Charter Dinner 2024

The club celebrated its 45th anniversary at the Charter Dinner held on Friday 21st June 2024 in the Garvock House Hotel, St John’s Drive.

Charter Dinner celebrates the Club’s Birthday – the Rotary Club of West Fife is now 45 years old.  The exact date of the charter is 6th June 1979.  We would normally have our Charter dinner earlier in June but a sporting event pushed our preferred evening forward to the 21st.  This undoubtedly has a adverse effect on our attendance, and two or three of our stalwarts were unable to attend.  Nevertheless the evening went ahead as scheduled and from all feedback so far was highly enjoyable and successful.

 There were 36 present including our speaker Andrew Watson and his wife Moira, both of whom I have known for well over 30 years, both as a friend and member of Dunfermline rotary Club.  The evening went well, and the food was excellent.

 Douglas Scott gave a Toast to “The Rotary Club of West Fife”, with a myriad of historical and amusing facts, as is the style we have become used to over the years – thank you Douglas.

 There were two presentations, the first was winner of the Ken Forbes Quaich, which was won by Neil Spriddle , who defeated Robert North, in a final play-off, and therefore, retains the trophy,  suitably polished, as always, by willing supporters – no names mentioned.

 The second trophy is in recognition of outstanding service to the Rotary Club of West Fife.  It was impossible to separate the two outstanding candidates for this honour as both have contributed in their own unique way.  I decided, in consultation with a few other Club members, that both should be holders of this trophy jointly. 

Firstly Douglas Scott for his PR work, which is being recognised not only in our Club , but at district level and is attracting interest from far flung place all over the UK in Rotary.  The joint recipient is none other than President Elect Mark Todd for his outstanding contribution to our program in securing an amazing continuity of interesting speakers which has held our interest over the last twelve months. And when he was let down by a speaker, was able to come up with his own quizzes to fill the gap.

Our Main Speaker, Andrew Watson, who is a member of our Mother Club , Dunfermline, followed the presentations.  Andrew treated us to anecdotes, amusing stories of all sorts of topics, and was well received, and kept us entertained for over half an hour – which is a great skill. His wife was presented with a bouquet of flowers and President Elect Mark gave the Club’s VOT.