Evening meeting - 6.30pm - Andrew Dowsey Fife Archivist

On Thursday 29th September 2022 President Brian Johnson, welcomed 15 club Rotarians, 5 guests, Rotarians Rai Valente and Dudley Foster from Leven Rotary, Sheila Valente, Wilma Page, Malcolm Robertson and speaker Andrew Dowsey to this our monthly evening meeting held at the Gilvenbank Hotel.

President Brian mentioned that as from next week the new meal ordering format will come into effect.

Anne Sampson advised club’s awareness day took place at ASDA last Saturday 24^th September from 10am – 4pm. Anne confirmed that our recently cancelled Afternoon tea has been rearranged for Sunday 19^th February 2023. She asked what arrangements have been put in place for 24^th October, end Polio Day? She also mentioned that she has set up a Just Giving page for anyone wishing to carry out a fundraiser on behalf of the Club. She advised that Iain Oates had contacted her about us purchasing Crocuses for Freuchie, but it was mentioned that that this was in the Howe of Fife clubs’ area.

Ron Page mentioned that through the North Glenrothes Group, 2 Fridge Freezers had been sourced for the Colly café in Collydean.

Geoff Sampson advised that our match against Leven Rotary in the Gavel competition which took place at the Old Manor Hotel last Wednesday 28^th September 2022 was a victory for ourselves 18 -14. This week Wednesday 5^th October the final match will take place at the Gilvenbank Hotel against Burntisland and Kinghorn Rotary Club commencing at 7pm.

Our speaker tonight was Andrew Dowsey Archives, Local Studies Team Leader with “On Fife” Fife Cultural trust. Andrew who moved to Fife in 2000, has been involved with On Point Archives since 2012. The storing of Archives was moved to Bankhead Central in 2017, with more than 230k museum and Archived documents being moved there. He spoke about the massive operation of taking away archived documents for digitising as old technology was moving so quickly. They are so excited when new historical records of Fife are found and passed on to them. Andrew spoke about the Railwaymen and Firemen from Thornton meeting up and discussing old stories. He spoke about documents that came into their possession relating to an Emergency Committee for WW11 showing the exit plans for people leading away from Fife Towns in land. He also showed the Diet Books for Leslie house 1699 and 1722 where food purchases were carefully monitored to ensure of no theft in house. He also mentioned about the accessibility of archived documents being available on Facebook through “OnFife Archives Local Events, Projects and Contacts group”

The Rotary vote of thanks was given by Linda Ballingall.

Next week 6th October 2022 will be a lunch time meeting at Gilvenbank Hotel meeting at 12.45pm and commencing at 1pm which will be a fellowship meeting with club business.

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.