Donation to WaterAid in memory of three members

Sadly, over the last 12 months, we have lost the three past members of the club whose obituaries are published below. As all three were great supporters of WaterAid our members have donated £750 to that charity in their memory.

Ian McKay PHF

It was with great sadness that members learned of the death of Ian McKay. He died on 6^th April following a long and debilitating illness. He was 84 years old.

A retired local man who spent his working life in the retail food business in Penicuik, Ian was well known in the town and, over the years, was involved in many other activities there.

He became a member of Penicuik Rotary Club in 1973 and has the distinction of being the club’s longest serving Rotarian with 46 years service. Throughout that time he proved himself to be a most dedicated member totally committed to the service of Rotary.

In the course of his years in Rotary Ian performed several different roles. He was International Convenor and way back in 1978 was Junior Vice President. It seems likely that business pressures at that time prevented his further advancement. He also was the club’s Sports Officer for several years, an appropriate role given his personal enthusiasm for golf and curling. He was a tireless worker and a generous donator to the charities the club supported.

Ian could always be relied upon to play a leading role at fund raising events organised by Rotary and he held legendary status in the club as the super salesman of tombola and raffle tickets. At the annual Cheese and Wine evening and, for many years, at the sponsored golf tournament the club hosts to raise funds for CHAS Ian must have personally raised several thousand pounds from the sale of such tickets. At the golf event in particular it was a joke that no one escaped his persuasive clutches.

In 2010 Ian was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by the club, a most deserved recognition of his many years of unstinting service to Rotary.

Ian will be missed by all who knew him in Rotary and elsewhere.

PDG Harry Fisher PHF

Harry was a true Rotarian, a perfect gentleman and an upstanding member of the community. He joined the Rotary Club of Penicuik in 1969, served as President in 1988-1989 and as District Governor in 1995-1996.

Harry also served as part of the District 1020 Foundation team in 2004 as alumni officer. He was a willing volunteer on that district team giving his time and effort to Rotary. He was also a regular attender at District, RIBI and RI Conferences.

A Paul Harris Fellow benefactor and committed to our Foundation, Harry remained a sustaining member to our charity despite his Parkinson’s diagnosis and inability to attend club meetings. His continued donations helped us improve health, support education and alleviate poverty. Harry also had other charities he supported but close to his heart was WaterAid. He left a fantastic legacy.

Harry served as Manager of the Bank of Scotland Loanhead Branch for many years.

Outside of Rotary and work Harry was keen on sport. He played cricket for the Bank and was a Season Ticket holder of Queens Park FC. He was also an active member of Loanhead Community Council and Treasurer and Session Clerk of Loanhead Parish Church.

Harry was a creature of habit enjoying family holidays to Cyprus for three weeks every February, same resort, same hotel and same room.

Harry also enjoyed participating in our annual Burns Supper and enjoyed the works of Burns. It is therefore fitting that the Bard should have the last epitaph.

Epitaph on my own Friend

Robert Burns

An honest man here lies at rest,
As e’er God with His image blest:
The friend of man, the friend of truth;
The friend of age, and guide of youth:
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm’d,
Few heads with knowledge so inform’d:
If there’s another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.

Colin Hunter PHF

Colin was first and foremost a loving husband to Jane, a loving father to David and Mary and a loving grandfather to his four grandchildren.

He was a man with a big heart who was generous with his time, talents and friendship. For Colin friendships knew no bounds. He was trained in social work and went on to become depute head of Wellington school (a school for boys with social, emotional and behavioural problems).

He was a life-long student and skilled performer of many of the songs and poems of Robert Burns. The sentiments expressed in “A Mans A Man For A’ That” and in particular the last verse, held particular resonance for him.

Then let us pray that come what may

(As come it will for a that,)

That sense and worth oer a’ the earth,

Shall bear the gree, an a’ that

Its coming yet for a’ that

That Man to Man the world o’er

Shall brithers be for a’ that

He played rugby and golf. He was a keen curler and enjoyed Scottish Country Dancing. He loved entertaining and was a leading member of a folk group “The Fu’ Shillin”.

