Duns Ruby Anniversary Dinner

Sat, Feb 21st 2015 at 12:00 am - 12:00 am

The Rotary Club of Duns celebrated the 40th anniversary of its Rotary Charter with a President�s Night dinner and ceilidh in the Volunteer Hall, Duns on Saturday 21st February 2015.

District Governor and Club President Greeting

On Saturday evening the Rotary Club of Duns celebrated their 40th Anniversary with the Presidents Dinner and Ceilidh. The event was held in the Volunteer Hall, which was decorated specially for the occasion with lights and Rotary banners.  It looked at its best and provided a wonderful setting and excellent ambience.   Catering was by the Orde Food Company, Kelso, the Bar was provided by the White Swan Hotel and the music and dance led by WHISKY KISS.
This years Duns Club President is David McLuckie, who has been  member of the club for 10 years.  David welcomed the party (TEXT BELOW!), before Reverend Stephen Blakey said grace and a lovely meal was enjoyed by all.
The assembled company, of nearly 80, included not only Duns Rotarians and guests but also numerous visitors from other Rotary Clubs.

  David welcomed everyone to the event, with particular mention of the District Governor, Alistair Marquis and his wife Margaret from the Whitburn Club and the Presidents of 9 other clubs,  Altogether 12 Rotary Clubs were represented that evening, a splendid turnout.  Full details of President David's Welcome Speech here.

After the welcomes, Reverend Stephen Blakey of the Duns Club said grace and a lovely meal was enjoyed by all.       

                  PRESIDENTS WELCOME WORDS

   Good evening Rotarians of Duns, visiting Rotarians and guests\
   Welcome to the Clubs 40th  Anniversary Presidents night

   This evening is only two days off the 110th Anniversary of the first Rotary Club meeting, held in Chicago  23rd February 1905,  so its a double anniversary 
   I would like to introduce our DG and visiting Presidents:
   Our District Governor Alistair Marquis and his wife Margaret     Buxton, Derbyshire, President, Simon Rogerson and his wife Anne,  Eyemouth President, Jim Hettrick and his wife Jude,    Galashiels President, Stephen Henderson and his wife Jan,     Haddington President Drew Ramsay and his wife Susan,     Jedburgh President, Gordon Stuart and his wife   Kelso President, Stan Yates,   Melrose President Richard Salem and his wife Christine,   Peebles President, Bob Milne and his wife Sheila, Selkirk President, Jim McPherson,
   Many of our Presidents are supported by others from their Clubs, so welcome all
Our chosen Charity for this event is Alzheimer Scotland, and all sums raised through our raffle this evening will go to help their local initiatives in supporting Dementia sufferers and their carers, and research into this debilitating disease.

Dinner, was followed by a number of uplifting speeches.  President David spoke first (TEXT BELOW) followed by  District Governor Alistair Marquis, who after complimenting the club on its forty years of service presented President David with a Club Certificate for this, signed by the President of Rotary International, Gary Huang.

Duns Rotary Club was formed in 1975 at the initiative of the Rotary Club of Eyemouth. Jim Evans the sole remaining founding member of the Eyemouth Club, who is also a past President and a Paul Harris Fellow, spoke to congratulate  the daughter club for their successful 40 years.

To mark these 40 years, and the strong connection between the Eyemouth and Duns Clubs a quaich  was presented by Jim Hettrick, current President of the Rotary Club of Eyemouth, which will be engraved recognising the Mother/Daughter relationship between the Clubs.   This trophy will be known as the John Denholm Trophy,  John was the Eyemouth President 1974/75, when the Duns Club was founded. 
It is to be awarded  annually for performance by committee members, recognising particular and outstanding service in areas such as  fundraising, service or membership.

 Presidents Night SpeechOur first President Ken Candlish chairing the lunch time meetings of 33 members in the White Swan

Ken and Isobel, this wife are with us tonight, Ken

I would like to take you back to the year 1975. A time when petrol cost  72p per gallon, thats 16p per litre
Tom Watson won the Open Championship at Carnoustie, at his first attempt.In Rugby Union Scotland came second in the Five Nations, the only team to beat Wales, the winners of the Championship that year,and this in front of a world record crowd at Murrayfield, of 104,000   Changed days from last Sunday.

   Our first President Ken Candlish chairing the lunch time meetings of 33 members in the White Swan

Ken and Isobel, his wife are with us tonight, 


  Over the years there have been 109 Rotarians of Duns, We are fortunate to have three active founding members, Ken of course, David Cochrane, also here tonight,  And Grant Stephen, who is off sunning himself on his holidays.
 We have been involved in many and varied activities for both international and domestic causes, raising many tens of  thousands of pound benefiting individuals, families, communities and charitable organisations.
 Margaret Marquis started the draw of the raffle from which £386 was raised.






On behalf of the Club I wish you all a happy and relaxing evening

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