The Rotary Club of Edinburgh

This Week's Bulletin

Bulletin 1984 - 13th November 2003

FROM THE RADISSON SAS

Secretary John said all were welcome at the Friends of Erskine Carol Service in St Cuthberts on 11th Dec. at 7pm. The quiz at the Bonar hotel, courtesy of Peter Taylor and organised by Morag Turner, saw a win over Whitburn by 24-21. As our President Neville is speaking at the Inner Wheel, VP Bill Cantley is in the chair today.

NO CHEQUE, NO FESTIVE LUNCH

Dust down your cheque books. The Christmas lunch (now politically correctly "The Festive Lunch", as if non Christians can't eat, what tosh!!) We have to pay in full on November 27th, so your cheque must be with John Hull by Thursday 20th Nov. Only £24 each; just think, if prices double every 7 years that will be £384 when I am George Brodlie's age.

Christmas Parcels, Andrew Anderson

Week commencing Dec 8th, will the following please report to Edinburgh Furniture Initiative (EFI) Elizafield, Newhaven Rd: Dick, Oliver, Bill, Russell, John, Nev., Mike, David, Bill, Bill, John, Carol, Keith, Jeff, Fergus, Linda, Wendy, Gerald, John, David, Eddie, George, John, Jinty, Anna, Fred, Hugh, Mat, Colin, Jim, Tim, Judith, John, Brian, David, Melinda, Robin, Drew, Alex, Maureen, Peter, Malcolm, President George Bush and Michael Howard.

THE MAKING OF A PRESIDENT Part 2

Fred Ainslie wants it known that Past Presidents have never produced a new President. They have suggested names, but it is always up to the Council to seek ratification from the membership. It has also been pointed out that some would withdraw their name if there was to be an election. So, maybe the emerging of one name is best. Still, the Nominations committee is there to get ideas from the floor. Watch this space.

JINTY KERR GRABS £308.27

In the first of 2 muggings, Janet (Sunday name) does her stuff. Last year we helped 70 children, a women's aid summer outing, and tokens for teenagers of Saughton prisoners.

EASY-SEATING BY NUMBERS

To mix more, should we have numbers?

ATTENDANCE (Melinda Wallace) 63

Members 61, Guests 2. No interesting visits.

SPORTS SECTION. BRIDGE

Mohindra Dhall is looking for support on 3rd Tuesday monthly; first meeting at his home, 10 Stewart Green on Tue Nov 18th; limber up.

SPORTS SECTION. RACE NIGHT

Alan Hately announces this will now be at Edinburgh Wanderers, Murrayfield on Friday March 5th. Bring lots of friends and £5 coins.

FRASER SIMM, THE HERIOT TRUST

Brought up in the Lebanon and at George Watson's, Fraser qualified as a CA in Bristol. After VSO in Nigeria, he went to the deep south of the Scottish Borders and thence to St Helena. He is now Treasurer of George Heriot's Trust and has been Chairman of the Cricket Society of Scotland since 1994, having written books on the sport.

Founded in the 17th Century by Jingling Geordie (George Heriot), Heriots is the oldest independent school in Edinburgh. Geordie was jeweller to Queen Anne and he moved to London when her husband Jamie Sax became James I of G.B. Heriot was Deacon of Goldsmiths and at the annual dinner to this day, his loving cup is used by the Chairman. As financier to Royalty he died in 1624 leaving the huge fortune of £23,625 sterling, including a debt of £200 Scots from Queen Anne. He had 2 sons, who were drowned in a ship from Leith to London and 2 illegitimate daughters, who received legacies. The remainder was in Trust to assist, on the lines of Christ's Hospital in London, fatherless bairns of Edinburgh.

The Trustees bought land outside the City Walls, notably at the site of the school and at Goldenacre in the North. The Trust Orders of 1624, with revisions, still govern the running of the school. Oliver Cromwell used the school as a barracks in the Civil War. Foundationers arrived in 1659 for free schooling. Later the Trust also ran 13 other schools for 5,000 pupils. It also funded Heriot Watt. Past pupils include Sir Henry Raeburn, Chief Constable John Orr and Jack Aitken. In 1980, the school took in girls and now has 1,500 pupils, of which 80 are foundationers. A recent head girl wrote an erudite article in the Scotsman, arguing against the removal of Charitable Status, as she was an orphan and had benefited greatly, now going to Cambridge University.

Drew Wightman, looking very smart as always, thanked Fraser and wondered if he was related, as his Granny was Margaret Scott, the same name as one of the illegitimate daughters! He also said his son was devastated that girls arrived the day he left.

HELP THE AGED Committee member

Sally Cassidy 01592 654072, of Help the Aged has asked if anyone could help on the Edinburgh Committee as an individual (not a representative of any organisation). More from Bill Barr, Community & Vocational.