21 Years of Rotary Service
Picture courtesy of David Scott Links Media Cupar
Nearly 200 people gathered in the Corn Exchange, Cupar, on Friday 6 May for a celebratory dinner to mark 21 years since the Rotary Charter was presented to the Rotary Club of the Howe of Fife on 2 May 1990.
During the 1980s the Rotary Club of Cupar had grown to the extent that it was felt that additional members could not be absorbed. The Rotary Club of Cupar met at lunchtime then, so it was decided to form a ‘daughter club’ that would meet in the evening.
President Rod McCall and The Top Table guests were piped into Dinner by John Rankin, and the Roll Call of visiting clubs was given by Club Secretary John Kerr. As part of the Celebration of Rotary, Howe of Fife Member and Past District Governor David Rankin spoke about the beginnings of the movement and of its founder, Paul Harris. He then invited Founder Members of the Howe of Fife Club John Ewan, Sandy Green, Bill Inglis, Bob Simson and James Storrar to join him at the podium. President Rod then astounded these stalwarts by presenting each of them with the Paul Harris Fellow Award in recognition of their service to Rotary.
Following a delicious meal, Master of Ceremonies Past President Sandy Green invited Sir Menzies Campbell to propose the toast to Rotary International and Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland. As well as being an Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of the Howe of Fife, Sir Ming has Rotary connections that go back to when he spent a period in the USA as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. District Governor Elect Iain MacDonald thanked Sir Ming for his kind remarks.
The main speaker of the evening was Jim Leishman MBE. Although a West Fife man, Jim soon had the Howe of Fife Rotarians and their guests hanging on his every word. Mrs Kaye McCall presented Jim with a cheque for £500 for the Mary Leishman Foundation. Rotary District Governor George Berstan then proposed the Toast to the Rotary Club of the Howe of Fife, to which Past President James Storrar replied. The Toast to Visiting Clubs and Guests was given by District Governor Nominee Robin Rippin and Past President of the Rotary Club of Dundee, David Adam, gave a most amusing reply. The Vote of Thanks to the Speakers and the Club’s Charter Dinner committee was given by Vice President Ann Bain.
In his closing remarks, President Rod McCall thanked the Eastern Motor Company, Edinburgh, well known Howe of Fife artist Alfred Malocco, Kingsbarns Golf Club and Quaker Oats, Cupar, for their generosity in donating raffle prizes. Club members Robin Rippin and John Bonington also donated prizes. The proceeds of the raffle amounted to a magnificent £1,835, which will go to Macmillan Cancer Care, Fife. The final charitable gesture of the evening was the announcement that a cheque for £1,000 on behalf of everyone present in lieu of table gifts will be handed over to the Adamson Hospital Community Café Appeal.
The Paul Harris Fellows
