Flood Relief

Thanks to donations by Rotarians and Rotary Clubs across Scotland, funds were collected to help communities affected by the unprecedented flooding at the turn of last year. Here is how some clubs in affected areas have used these funds to help return their sommunities to some degree of normality.

Peebles

The funding in Peebles went to two local clubs, both located near the River Tweed, and both suffering extensive damage to property not covered by insurance. The Clubs were the Rugby Club and the Bowling Club.

The Rugby Club suffered damaged to their boundaries and were awarded £1800 toward the cost of replacement. A permanent advertising board is now located on the perimeter of the ground confirming Rotary’s support and was in place in time for the club’s end of season Rugby 7’s event. We also had an advert in the 7’s programme confirming Rotary’s support.

This was featured in the local press - click here to read the article online, or click the picture to read the printed version.

The Bowling Club suffered extensive flood damage to their green and clubhouse and were awarded £2000 towards repairs. A similar board has been manufactured for placement within the Bowling Club and there will be similar press coverage when the board is put in place. Repairs are still on going at the Bowling Club. 

Innerleithen, Walkerburn and Traquair.

At the turn of the year the Tweed Valley saw exceptional river levels with consequent flooding on land and properties adjacent to the river. One such victim of the flood was Walkerburn Bowling Club. Formed in 1897, the Tweed must have flooded the Bowling Club many times, but the inundation on the afternoon of 30th December 2015 was one of the largest in recent times.

The Clubhouse and the newly completed Petanque pitch were under almost 3 feet of water, causing a great deal of damage to the clubhouse, its grass cutting equipment and other contents. The force of the flowing river also severely damaged the fence surrounding the club.

The Rotary Club of Innerleithen Walkerburn and Traquair were only too keen to see what they could do to support the Bowling Club (and to maintain the challenge match between the two clubs, played each August!) and so decided to present the Bowlers with the entire proceeds of the annual Curry Lunch held in January. This raised some £750 which was earmarked towards repairs to the fence.

District 1020 Rotary were also aware of the damage the flooding Tweed (and other rivers) had caused and so created a fund which would award monies to clubs which submitted applications for funding. IWT Rotary were initially awarded £2400 to disburse in the first round of allocations and a subsequent smaller amount was been received. As the cost of the repairs to the Clubhouse is far in excess of the figures above outlined above, to aid further, IWT Rotary organised a Quiz Night in the Union Club Innerleithen on Friday 22nd April where a further £200 was raised.

At the Rotary meeting on Tuesday evening a cheque for the sum of £3600 was presented to Brian Lees, Chairman of the Bowling Club of the Bowling Club by Rotary President Tom Hardie in the hope that the people of Walkerburn will be able to have the opportunity to enjoy bowling for the next 120 years!