100 YEARS of ROTARY SERVICE

This must be a Rotary record. Two Rotarians celebrating 50 years of service at the same time- and Douglas's 90th birthday. A proud time for both and for the club.

 Douglas Kesting, a lawyer by profession, joined the Rotary Club of Stornoway in 1961 and when he retired moved back to the Borders with his family. He joined the Rotary Club of Peebles in 1987 and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by the club in 2009. With his legal brain he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Rotary Byelaws and even understands the Attendance rules - which is why he has been Attendance officer for many years. He is also Programme and Speaker Secretary. Although now in the "nineties" he shows little sign of mellowing when it comes to keeping the club in good order.

 Jim Forsyth ran the famous Butchers and Bakers Business, which bears his name and is still run by his family. He tells us that he is not so involved in running things these days - but that's not what his sons say!! He joined the club in 1961 and was President in 1980-1. He was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by the club in 2008. Jim is the "ideas" man in the Community Vocation team and with his wit, wisdom and experience contributes greatly to the Club's efforts. Although he now has mobility problems he still manages to visit other clubs wherever he goes. It is a measure of how well kent and respected he is in the town that when he takes part in a street collection he manages to get more money in his bucket than anyone else.

 They have been exemplary Rotarians for 50 years and our Club is hugely privileged to have them as members.

 dm sept 2011