Potential Club Speakers

Listed below are individuals and organisations who are prepared to provide a speaker for clubs in District 1230

N.B. Please contact speakers direct to check if the can offer online presentations:

Louise Morgan - " Carers Trust "

Carers Trust in Scotland works with a network of local unpaid carers and young carers services to deliver support to unpaid carers.  At a time when unpaid carers lives are particularly negatively impacted by the cost of living crisis and the aftermath of the pandemic, support to unpaid carers, who save the Scottish economy a staggering £10 billon per year, can often be a lifeline.

Our services can provide advice and information on carers rights, support with income maximisation and access to short breaks as well as one to one support and peer group support in some areas. Many of the services are commissioned by their Local Authority to carry out Adult Carer Support Plans and Young Carer Statements to help unpaid carers access the right support to help them achieve their desired outcomes to have a life of their own alongside their caring role

A member of the team would be happy to come and speak about issues and support for unpaid carers at one of your clubs or events..

Contact:- Louise Morgan (Director for Scotland ) Email: lmorgan@carers.org or Call; 07909 967861

Web Site: Carers Trust

Tom Norman & Eric Scott - Ula Charity, 

Help for Ukraine

Tom and Eric set up a “Justgiving” page in March of this year with the aim of raising £1000 to help Ukrainian refugees who had fled to Poland. The charity is small and currently their focus is providing aid to the hundreds of women and children who queue daily for food, medicine, and everyday hygiene items that we all take for granted. Their expectations were greatly exceeded when they raised £6,790.

Tom and Eric want to spread the word of how desperate these people are and are keen to try and provide any assistance to the charity that they can. 

They would be happy to share this story with you and the story of one woman and her child who fled from the war to Poland and are now awaiting visas which will allow them to come to Scotland where a host family has been arranged

Contact - Tom - Normantom5@aol.com - Mob; 077841 30348. Eric - weeeck@mac.com - Mob; 077590 40988

Simon McLean - Law Enforcement Action Partnership

Bestselling author Simon is a director of LEAP UK and the founder of LEAP Scotland.
The Law Enforcement Action Partnership. Made up of serving and retired law enforcement officers and agents, they support the complete decriminalization of the drugs market and an end to the War on Drugs..

Simon would be delighted to caome and tell you about "LEAP"

LEAP UK website  LEAP Scotland Facebook page

Contact - Mob: 07717 497372  Or  Email: simonmclean_7@msn.com

John Dunlop Ayr RC - "AQUABOX" 

After 30 years in the food industry John worked in 3 sports governing bodies. In voluntary posts he was a director of his local CVS and Citizens Advice Bureau for many years and a director of Citizens Advice Scotland for 4 years. Now retired, he is still involved in a community charity in Easterhouse. John says "I was honoured to be asked to become Aquabox ambassador for District 1230 following the sad and untimely death of Rob Keating".

John would be delighted to share the Aquabox story with member clubs of District 1230.

Contact:- Mob: 07717 497372  Or  Email: john_dunlop@yahoo.co.uk

Lt Col (ret’d) Jeremy Prescott 

"Sacrifice & Remembrance"

Jeremy served as an Army Officer for 26 years and on retirement became CEO of a rural charity in the East Midlands. In the latter role he developed the  first of now 13 topics  in the Sacrifice & Remembrance series to support communities in their own commemoration of the 100th anniversary of WW1. Since 2014 he has delivered these presentations in over 360 venues, most recently by Zoom,  to over 13,000 people. Any donations he receives are passed to Combat Stress – the Veterans Mental Health Charity.

Click "HERE" for details of topics.

Contact - Mob: 07774 804243    email: jeremy.prescott@ntlworld.com

Alexander Hall 

"Military History"

Ex police officer, Ayrshire born, Alex Hall has been involved with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGW) for over 40 years. As a teenager he went on a school trip to France where he came upon a Commonwealth War Cemetery in the town of Dieppe. He spoke to a gentleman who told him that he was a “Trustee” on day release from the local prison and was allowed day release to work in the graveyard. 

As a result of this encounter he started to study the history of the Raid on Dieppe which he found fascinating. This lead to becoming involved with the CWGC with whom he’s done voluntary work at home and abroad, including accompanying school trips with Garnock Academy and Largs Academy as a guide. 

