The Rotary Club of Edinburgh
Bulletin 2203 - 3rd April 2008
Last Meeting
Thur 27th March
President Robin Wilson thanked VP Sandra Watson for chairing last week’s meeting and read a letter from Aileen Thomson, thanking all the members who have sent cards and attended the memorial service for David. The family much appreciated this. Robin welcomed members and then quoted a poem by a favourite poet of his, Deric Bolton, entitled “Prison Visit and After”
| My tyre cut deep By knife clean blade Of kerb in rain, Late, later by The grudging key Of officer at gate To find, crouched there In corner, despair Scarce breathing misery |
How can Amorphous set-aside Bring forth In twelve short years Such joy A family reborn Such gilded waves Dawn rays? |
President Robin then turned the programme on its head and called on the Secretary to give his notices before the main course was served.
Secretary’s Notices - Bill Barr.
There were 66 members, 4 visiting Rotarians and 3 guests, a total of 73. Next week our Speaker would be Dr Susie Allison on “Assorted Arctic Adventures” with the vote of thanks by Drew Wightman. The Centenary Committee was due to meet today immediately after lunch. Bill reminded members of the Inner Wheel Outing on 14th June to Pitlochry for Alan Bennett’s Play“Habeas Corpus” and tea in Grandtully at a cost of £40. Contact Bill for information. The RIBI Magazine was available on the chairs for members to take away. The Bangladesh Charity Dinner at Ingliston has been postponed to June, much to the dismay of the editor of the Bulletin, who had featured the event.
Fund-Raising Ceilidh - Fergus Gillies.
Fergus again highlighted this major event and promised tickets at £32.50 by next week’s lunch. Contact Fergus or Rajiv Naik.
KidsOut Day - John Williams.
John spoke about the plans for KidsOut and also drew members’ attention to the forms for names of those able to help, which were on each table. He was looking for face painters and those of a military bearing who could marshall cars in the car park. There was great enthusiasm in all the schools for the event. President Robin went on to share news of some recent donations agreed by the JCF Trustees, including those to Sightsavers and to Victoria Primary School. At this stage Robin announced that Caroline Gilbert was leaving for Aberdeen and he wished to acknowledge the service she had given the club. She had helped raise £470 by sponsoring the recent outing to the “39 Steps”. Never short of the main chance, President Robin presented a CD of members’ songs.
Induction of New Member - Alex Gillies.
After the Loyal Toast Robin called on Gordon Sims to speak to his nomination. He had known Alex for forty years and described his schooling at Heriots, his rugby prowess in the fifties and his training as a surveyor at Heriot Watt. His subsequent career had been as a constructional engineer and a valuer in the Hotel industry. He was married to Margot, had two daughters and listed his hobbies, as gardening, travelling in the Far East and Scouting, where for many years he has held responsibility for the Bonaly Scout Centre. President Robin then formally inducted Alex as a Rotarian and presented his badge and advised him of the opportunities for friendship, international dimensions and service above self and wished him well in this club and in the worldwide movement. His induction was greeted with acclaim.
Speaker - Professor Geoff Palmer, OBE.
Robin then called on Geoff to address the club on his experiences as
a Prison Visitor. Geoff apologised for his non-appearance two months ago,
but he had been advised by the hotel to start at 2.00pm and had sat downstairs
waiting patiently while we ate lunch. After he retired he had been sent
to Nigeria to advise on brewing and distilling there. When he asked why
him, he was told no one else would be believed and he was the closest
to a Nigerian they had ! He started his work in Nigeria by saying his
family had left their country in uncomfortable circumstances 400 years
before. After that they believed every word he said.
Lady Cullen invited him to Polmont Young Offenders Institution and showed
him round. Many of the coloured prisoners greeted him as a long lost relative
and gave him a rap handshake. A handshake whicjhe had learned painstakingly
in Brixton and not in Jamaica. The “Boys” in the prison took
to him immediately as they thought he was there to teach them how to make
ganja and to brew beer and distil whisky. In prison he was interested
in protecting prisoners’ rights although many outsiders thought prisoners
had no rights. Geoff instanced the wide differences between prisoners
and others in our society. The prisoners had a choice of favourite meals
on Fridays and inevitably chose “Chip Butties” It had become
impossible for prisoners to be persuaded to eat vegetables. Answer - they
put the vegetables in stews and they were eaten without demur. 60% of
prisoners had been sentenced because of alcohol or drug related offences.
Yet they were surprisingly ignorant and did not know Budweiser was more
dangerous than Guinness or that brandy caused more illness than vodka.
Drugs are illegal but alcohol is not. We can’t blame the government
for the consumption of alcohol. Geoff had found the quality of prison
officers to be excellent in the way they protected prisoners’ rights.
Vote of Thanks - Ian Huggan.
Robin thanked Geoff and called on a vote of thanks from Ian, a regular prison visitor, though Ian claimed he had been visiting clients.
District Governor Elect.
Alasdair Seale of Braids Rotary Club is visiting all 62 Clubs in District 1020 and will reach our Club in Edinburgh on 9th October. Arts Committee Visit. The Arts Committee was making arrangements for a visit to the Kelvingrove Gallery in Glasgow on Monday 28th April. There would be a choice of means of transport, a conducted hour’s tour and a lunch together at 12.45 in the excellent restaurant at the gallery. This would make an inexpensive visit in view of the proximity of the Ceilidh date. Contact Keith Frost.
Walkers and escorts for Deaf Blind Walk.
You are invited to take part in this Fund Raising Walk in Strathclyde Country Park on Sunday 20 April. for the above Charity. [Blindfolds and Ear Muffs provided] Contact - Margaret McHardy [Number removed].
Golf Club Outings.
Alan Hately had made up the year’s programme of outings, and matches and competitions with the first outing to Haddington on Tuesday 29th April. His newsletter was imminent.
An invitation has been received from Powerful Partnerships to a fund-raising dinner in the Raj Indian Restaurant in Henderson Stret, Leith this evening [3 April] Cost £20 with 50% donated to young people in transition.Heard at lunch.
The delay in serving lunch was that the chefs could not persuade the chickens to eat haggis.