Honorary Membership for Jim Royan

“In preparing a statement in support of awarding Jim Royan Honorary Membership of Rotary Elgin, it was a challenge to select just a handful of the highlights of a gentleman who first joined the Club in 1975” – these are the words of Immediate Past President Martin Birse.

Jim was Club President in 1985/86 and has always been top of the “ask” list and always there as the ever-willing volunteer.

Without doubt, 47 years of outstanding “Service above Self” is what has been evident in every event Jim has been involved in, from a very youthful rotarian who was the brains behind "Taste of Moray" in 1983, to the man who could be seen flipping the burgers at every summer event in the Cooper Park and much more.   The Taste of Moray event was a Gala Day of Food, Drink and Heritage - a day of fun for all the family and very much a forerunner to many subsequent Rotary Elgin events. 

Jim has been a stalwart in our local community both as a businessman and leader in numerous roles including his appointment as a deputy Lord Lieutenant. Over the years, he has willingly accepted senior roles across various sectors including meat industry, whisky festivals, developing youth, health and promoting the local economy.   In the early 90’s he was an active Board Member of Moray Health Services NHS trust and this then led to a career in health service taking on roles such as Chair of NHS Grampian and a non-executive director of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

More recently he turned his hand to Castle to Cathedral to Cashmere in Elgin a heritage-led economic regeneration and town centre rejuvenation project based in Elgin, Moray, and of course whilst Vice Lord  Lieutenant of Moray during the period that Grenville Johnston was Lord Lieutenant he was very heavily involved in many duties and royal visits.