Sept 20th –
Our guest speaker, Peter Donald gave an interesting talk about the Atomic bomb which was dropped on Hiroshima near the end of World War II. Peter advised that he had visited Hiroshima in 2019 and spoken to a lady survivor who was only 12 years old at the time and who is now at the forefront of the peace movement.
Peter spoke for about 20 minutes after which a lively discussion took place with Peter answering a number of questions.
Sept 13 –
Ian Thomson described his love of music and his involvement with bands in the sixties. His talk entitled “No Strings Attached” took most of us down memory lane to that special time for music. He shared his memories with us and told many stories in which he exuded enthusiasm for guitars and music. He is well known as part of the band called “The Sundowners” .
He also brought along a few examples from his extensive guitar collection and again the guitars were associated with wonderful stories from his early times with the band.
He continues to share his love of music by involvement with School Music.
This photo shows Ian with his custom Fender.
August 30th –
Andrew Lindsay was our guest speaker this evening from SUSTRANS, the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. He described how they are custodians of the National Cycle Network, a UK-wide network of traffic-free paths for everyone, connecting cities, towns and countryside. Working to improve health and everyday journeys for everyone, making contributions that assist in the development of all official active travel policy and guidance.
August 16th –
Amazing 84% attendance on our return to normal hotel meeting
Robert Gardiner has been associated with the Railway all his working life and has an incredible knowledge of the Glasgow Central Railway.
He treated us to a detailed history lesson of the Glasgow and district railways/
July 12th –
During our last Zoom meeting before our summer recess, Ian Dale gave and interesting and entertaining presentation on the many different poisons that exist and gave examples of deaths occurring.
28th June –
Alan Moffat of First Response Scotland provided us with an excellent zoom demonstration of CPR and Defibrillator use.
The club, through Norbert, has been considering an initiative to put Defibrillators into our local communities and Alan provided us with lots of invaluable information about cost and management.
21st June –
Jeff Zycinski, Head of BBC Scotland Radio from 2005 to 2017,
entertained us with stories from his Thirty years in Radio.
His talk, entitled “Life and laughter before, during and after the BBC”
included humorous stories of
Prime Ministers, princesses and Hollywood superstars.
St Bartholomew’s Primary school has become the latest addition to the
School Ambassadors Lend with Care Initiative.
The Club has been successful in obtaining a further 2 tablet pc’s from district
bringing the total number of tablets to seven.
The first 5 were donated to Equals Advocacy The recent 2 were donated to
Millbrae Care Home and Rawyards Care Home on the 30th June.
Millbrae-
“We at Millbrae Care Home would like to thank Rotary for their generous gift of an Amazon Fire Tablet as part of their Stress and Distress project. We have been able to use the apps and links provided in order to help our residents revisit their pasts and provoke and reconnect to old memories.
The House of Memories and BBC Music Memories have been ideal for this. Some of the apps and links have also provided fun games and activities to help the residents better engage their minds and keep active. It has also had the added benefit of expanding the contact between residents and families and reducing their isolation in these trying times.,
We would like to once again thank Rotary for their kind and generous gift.
Kind Regards, Millbrae Care Home.”
Rawyards House –
“So far residents have loved using the Tablet. We have downloaded the apps you recommended as well as apps we have been using for residents who are having trouble with memory. Residents have enjoyed looking at slides of old Airdrie which triggers memories of days gone by. Photographs of their family members from the past which we have uploaded help us to give them stimulation and get them chatting of the old days.
Unfortunately we are unable to send photos due to data protection. Please thank the people who supplied the Tablet and let them know we have included it in our newsletter to let the residents’ families know of Rotary’s support of our Clients.
Many thanks again, Sara, Rawyards House Care Home.”
14th June –
Natalie updated our members about the numerous scams which bombard us these days with her talk on….
Phishing (deceptive emails – beware bit.ly),
Vishing (deceptive voice calls) and
Mishing ((deceptive texts).
7th June –
Club Assembly.
Our Club plans for the coming year were laid out and the incoming President, Martin Cairney, looks forward to a busy year. Area Governor Ken Drummond attended.
President Willie announced that Bill McMullen was the named Rotarian of the year for 2020/2021.
17th May – Gloria Barnett (the WeirdFish Lady) is an author, speaker, educator and champion for the ocean environment. She is an enthusiastic lady on mission to educate children about the importance of keeping our oceans healthy. Gloria is a keen Scuba diver and illustrated her talk to the club with some excellent underwater images and video. She certainly educated as well as entertained our club this evening.
Rotary Clubs around the UK are becoming ‘Gloria’s Rotary Heroes‘ for the environmental work they are now doing with Primary School children.
These Rotary Clubs are gifting educational resources to primary schools. Take a look at World beneath the waves.
10th May – Robert Wilson gave us the detailed and fascinating story of Edinburghh born Eric Brown
Captain Eric Melrose “Winkle” Brown, CBE, DSC, AFC, Hon FRAeS, RN (21 January 1919 – 21 February 2016) was a Scottish Royal Navy officer and test pilot who flew 487 types of aircraft, more than anyone else in history.
