History of Thornhill and District Rotary Club

A Brief history of Thornhill & District Rotary Club

(by founding Member Peter Wray)

Getting Started

Prime movers in 1973 -1974 in the formation of the club were Bill McKenzie, local G.P., and Andrew Watson, pharmacist.

From a list of over 100 tradesmen and professionals in the locale identified as qualifying potential members invitations to attend information meetings in the B&Q Hotel were posted April 1975. (Three course meal and coffee - £1.20 !)

37 men joined Rotary International at an inaugural meeting held on 1^st July 1975 at the Queensberry Rooms Thornhill.

Inaugural Meeting

We continued under the care and instruction of the District Extension Officer and senior members of Dumfries Rotary, our “mother” club until our R.I. Membership Charter was presented at a celebration dinner on 22^nd November 1975. Bill McKenzie was installed as president with Andrew Watson as senior vice president.

Presentation of Charter

Except for a brief interval at Auldgirth while the B&Q Hotel was renovated, meetings, with a meal, have always been on Wednesday evenings in Thornhill. The B&Q Hotel and the George Hotel have each had long alternating periods of hosting. In the last few years, one meeting in a 6week cycle is held in Sanquhar.