Couple's community involvement honoured

COWDENBEATH Rotary Club honoured former president Alex Cuthbertson, and his wife Irene, on Thursday, as they prepare to leave the town after more than two decades involvement in the community.

Alex became a member of the club after moving to Cowdenbeath from Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire, and became president in 2009.

West coast man Alex became secretary after his spell in the chair and served in this role for more than four years, but over the past few years his mobility has become affected by a health condition and he and Irene are shortly to move to Perthshire to be nearer relatives.

Alex received Honorary membership of Cowdenbeath Rotary Club on Thursday, presented by Assistant Governor, Libby Seath, and he said: “I am totally blown over by this presentation.

“When Irene and myself arrived from Aylesbury we were taken aback by the warmth of the welcome and quickly were given the chance to enjoy the friendship and many community avenues that the club were part of.”

Club secretary, Tom Russell, said that straight away Alex was a clear 'sleeves rolled up' type of rotarian who wanted to make a difference to people in the local community, and took part in a great many projects which helped causes in different fields.

Past president, Yolanda Hilton, commented: “Irene has always been a person who was delighted to take part in any club activities, and having visual impairments herself, has been an important person in the structure of the Fife Society for the Blind and has done so much good work in this area.”

While Alex received his Honorary Membership Irene, was presented by Libby Seath with a Cowdenbeath Rotary Club Pride of Fife Community Award for her work in helping train guide dogs with the Fife Society for the Blind.