Brown holds the world record for the most aircraft carrier deck take-offs and landings performed (2,407 and 2,271 respectively) and achieved several “firsts” in naval aviation, including the first landings on an aircraft carrier of a twin-engined aircraft, an aircraft with a tricycle undercarriage, a jet aircraft, and a rotary-wing aircraft.
He flew almost every category of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force aircraft: glider, fighter, bomber, airliner, amphibian, flying boat and helicopter. During World War II, he flew many types of captured German, Italian, and Japanese aircraft, including new jet and rocket aircraft. He was a pioneer of jet technology into the post-war era.
Captain Eric Melrose “Winkle” Brown, CBE, DSC, AFC, Hon FRAeS, RN (21 January 1919 – 21 February 2016) was a Scottish Royal Navy officer and test pilot who flew 487 types of aircraft, more than anyone else in history.
Brown holds the world record for the most aircraft carrier deck take-offs and landings performed (2,407 and 2,271 respectively) and achieved several “firsts” in naval aviation, including the first landings on an aircraft carrier of a twin-engined aircraft, an aircraft with a tricycle undercarriage, a jet aircraft, and a rotary-wing aircraft.
He flew almost every category of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force aircraft: glider, fighter, bomber, airliner, amphibian, flying boat and helicopter. During World War II, he flew many types of captured German, Italian, and Japanese aircraft, including new jet and rocket aircraft. He was a pioneer of jet technology into the post-war era.
District Youth services officer, Brenda Waugh, and her Mum are well known friends and regular visitors to our club. So much so they are now Honorary members.
28th April –
President Willie Devoy, Vice President Martin Cairney and Secretary Bill McMullen visited the Airdrie Arts Centre to catch up with Rotarian Janette Horn to present her with the prestigious Rotary Paul Harris Award.
Janette was responsible for the successful community Lunches and her long term work in the community in various roles, in particular womens aid.
Janette Link to video and photos
Willie then proceeded to surprise by awarding Vice President
Martin Cairney with the Paul Harris Award for all of his hard
work with Lend with care initiative and the Airdrie Station.
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29th March –
Stuart Munro of Edinburgh Rotary club and former Scientific Director of Dynamic Earth talked to the club about our dynamic planet.
His excellent talk was accompanied with brilliant images and video of the volcanic activity on Iceland, Hawaii and New Zealand.
1st March –
Richard Melvin is the founder and directot of Dabster, a radio production company based in Edinburgh who produce a large amount of comedy radio. Dabster Productions has been making innovative and engaging radio and podcast content for a wide range of people since January 2006. They have studio s in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London and have produced a number of shows in New York.
Richard’s talk to the club, entitled “A Comedy of Errors” was a comedy production in its own right. He raised many laoghs demonstrating his roots in stand up comedy.
Money was allocated to the purchase of a Shelterbox and an Aquabox.
Tollbrae Primary and St Edwards Primary schools have become our Club’s School Ambassadors to Lend with Care.
22nd Feb –
This evening’s speaker, Chris Moon, knows exactly what it takes to overcome adversity and supposed limitations. He was blown up in Africa clearing landmines for a charity and lost his lower arm and leg.
Less than a year after leaving hospital he completed the
London Marathon and now runs the world’s toughest ultra-marathons. He’s also one of the few Westerners to have survived being taken prisoner by Khmer Rouge guerrillas.
This evening proved his reputation as an international motivational speaker who helps people step beyond what they thought possible.
Learn more about Chris’ incredible story from his website
15th Feb –
Rotarian John Dehnel shared vital information with us about CPR and the use of Defibrillators. John is a member of Melton Mowbray Rotary Club in Leicestershire and helps out as a trainer with local Charity “Heartwize”.
Heartwize sends trainers to year 10 school children in Leicestershire to impart CPR information.
8th Feb –
This evening the speaker was our newest club member Norbert Grant. Norbert has been a friend of the club for many years from his time in Airdrie Round Table and more recently as leader of the XACT (E Airdie & Coatbridge Tablers)
He talked about his 40 year passion for cummunity work and highlighting his Hill Walking group called Ramblin’ Midgies which he started in Lanarkshire and helped raise money for, and awareness of Mental Health.
1st Feb –
Colin Powell, a Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow gave a talk about a charity called The British Polio Fellowship.
He also has a personal story about suffering from polio.
Our club has already given his chosen charity a donation.
Quote from President Willie-
” Colin gave a very insightful and inspirational talk about living with Polio and his crusade to do whatever he can to try and eradicate Polio worldwide. He was a true inspiration and easily the best speaker I have ever heard address the club.”
Links – Polio Ambassador and YouTube video
23rd Jan –
Our first ever attempt at a ZOOM Burns Evening was a successful
and enjoyable evening of Poetry and Song with some non-Burns
Scottish comedy thrown in. A great part of the entertainment was due
to President Willie, the organisation was due to Vice President Natalie
and the technical details were handled by Rotarian John Beever.
Over 70 participants and viewers from all over the world attended
and so far the event has raised over £1600 for our Charities.
18th Jan –
George Randall returned to speak to club for what was his 4th visit which shows his popularity.
His ABC tour (Another Blooming Church) talk was entertaining and informative, covering history, stained glass windows and architecture.
The range was worldwide with excellent images of Churches, Abbeys and Monasteries from St. Paul’s to Buckfast.
