord Provost Spence.

Dundee Courier - Friday 03 June 1921

DUNDEE EMPLOYER AND BUSINESS SYSTEM.

At the weekly luncheon of Dundee Rotary Club, held in Queen's Hotel yesterday, an address on Business System and Organisation was given by Mr W. S. Draffen, one the members.

Dundee Courier - Friday 21 October 1921

MEETING OF DUNDEE ROTARY CLUB

At a meeting of the Dundee Rotary Club yesterday in the Queen's Hotel Mr J. Mitchell gave an address on "The State and the Worker'

Dundee Courier - Friday 06 July 1923

FEAR WHICH HAUNTS THE WORKER RESULTS IN "CA CANNY" AND UNDER-OUTPUT

Sir James Leishman Addresses Dundee Rotarians fear of unemployment, which haunts the worker, one of the prolific causes of ca' canny" and of under-output, said Sir James Leishman an address to the members of Dundee Rotary Club in Lamb's Rooms yesterday afternoon.

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Thursday 11 October 1923

THE PROBLEM OF THE YOUNG.

Appeal to Dundee Rotary Club Members. lie problem of how to deal with the growing boy between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years in order that might in time take his place in the world a citizen high ideals was discussed the weekly luncheon of the Dundee Rotary Club in Lamb's Restaurant this afternoon.

Dundee Courier - Friday 28 December 1923

BARRIE, BIRKENHEAD AND THE BISHOP PRIMUS ADDRESSES DUNDEE ROTARIANS

A Memory of the Coronation Lord Birkenhead's Rectorial address at Glasgow was incidentally criticised yesterday afternoon by Bishop Robberds, Primus of Scotland, who was the guest of the members of Dundee Rotary Club at their weekly luncheon in Lamb's Restaurant. Mr Charles G. Soutar presided.

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Thursday 24 July 1924

SIR HARRY LAUDER'S CURE FOR WORLD'S ILLS. PARTNERSHIP FOR AND vision for vanity.

Speech to Dundee Rotary Club. Sir Harry Lauder was the guest of Dundee Rotary Club at luncheon this afternoon in Lamb's Restaurant and he delighted a gathering with a speech in which wit, wisdom.

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Thursday 21 August 1924

SCOTS MORE WELCOME THAN ANY OTHER RACE In the United States. Dundee Native Gives His Experiences to Rotary Club. Various aspects of American life were dealt with in a very interesting address which Albert J. Watson, San Francisco, gave to the members of the Dundee Rotary Club this afternoon in Lamb's Restaurant.

Dundee Courier - Friday 26 September 1924

THE NEGRO'S STATUS IN AMERICA. U.S. ROTARIAN ADDRESSES DUNDEE CLUB.

The position of the negro the United States was commented upon yesterday by Mr Bolton Smith, an American Rotarian, in an address which he delivered to members of Dundee Rotary Club at their weekly luncheon in Lamb's Restaurant. Dundee Courier - Friday 03 October 1924 Address to Rotarians. Gipsy Smith addressed the members of Dundee Rotary Club at their weekly luncheon in Lamb's Restaurant yesterday afternoon.

Dundee Courier - Friday 07 November 1924

GIFT TO DUNDEE ROTARY CLUB.

A Union Jack, the gift of Mr G. M. Davie, the president, was presented Dundee Rotary Club the weekly luncheon in Lamb's Restaurant yesterday.

Dundee Courier - Friday 21 November 1924

THE ÜBIQUITOUS SCOT WHY HE LEAVES FOR FOREIGN SHORES

Annie S. Swan's Address to Dundee Rotary Club The globe-trotting instinct of the Scot formed the subject of delightful address which Annie S. Swan (Mrs Burnett Smith) delivered to the members of Dundee Rotary Club at their weekly luncheon yesterday in Lamb's Restaurant. " The Scot Abroad " was subject with which the greatly admired " People's Friend " novelist was well qualified to deal. Mr T. W. Davie, president of the club, occupied the chair, and amongst those present were Dr Burnett Smith, Miss E. Burnett Smith, Lord Provost High, and Mr David Pae, editor of the " People's Friend." Introducing the speaker, the Chairman said that only once before had they had a lady to address the club, and that was an innovation they could do with oftener, especially when they had distinguished a guest as Mrs Burnett Smith.

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Thursday 08 January 1925

PUBLIC SERVICE AS LIFE WORK.

Montrose Provost's Views Dundee. " Some Reflections on Half Lifetime's Public Work " the subject of an address by Provost Foreman, Montrose, at the weekly luncheon of Dundee Rotary Club, held in Ingram's Restaurant to-day, President T. W. Davie in the chair.

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Thursday 24 March 1927

DUNDEE ROTARY CLUB. Satisfactory reports for the past year were submitted the annual business meeting of Dundee Rotary Club held in Ingram Rooms this afternoon< Dundee Courier - Friday 31 January 1930 Mr H. Craigie Smith, the president, referred to the fact that they had met together for the last time in Lamb's Restaurant. They did so with many regrets because they had spent many happy hours there. He thanked Rotarian Ingram, on behalf of the club, not only for the many kindnesses they had received his hands, but also for the very good work he had done for the club. Rotarian Ingram replied.

Dundee Courier - Monday 16 February 1931

DUNDEE TOC H CONCERT.

A concert by the League of Women's Helpers of Toc H was given in Ingram's Rooms, Dundee, granted by Mr J. R. Ingram, on Saturday evening, when there was an attendance of over 200. Mr H. Craigie Smith, president of Dundee Rotary Club, presided. A programme was sustained Misses V. Fleming. D. Whyte, and E. Brown, and Messrs A. Maurice and J. G. Ingram. The function was held for the purpose of helping to start a company of Girl Guides in Overgate, under the leadership of Miss Lang.

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Thursday 26 March 1931

SERVICE IN BUSINESS THE ROTARIAN'S MOTTO

Dundee President's Address There was large attendance at the weekly lunch held in Kidd's Rooms, Dundee, to-day, of the Dundee Rotary Club.

Dundee Courier - Thursday 13 October 1932

DUNDEE SOROPTIMISTS MEET. DEMONSTRATION IN JEWELLERY MAKING.

The members of Dundee Soroptimist Club, which was officially inaugurated in the early summer, will for the first time meet their brother organisation, Dundee Rotary Club, with whom they have been invited to lunch, on Thursday, 27th October. This was announced by Dr Edith Philip Smith, the president, yesterday at the first full winter session of the Soroptimists at their luncheon in Ingram's Rooms.

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Thursday 16 March 1933

DUNDEE ROTARY CLUB PRESIDENT Mr George T. Watson Appointed At the annual general meeting of Dundee Rotary Club, held in Kidd's Rooms to-day, Mr George T. Watson was appointed president for the ensuing year. proposing Mr Watson for the position, the retiring president, Dr A. E. Kidd, referred to the tremendous amount of work had done on the Speakers' Committee.