Colin was always destined to be a Rotarian and this he did in May 1993, when he joined the Penicuik club. Colin’s enthusiasm for Rotary convinced several of his many friends to become members. He and Jane attended RIBI and District Conferences. He took every opportunity to visit clubs when on holiday and took part in several overseas visits to Clubs in France and Hungary.

He was a hardworking club member and participated fully in every fundraising event.

He served two terms as club President, 1997-98 and 2005-06 and in June 2014 was the recipient of a well-deserved Paul Harris Fellowship award.

One of the highlights of his time as a Rotarian in Penicuik was when he and Jane took on the role of host family for an Ambassadorial Scholar and her husband, from America.

It was a big wrench for Penicuik when Colin and Jane moved from the town, but a gain for the Eastwood Club, which he wasted no time in joining becoming an influential member and taking the role of President in 2019.

Rotary has lost a great champion in his passing.

'What We Do' Main Pages:

Young Chef Competition

Young Chef Competition held in Beeslack School where Lauren Mclay won 1st place.

We welcome Catherine Pow to the fellowship of the club.

Catherine Pow joined the club on 17 February. Catherine visited the club several times before taking the final step. We welcome her to the fellowship of the club and trust that she enjoys her time within Rotary.

The club has developed a garden with particular emphasis on plants with an evocative form, scent or touch for use by the whole community.

President Gordon Sanders and Iain Steven

President Gordon Sanders and all the members are delighted to welcome new member Iain Steven to the fellowship and charitable activities of the club.

Roisin Timoney and Ikrah Nadeem who are S5 students at Beeslack High School both wish to have careers in International Business. They attended the Challenge Enterprise weekend during October and thoroughly enjoyed the experience and challenges.

Rotarian Dr David Gillespie checking blood pressures in the local Tesco. All part of the Know Your Blood Pressure campaign - Rotary supporting the Stroke Association to encourage people to know what their blood pressure is - and hopefully prevent stroke.

We are always delighted to receive guests at our meetings. Here are a selection of our more recent visitors and speakers.

Gordon Sanders hands over the Presidency to Bill Munro

Hand over and some new Council members

Some members of the club braved the elements at Penicuik Street Fair where they sold books, toys and costume jewellery. They also took the opportunity to advertise Rotary and the Antiques and Collectables valuation night on 2 November.

Putting the 'fun' into fundraising.

Wine, a finger buffet and many prizes to be won. This was much more than just a Wine and Cheese evening. All the fun of the fair!

Members of the club help out at the local Tesco store to encourage shoppers to donate non perishable food items to the Food bank.

District Officer Nancy Rule with club Vice President, Iain Steven

On 18th October we heard all about Rotakids from District Officer, Nancy Rule.

The winning team - Cornbank St James Primary.

The Primary School Quiz was held in the High School for teams from local Primary schools. Congratulations to the winners Cornbank St James Primary

Donation to WaterAid in memory of three members

Sadly, over the last 12 months, we have lost the three past members of the club whose obituaries are published below. As all three were great supporters of WaterAid our members have donated £750 to that charity in their memory.

Bill McRobb who piped in the haggis and entertained us later in the evening.

A well attended Burns Night hosted by the club was held at Glencorse Golf Club. It is remarkable that such a small group of people can put on such a diverse take on the Burns story and raise some much needed funds for our charity work in the process.

A collection of photographs provided by Jean Lennie showing the annual visit of Chernobyl Kids to Blair Drummond hosted by Rotary Club of Penicuik

A group of members and friends took part in a guided walk led by a Park Ranger. The walk took around two hours and involved some strenuous climbing over tricky ground. The walkers were rewarded with spectacular views to the South and West of Edinburgh.

The District Governor John Barbour visited the Club and after an entertaining short talk presented Graham Young with the Paul Harris Fellowship.

Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14

Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14 as approved by the Club and submitted to OSCR.

A letter from Hannah McVicar in Malawi

The Chefs and some of the delivery 'boys'

For many years now volunteers from Penicuik Rotary deliver a Xmas dinner to approx thirty pensioners who are on their own on Christmas Day.

