Andy Tyler - Libya

On 13^th July we welcomed visitors Doug Forsyth and Joyce Wilson from Borderlands Passport Rotary Group, then proceeded to present Bobby Cairns with his Honorary Membership certificate. Bobby, who attended the meeting with his wife Ina, joined Hawick Rotary in 1989, introduced coincidentally by Joyce's father John Robson. During those 31 years Bobby was a most active member, serving as President in 1996-97, but recently mobility issues have hampered his attendance at Club meetings.

Members then heard new secretary, Andy Tyler, speak of the seven years he and his wife Judy spent in Libya. Andy taught at schools within a compound at the Marsa el-Brega refinery run by Sirte Oil Company near Ajdabiya. This was during a period in the Eighties when Colonel Gaddafi was in control and there was political confusion between welcoming Western investment while at the same time supporting Anti-Western protests. Andy spoke of the many bureaucratic hurdles which were in place, for example in obtaining a Libyan driving licence. After questions, Linden Warburton gave the Vote of Thanks for an amusing and informative talk.