At its meeting of 1st October, Anstruther Rotary heard from club member Andy Matthew, who chose as his topic Dundee, City of Discoveries. The club has a visit to the Mills Observatory planned for later this month, so as opener we heard something of its history and founding. Surprisingly some 40% of nights are clear enough for the observatory to operate!

Andy then went on to speak about two men James Chalmers born in 1782 and James Bowman Lindsay born 1799. Both men of humble origin and both having started their working lives as handloom weavers.

James Chalmers moved to Dundee in 1809 to set himself up as bookseller, printer and newspaper publisher. He prospered and later became a Burgh councillor – a position of considerable status. But it was his claim as inventor of the self-adhesive postage stamp and cancelling device that secured his place in history.

James Bowman Lindsay in comparison was an inventor and author and is credited with early development of incandescent electric lighting, electric telegraphy and arc welding. The son of a farm worker he educated himself whilst working as a weaver and subsequently saved the money to attend St Andrews University, from where he graduated in Maths and Physics and subsequently studied Theology.

None of his discoveries were well documented, nor developed until well after his death, but he laid foundation for our modern uses. It is said that his interest in electric lighting was driven by the desire to provide a safe form of lighting for workers in the jute mills, where fire was a serious hazard.

A vote of thanks was proposed on behalf of an appreciative audience, by Graham Meacher.