Richard Price

The team from Cornbank St James Primary School

In a tightly fought competition between four schools and following a tie break round, Cornbank Primary School were pipped at the post by Prestonpans Primary in round 2 of the quiz. Prestonpans will now take part in the District final. We wish them luck.

The evening was a tremendous success with around 120 guests attending. Funds were raised from tickets, Wheel of Fortune, Tombola stall and various sideshows. Proceeds are estimated to be in the region of £1,400 providing a welcome boost to our funds.

Harry Fisher presents Jim Paterson with the Paul Harris Fellowship

On behalf of the members of the club, Past President Harry Fisher presented Past President Jim Paterson with the Paul Harris fellowship

Highlights from our Burns Supper on 23 January 2018

Visit to Babcock's at Rosyth to see the new aircraft carrier in progress. Not allowed to take photos of the ship, of course.

Visit with members of Roslin & Loanhead club to Babcock and Wilcox shipyard at Rosyth

End Polio Now Crocus

President Gordon Sanders presents Margaret Young with the Paul Harris Fellowship which was awarded to the late David Young shortly before he passed away.

Shannon Graham

Tasting

A part of the large crowd in the hall who helped to raise funds for our charitable work both at home and abroad.

The Wine and Cheese Evening was a very popular event with over 120 people attending. There were various side shows, a wheel of fortune, tombola, a quiz based on Scottish places and of course, the wine and cheese. £1167.89 profit was made.

All the competitors, the judges and Rotary club President Bill Munro.

The club round of this competition was held at Beeslack High School on Friday 15th November. 15 entrants from Beeslack were joined by one girl from Penicuik High School for a keenly fought competition. The round was supported by Tesco and Giovanni's.

A very successful Charity Golf Day was held on 12 June. The event was a joint venture with Glencorse Golf Club and funds of £1,222 were raised on the day. As a result a cheque for £1,500 has now been sent to Children’s Hospice Association Scotland(CHAS)

Welly boots and buckets put to good use by Sacred Heart Nursery.

A Garden Challenge, offered by the Rotary Club of Penicuik, was taken up by 5 Primary Schools. Carolyn Spray of Pentland Plants very generously supplied dozens of small plug plants and seeds for each of the participating schools. Full story on Facebook.

The management of Tesco in Penicuik agreed to let the Rotary seek donations from the staff and public of the small items required for the Mary's Meals Back Pack scheme.

Dave Anderson and David McDonald uplift the trolley donations from Tesco Penicuik. A trolley with suitable posters attached was left in the store for over two weeks to seek donations of the small items required for the Mary's Meals Back Pack scheme.

Somehow, each Burns Supper seems to surpass the previous one. That is probably due to each being in some way unique. We are fortunate to have a wealth of talent within the club and willing participants not afraid to enter into the spirit of the evening.

International evening and PHF award

Lauren McLay was the winner and Vaila Robertson runner-up in the East Area round of the Young Chef competition which was held in Preston Lodge High School. The two Beeslack pupils go on to the District final to be held on 23 February. Good luck to both

A competition for local youth groups

Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12

The annual report and accounts of the Rotary Club of Penicuik Trust Fund for the year to 30 June 2012 as submitted to OSCR.

Lauren Pennycook and Kelly Simmonds, who are both students at Beeslack High School, visited the club to tell us all about their recent experiences at RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award). They had been selected and sponsored by the club.

Ryla girls Lauren Pennycook and Kelly Simmonds

The club organised the Primary School Quiz held on Thursday, 20th February in Penicuik High School. Seven schools took part in this first round of the three tier competition. The runaway winners were the team from Cornbank with a score of 43.

The members welcome Brian Welsh to the fellowship of the club.

Dave Anderson, Gordon Sanders, David McDonald and Reg Dunbar went to Strathesk Primary to collect back packs for Mary's Meals and were met by enthusiastic pupils.

Each year we hold a local Youth speaks competition for teams of three from local youth organisations.

Our members efforts to mark World Polio Day

David Shand gave us an excellent talk on the Scottish Courts system. It was surprisingly fascinating stuff. More pics are available on the members only pages.

