22/23 New President

The new Rotary year starting on 1^st July sees the appointment of Ralph McCran as the new President of the Rotary Club of Dunfermline as the Club begins its 101^st year.

Ralph is a solicitor and senior partner at local firm Malcolm Jack & Matheson where he has advised clients since he qualified in 1989. Ralph is happily married to Lyndsey in spite of the fact that she is a solicitor too in the same firm! Ralph is a past Chairman of Dunfermline Round Table where he was involved in the initial organization of the long running Dunfermline Beer Festival. Outside of the office Ralph’s passion is golf despite his inability to bring down his handicap.

The Club’s Centenary began during the pandemic with restrictions on meeting and events but nevertheless was a tremendous success with a Centenary Charter Dinner in March and the return of the Charity Gin Festival in May with large attendances and funds in excess of £16,000 raised for local charities. All told the Club made charitable donations during its special year of over £40,000 mostly to local charities but including £5,000 to the Ukranian DEC appeal.

With Covid restrictions hopefully ended and not to return the Club plans for a very busy year ahead. On fundraising the annual Santa Dash, Santa Sleigh and Christmas Royal Marine Band Concerts at the Abbey will ensure members are fully engaged later this year. Next spring the very popular Charity Gin Festival will return on 12^th & 13^th May.

Planned to return are the numerous events with local schools including the Primary School Quiz, Young Musician, Young Writer and Young Photographer competitions and the Technology Challenge for High School pupils. Most looked forward to however is the expected return in June next year of Kids Out which is a whole day event at Dalgety Bay Sports Centre supported by all the local rotary clubs where over 100 disadvantaged children enjoy numerous activities.

Service to others is a significant aspect of Rotary membership and the upcoming year’s plans include two international projects in Kenya one involving the planting of 2,000 trees and the other the distribution of education materials. Closer to home members are to provide essential delivery drivers to Dunfermline Foodbank to assist their efforts and will host an afternoon tea for older members of the community who are on their own.

One of the huge attractions of membership of the Rotary Club of Dunfermline is the enormous fun and friendship enjoyed by members both working and retired who take part in regular meetings at Garvock House Hotel and social events such as wine and whisky tastings.