He was actively involved in the campaign to have those soldiers who were executed by firing squad, (SHOT AT DAWN) pardoned and their names added to local war memorials  which was previously forbidden by law. 

Available Talks are; Flanders 1914 – 1918; The siege and relief of Malta; The forgotten remembered (Shot at Dawn); The history of the Victoria Cross. Click here for details

Contact : email: thepinkshrew@gmx.com  Tel: 01505 684364

Dr Sally Lawton - Reflexions on writing 

"The Nurse Who Found Herself in 1916"

This talk is about a novel that was written by accident after Sally started work on a project exploring the care of badly injured patients in World War 1 and the impact of the work on nurses.

Sally starts the talk by explaining her interest in World War 1 and how injured soldiers were triaged. She then outlines how nurses were trained at the time and how severely injured soldiers were cared for.Sally then describes why she changed course from working on a factual project to writing a story about a modern-day nurse who falls asleep on a train and wakes up in France in 1916 where she is expected to report for duty in a Casualty Clearing station.

Sally was a nurse educator for over thirty years and has always been fascinated by the nursing and medical care of soldiers in the war. She lives in Aberdeen and is happy to present her talk online.

Contact:- lawton20@gmail.com

Dr Stephanie Terrini Brown  - "Clean Water Wave" 

Clean Water Wave is a social enterprise founded in 2017 to develop sustainable water treatment technologies primarily for off grid, rural areas, and agricultural use. The CWW team have decades of experience with water – treating it, managing it, and advocating for a step-change improvement in our water quality and environments.

Stephanie has a passion for the environment and a particular interest in the OneHealth Approach, leading research and innovation at the intersection of water, people-animal health, and planetary sustainability. 

She also has considerable experience working internationally on water and sanitation issues.

The wider Clean Water Wave team, including marine biologists Dr Howard Dryden, Diane Duncan, and Caroline Duncan, are all environmentalists and water specialists. Our combined research into the links between water pollution and oceanic health are playing a critical role in advancing knowledge about climate change, and any of our team would welcome the chance to speak about marine biology, climate change, and/or water quality.

All of the Clean Water Wave team are Rotarians and members of the E Club of the West of Scotland.

Contact:- stephanie@cleanwaterwave.com  Mob: 07969 144390   

Website; https://cleanwaterwave.com

Our marine biology and Climate change research:    https://www.goesfoundation.com

Pam Ribbeck - "Playlist for life" 

Playlist for Life is a UK-wide music and dementia charity based in Glasgow.The charity was founded in 2013 by writer and broadcaster Sally Magnusson after the death of her mother, Mamie, who had dementia. 

The charity’s vision is simple: for everyone with dementia to have a unique, personal playlist and everyone who loves or cares for them to know how to use it. Over two decades of scientific research has shown that listening to a personal playlist of music can improve the lives of people living with dementia. In fact, 

Personal playlists can:  reduce anxiety;    improve your mood;  make difficult tasks more manageable;  evoke memories that can help families and carers connect.

Playlist for Life harnesses the powerful effects of personal music to help anyone who is affected by dementia, their families and carers. Whether it’s the music from a first dance, lullabies from childhood or a theme tune from a favourite TV show, music has the ability to take us back in time and remind us of our past, giving you that flashback feeling. Sharing your songs and memories can help people living with dementia connect with family, friends and carers.

Contact:- pam@playlistforlife.org.uk  Mob: 07895406187   Website; www.playlistforlife.org.uk

WWII Remembrance - "a recent journey of discovery" 

By Ian Dickson - A Zoom-friendly, fully-illustrated and fascinating account of a new 2020 friendship between Scotland and Holland, arising from a chance visit to a war grave, and leading to a Dutch town discovering more about the serviceman they buried in 1944, to a Scottish family finding out more about the flight engineer killed on his return from a bombing raid, and to Dutch Liberation Day hospitality sadly postponed by the Covid lockdown.