The concert featured songs from the Choir ranging from an Abba medley to Harry Lauder via South Pacific and Les Miserables. The Jolly Beggars entertained with David on fiddle accompanied by Colin on the bohdran and a selection of Scottish songs.

A concert for the residents of Aaron House was attended by around 35 residents. Penicuik Community Choir, their leader Liz McKeon & Rotary club members Colin Hunter and David Gillespie (as The Jolly Beggars) provided the entertainment.

About to leave Valleyfield, Penicuik at 10:00.

Many members and some partners undertook the 12/13 mile walk from Penicuik to Musselburgh. Setting out in glorious weather they were glad of the lunch break in Dalkeith School Campus before completing the final 4 miles to refreshments in Musselburgh

Laura Campbell from CHAS with her display in the Clubhouse.

The Charity Golf Day was very successful with 29 teams taking part on a glorious day. The sum of £1282 was raised from the golf and raffle enabling a cheque for £1500 from Penicuik Rotary to be presented to Children's Hospice Assocation Scotland (CHAS)

Stewart Houston with our President, Rhona Somerville

On 27th November, Stewart Houston from Biggar Rotary Club introduced us to Call my Bluff (in Scots). A very interesting night (but some dismal scores from the teams made up from our members).

Erin is presented with her RYLA group picture and a certificate by Club President Gordon Sanders

Erin Brolly one of two candidates we sponsored to attend RYLA visited the club on 2 October to tell us about her experience and show the film she had made. Erin was presented with her RYLA group picture and a certificate by Club President Gordon Sanders

Around 40 members and their guests enjoyed a Christmas Dinner. Guests included members of the local Probus Club and entertainment was provided by Jean Lennie and David Gillespie who encouraged everyone to get involved in singing Christmas carols.

The final event of Hunter and Lass week. Fun for the whole family. Click here for full photo gallery.

Our Burns Supper was held in Glencorse Golf Club where members and their guests were treated to a lively evening. The event was ably organised by Ian Sommerville (again).

The winning team receiving their prize from President Reg Dunbar

Annual Quiz Night

Jean Lennie and Presidents wife Carol Sanders hosted a tea party for Rotary ladies who came in Easter bonnets made for the event. Over £150 was raised which will be donated to a Charity chosen at a future event. The event included a best hat competition.

Jean Lennie, Alister McDonald, Club President Bill Munro and Bill Stewart

Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13

The Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13 for the Rotary Club of Penicuik Trust Fund were approved by the Club on 11th February 2014

Responding to an urgent request from the local Tesco store to help out once again with the FareShare initiative to collect items for a Foodbank. several members were able to play their part in collecting food items valued at over £1,100.

Melissa Lievesley, from Beeslack High School visited the club on 7 October to tell us all about her week at RYLA in July. We were all very impressed with the manner of her presentation and the depth of information she gave about her RYLA experience.

Strathesk Primary School wins the Club round of the Primary School Quiz.

Neil Austin with club member Gordon Mann on the left and President Rhona Somerville.

The recruitment of students from abroad

President Rhona Somerville with some of the filled back packs.

Members of the club and in some cases their families have provided 31 filled back packs for Mary's Meals.

The club held its Burns Supper at Glencorse Golf Club on Tuesday 22nd January. This was a slightly different event from recent years as, with a lady President currently in place, it seemed appropriate to make it a Jean Armour night. Read full story here

In the company of members of the Rotary Club of Loanhead and Roslin, members enjoyed the Annual Dinner Dance at the Original Roslin Hotel on 22 November.

President of Rotary Club of Penicuik, Dave Anderson receiving a pennant from the District Governor Alistair Marquis.

District Governor Alistair Marquis gave a very entertaining, thought provoking and informative presentation on the subject of the Rotary theme for the year ‘Light up Rotary’. Alistair certainly lit up Penicuik Rotary with his visit.

Members of the club having a good time at the Street Fair.

On 23 August we again attended the annual Street Fair held in Penicuik. This gives us an opportunity to present the face of Rotary to the community and raise awareness of the club and the work that we do both for the local community and internationally.