Lunch time meeting - Gilvenbank Hotel - Tom Woods. Modern Day Murders and the role of the Forensic Pathologist

On Thursday 17th March 2022 President Brian Johnson. welcomed 18 Club Rotarians (3 of whom were on ZOOM) guest and prospective new member Jean Haughey and speaker Tom Wood to this our Hybrid lunch time meeting held at the Gilvenbank Hotel.

Two apologies for nonattendance were received.

Prior to the meal President Brian Johnson had the pleasure of inducting Jean Haughey as a club member.

Jean had been introduced by Geoff Sampson.

Wilna Roger advised that Auchmuty High School had packed 66 boxes for the Ukraine appeal also that our local High Schools took part in The Rotary Young Artist competition. Thanks to Rotarian Wilna Roger for organising the event and to our judges Pat Beveridge and Dorothy Black the overall winner and our Young Artist 2022 is Madison Smith from Auchmuty High School The full results. Higher Expressive: Emily McGurnaghan (AHS): Higher Design : Martyna Jacniacka (AHS): Advanced Higher Expressive: Joint winners :Madison Smith (AHS): Ethan Mustard (AHS): Advanced Higher Design : Kirsten Henderson (AHS)

Well done to Justin Shek who won our Young Photographer competition who came 3rd equal in the recent judging of the District 1010 competition.

Our speaker this week was Tom Wood was one of Scotland's most senior and experienced operational police officers. He is an authority on serious violent crime, the policing of large-scale events and a noted authority on the police perspectives on drugs and alcohol. He is a graduate of Edinburgh University and the FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia. In 1994, he was appointed Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit and in 1995 was awarded the Queen's Police Medal. Latterly he was Deputy Chief Constable and Director of Operations of Lothian and Borders Police and Officer in Overall Command of the linked murder investigation into the deaths of several young women including Helen Scott and Christine Eadie (the World's End Murders). Since leaving the police he has worked in the fields of alcohol and drug strategy, adult and child protection and has undertaken several independent serious case and homicide reviews. He lives in Edinburgh. He gave us a talk on Buxton the first modern murder. Two dismembered bodies discarded in the borderlands of Scotland, hideously mutilated to avoid identification. Forty-three pieces of rotten flesh and bone wrapped in rags and newspaper. A jigsaw puzzle of decomposing human remains. A glamorous young wife and her dutiful nursemaid missing. A handsome, mild-mannered town doctor insanely jealous of his wife’s friendships with other men. In 1935 the deaths of Isabella Ruxton and Mary Rogerson would result in one of the most complex investigations the world had ever seen. The gruesome murders captured worldwide attention with newspapers keeping the public enthralled with all the gory details. Behind the headlines was a different, more important story: the ground-breaking work of Scottish forensic scientists who developed new techniques to solve the case and shape the future of scientific criminal investigation. With access to previously unseen documents, his book re-examines the case and reveals for the first time the incredible inside story of the investigation and its legacy. This is the first modern murder.

The Rotary Vote of thanks was given by Eoin Robertson

Chantal Mrimi’s birthday fundraiser which raised £388.75 for the innovative AquaFilter which produces safe and clean drinking water instantly and reliably without the need for chemicals the money was sent off to Aquabox to purchase the said Aquafilters. Thanks to Chantal and all those who supported her.

Further discussion took place on the ongoing Ukrainian appeal, where financial donations are being made through the various online appeals. We also agreed to send through the Rotary Foundation £1000 along with £970 raised from donations already received from Rotarians and the generosity of the Public. Our club continues to collect essential goods, categorise, box and organise transportation from the Glenrothes Sport and Community Hub at the Gilvenbank Park. The amazing response and continuing collection drew to not a conclusion but a reality of the complete process seeing the filled container leaving Kirkcaldy for the Ukraine on Wednesday afternoon. So much thanks to all those who turned up at Kirkcaldy to help load the container.

So much thanks to Paddy Reilly of Denside Removals who has worked tirelessly on the loading and transportation. We would like to thank everybody who has brought along a vast amount of goods and continue to offer their services to help sort and pack.

A further 3 Jam Jars with coins totalling £49.49 were handed in for the end Polio Now Campaign.

This coming week Thursday 24th March 2022 is a lunch time Hybrid meeting with our speaker

Benedict Bate from Woodland Trust with the meeting commencing at 1.00pm.

On Sunday past a fundraiser held at the Cadham Community Hall organised by Hammy’s convenience store and supported by us raised £1607.58. with the afternoon full of fun for children and families during these very difficult times. Many thanks to Syeeda Ramzan for organising the event and all the entertainers and those who gave of their equipment, donated raffle prizes, baked and all the public who attended and supported the event

If you were interested in supporting the community and international projects get in touch by Private message on The Rotary Club of Glenrothes Facebook page. You will be made most welcome.