European Contact Clubs Annual Gathering 2024

The eagerly-awaited meeting of the six European Contact Clubs in Edinburgh commenced on Friday 27th September with a golf competition at Bruntsfield Links GS (good weather was requested and duly arrived!), followed by a welcome drinks reception at the Radisson Blu Hotel (where the majority of the 77 visiting Rotarians were staying). Our visitors then travelled to members’ homes by car, taxi or train, and enjoyed drinks, food and fellowship with their Edinburgh Rotarian hosts and co-hosts. On Saturday 28th September, the Europeans were shown Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, punctuated by lunch at Dynamic Earth, where they were treated to short talks by Stuart Monro and our Honorary Member, Robert Aldridge, Rt. Hon. Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh. The Business Meeting of the Contact Clubs having been held in the late afternoon, visiting and local Rotarians, together with partners, enjoyed a Gala Dinner in the splendid Merchants’ Hall. Those not heading to the airport enjoyed a visit to the National Museum of Scotland on the morning of Sunday 29th September, before convening once more at the Radisson Blu Hotel for a farewell lunch. Some returned home later that day but others embarked on pre-planned tours of Scotland, hoping that the good weather that they had enjoyed over the weekend would continue. Although not everything went exactly according to the plan conceived by the Planning Committee, our visitors were enthusiastic in their praise of the activities that we had laid on, so that the general feeling was that the weekend had been a great success. Next year, the meeting will be hosted by RC Torino Dora, Italy.