Business topics at our meeting of 1st May included an update on the Primary School Quiz, with a final competition on the 12th May in Tayport. Also discussed were plans for beach cleans on 17th June.

Speaker for the evening was club member Malcolm MacDonald, who decided on a reprise of his original job talk, when he joined Rotary in 1999.

Malcolm had started out training to be a motor mechanic, but quickly made a change to Royal Mail, in what went on to be a 40-year career from a telegram boy to manager of the Anstruther office.

It was a reminder of just how much has changed - from the telegraph, mail trains, Post Buses, telegram delivery on bikes, mopeds, motor bikes and vans - to today’s digital world.

Malcolm was based for many years in St Andrews and it was fascinating to be reminded of just how the town has changed too, with many old businesses now gone. The railway with lead-sealed post bags no longer an important part of the mail system - and with great expansion of the university.

Mention of ‘Teleprinter’ machines, with 1/4” wide printed strips stuck onto telegram forms and with BSA Bantam delivery motor bikes rekindled old memories for many. And there were spells too as driver of the passenger-carrying Post Buses, around country districts.

And a final phase with the 1990 opening of a new office in Anstruther - and progressing to be manager there.

A journey down memory lane indeed - and a very interesting one too. Following questions a vote of thanks was proposed by John O’Neill.