Speaker Evening

On Thursday 16th February, members of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry enjoyed a in interesting talk by Rotarian Irene Brownless who joined the club about a year ago. Irene, who recently retired as guidance co-ordinator at Carnegie College, joined DC Thomson in Dundee as a trainee junior sub-editor straight from school. Her task was to edit text in Judy and Bunty girls' magazines and she shed a fascinating light on print production in pre-digital days. Tempted by the big city of Edinburgh, Irene joined Hall Advertising (which had recently become part of the Saatchi & Saatchi empire) as an account executive. Illustrating her talk with advertisements for clients like do-it-yourself store Dodge City and food retailer Wm Low, she brought back memories of how long-gone companies were promoted in the eighties. A series of television commercials for Tennent's Lager featuring Blues Brothers look-alikes was also instantly recognisable. Irene then took time away from work for several years to devote herself to raising a family. She returned to employment in a similar capacity for Marr Advertising, where she found public health awareness campaigns promoting topics like breast feeding and aids awareness particularly rewarding. It was still in the spirit of public service that Irene joined Carnegie College in Dunfermline. She fulfilled several roles, including community link worker and Highers co-ordinator, before becoming guidance co-ordinator. At Carnegie College, staff and students alike knew her as 'Bunty Brownless' referring to the childrens' magazine on which she had started her career.

Irene was introduced by Liz Mackenzie. The vote of thanks was proposed by Alan McCloskey. In other business, President Graham Leith confirmed that the recent Macmillan Cancer Support collection at Tesco had raised