The Rotary Club of Edinburgh
October's News
Bulletin 10th October 2002
Change Of Venue
Members are asked to note the following change of meeting place.
October 24th Carrubbers Restaurant (within the Crowne Plaza)
LONG RANGE PLANNING GROUP REPORT
Last week copies of the report were available at the meeting.
This report is the result of careful deliberation by members of the group
and has implications for the future direction of the Club.
Members are invited to consider the report and attend a round the table
discussion at the lunchtime meeting on 24 October to discuss the Report.
Four major aspects will be discussed; Recruitment and Retention, Fund
Raising, Lunches, and Communications.
If you would like a copy posted or e-mailed, please ask John Havard.
LAST WEEK
Last week we returned to one of our former meeting places, the King James
Hotel, where we were treated to 'silver service'.
Past-President Alex Wilkie chaired the meeting. Our numbers were depleted
due to the absence of members and spouses who were visiting the Rotary
Club of Rockland, Maine. We had five visiting Rotarians at our meeting,
including Donald Walck from Rockland.
One of our other visitors when handing over his banner informed us that
his club sewed the banners they received into a waistcoat that was auctioned
for a large sum on local TV.
Our speaker was Mrs Elizabeth Roads, Carrick Pursuivant and Lyon Clerk.
In a most informative talk Mrs Roads stated that she had joined Lyon Court
in 1975 and had been Carrick Pursuivant since 1992.
She described a fictitious but ordinary day in her life.
She told us that living in Edinburgh we were surrounded by Heraldry, on
buildings, churches letter headings and that a walk along George Street
would reveal at least 40 coats of arms.
She said that the Court pre-dated the Union of 1707 being established
in 1672.
She told us that what many of us referred to as the school crest was actually
the school shield of arms.
She said that she had to deal with many trivial enquiries, e.g. regarding
clan tartans, schoolchildren doing projects, newspaper quizzes and the
time of trains to Edinburgh! There were also letters from messengers of
arms who were all appointed by Lord Lyon. There were also callers who
arrived unannounced at the counter expecting preferential treatment as
did many who telephoned.
Mrs Roads outlined the ceremonial aspects of the post; the ceremonies
associated annually with the Order of the Thistle, the General Assembly
and more recently with the opening of the Scottish Parliament and the
return of the Stone of Destiny together with the Silver and Golden Jubilee
celebrations.
Mrs Roads stressed the antiquity of the Court and that Heraldry was something
that was living and exciting giving as examples Marks and Spencer as well
as the early 18th century Bank of Scotland with the golden orbs representing
money.
Mrs Roads concluded by describing her office in New Register House and
left us with the impression that this was someone who loved her work.
ATTENDANCE on 3/Oct/02
Members 55
Visitors 5
Guests 1
Total 61
Bulletin 3rd October 2002
LAST WEEK
Our Speaker last week Ian Milne, Head of Library and Information Services,
The Royal College of Physicians, gave a fascinating talk on 'An 18th Century
Mail Order Medical Practice'.
His talk centred on the activities of a Dr Cullen who practiced in Edinburgh
around the end of the 18th Century. Cullen kept all his correspondence
with his patients and it is now in the Library of the Royal College of
Physicians.
Cullen, who was born in 1710, lived in Mint Close near our present meeting
place.
He went to school in Hamilton, later attended classes at Glasgow and his
first practice was in Hamilton where the Duke and Duchess were amongst
his patients. He became a professor at Glasgow and later moved to be a
professor at Edinburgh where he was regarded with some suspicion as the
majority of the Edinburgh Medicals had been educated at Leiden.
Cullen with the help of his Secretary dealt promptly with the correspondence
from his patients who not only came from all over Scotland but also from
Antwerp, Berlin and Madeira. He charged his emerging middle class patients
one guinea and treated the poor at the Royal Infirmary.
An example of his correspondence was this reply to a lady 'do not go to
Bath to take the waters but instead take regularly a few drops of balsam,
adopt a light diet plus 2 or 3 glasses of wine and a change of life style
coupled with a modest use of leeches for blood letting.'
Cullen had many influential friends including the Duke of Argyll, Adam
Smith and Joseph Black, who was Professor of Medicine at Edinburgh. In
1871 Cullen used an early copy machine, using damp paper, designed by
Watt to duplicate his correspondence. (such devices were still being used
by the Scottish Banks in the 1940s)
Cullen was let down by his lawyers and he did not provide as well as he
thought for his family. His daughters lived in genteel poverty in the
Lake District on a pension that De Quincy had won for them.
AQUABOXES
David Brown announced that the Club had taken delivery of another three boxes and that a list of items required was on the notice board. These items are required for the survival of the recipients and afterwards the boxes used for the provision of clean water.
GREAT SCOTTISH WALK
Those who helped with the Great Scottish Walk are asked to note in their diary the 23rd October. They will receive an invitation to the Prize Giving Event on that date.
CANADIAN CURLERS
David Henderson reminded members that the Canadian Curlers would be in
Edinburgh on the 17th &18th of November.
There would be a Dinner for the Curlers on 18th November, 7.30 for 8 to
which all are invited, cost £22 pp. Further details from David.
ROTARIANS ON THE MOVE
John Flett has announced his resignation from the Club as he is moving
to take up a new appointment in Wick. President Peter wished John, who
was attending his last meeting best wishes for the future.
At Council it was announced that Cathy Bryant and Marilyn Jeffcoat had
resigned; Cathy is moving to London and Marilyn is transferring to Murrayfield/Cramond.
Our best wishes for the future also go to Cathy and Marilyn
GOLF OUTING
The last outing of the season was held at Broomieknowe, 17 members took
part.
The Winners were
Alan Hately 40pts
Eddie Soutar 37pts
Hugh Lees 36 pts
Alan also had a magic 2 during his round. Alan explained his strategy
in winning the final event of the season. Those winning earlier events
have their handicap reduced but as all handicaps revert back at the end
of the season his would not be affected.
The list for those wishing to attend the Annual Dinner on Friday, 15 November
is now posted on the notice board.
All members of the Rotary Club are welcome to attend.
LONG RANGE PLANNING GROUP REPORT
Members are invited to a round the table discussion at the lunchtime
meeting on 24 October to discuss the Report of the Long Range Planning
Group.
Four major aspects will be discussed; Recruitment and Retention, Fund
Raisin, Lunches, and Communications.
Each member will receive an advance copy of the report that is being handed
out at the Club Meetings on 3, 10 and 17 October.
If you would like a copy posted or e-mailed, please ask John Havard.
All views on the Report are welcome.
ATTENDANCE on 26/Sept/02
Members 78
Visitors 1
Guests 1
Total 80
Other News:
- October '03
- October '03
- September '03
- August '03
- July '03
- June '03
- May '03
- April '03
- March '03
- February '03
- January '03
- December '02
- November '02
- October '02
- September '02