Contact:- Ian Dickson email: home@thedicksons.me.uk Mob: 07714006187

Freedom from Fistula - The HOPE Consultancy 

Sue Hope of the "HOPE Consultancy would be delighted to attend a Club meeting on Zoom and offer an update on their work in Sierra Leone, and in particular GG1981430 - Improving Fistula, Maternity and Child Healthcare in Sierra Leone, 
See Website for more details: www.thehopeconsultancy.org.uk

Contact:-  sue@thehopeconsultancy.org.uk, Tel: 01899 830 267 Mobile: 07702 812987

Global Sight Solutions 

UK Rotary's avoidable blindness programme
For information on our work please go to: http://www.globalsightsolutions.org. To book a speaker please contact  Rotarian John Miles. There are no fees involved and we can do both Zoom and 'live' presentations.

Contact:-  john.miles13@btinternet.com  or 01483 481856

JDRF - the type 1 diabetes charity

No one can appreciate the effect of type 1 diabetes on families unless they have lived with it. This charity's speakers present their own poignant stories with total sincerity and are willing to come to clubs to talk of just what life is like when you have a family member who has been diagnosed with this life-threatening condition.

Elspeth Campbell, Senior Regional Fundraiser (Scotland)

Please contact:-  scotland@jdrf.org.uk or 07442 332872

SSAFA - David Black

Web site;- ssafa.org.uk

The 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower. The Pilgrims and the Scottish Connection. 2020 is the 400th Anniversary of the historic voyage of the Mayflower to the New World. 

George English of Kilmarnock Rotary had an ancestor, Richard Warren, who was a passenger in 1620. His talk covers the events during the Reformation which led to the Pilgrims leaving for the New World; and affected Scotland. He describes the voyage itself and the early years in New England. Also the impact the Mayflower has had on Western civilisation since, such as the successful colonisation of America, and the Act of Union between Scotland and England/Wales. A year-long commemoration is being held, focused on places associated with the Mayflower and its passengers

Contact George on: 01290 559036  or george@researchthroughpeople.com

SailorsSociety

The Sailors’ Society is an international Christian charity working in ports across the world. Their chaplains help seafarers and their families, from all faiths and none, with welfare and practical support. They visit ships in ports and talk with seafarers away from home for up to a year at a time; they help them get in touch with much missed loved ones and access medical treatment; they liaise with frightened families when seafarers are kidnapped by terrorists or imprisoned, mostly through no fault of their own; and they build homes and schools and provide grants to bring hope and security to seafaring communities.

Becky Haldane is the Public Engagement Officer for Scotland  and would be happy to come along to your club to tell you more about the charity and her involvement.

Contact details:- Becky Haldane at rhaldane@sailors-society.org, Mob:  07808 249175

Web Site:

www.sailors-society.org

Beating Backpain

Neville Shortt's talk includes a range of advice and information on how to sit, stand and move with less discomfort. This is based on his competence as a fully qualified and experienced teacher of Alexander Technique having studied both in Britain and his native Ireland and he now practises in Glasgow. Alexander Technique is a way of promoting well-being by retraining one's awareness and habits of posture to ensure minimum effort and strain. It entails relearning how to live in time and in tune with yourself.

Contact details:- Neville Shortt at nevilleshortt@hotmail.com, Mob:  07789 793700

 APS - Round Britain Rail Tour

Phil Godfrey is travelling around Britain, speaking to Rotary, Inner Wheel and Other Clubs, to spread awareness of APS Antiphospholipid Syndrome, in memory of his late wife. Included in his talk is the story of his epic walk and the Rail touR.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an incurable life-threatening autoimmune condition that causes the blood to clot too quickly in veins, arteries and the brain. It can cause potentially fatal events such as strokes, heart attacks, blood clots on the lungs (pulmonary embolism – PEs) and deep vein thrombosis (DVTs).                   In pregnancy, APS is the most important treatable cause of recurrent miscarriage and a woman is five times more likely to suffer a stillbirth; it is also associated with other complications such as infertility, pre-eclampsia, low-weight babies and premature births.

As a national charity, APS Support UK aims to achieve earlier diagnosis and to offer support to anyone affected by APS through increased awareness, education and research.Phil will visit 51 Clubs this year ( 9 in the 1230 District ), and hopes to carry on this challenge next year to spread the word, any Club wishing to ask Phil to speak to them, please contact him on :-.

philcgodfrey@btinternet.com or Tel:  07770 406807

Changing Faces

Changing Faces is Scotland's only charity for everyone with a mark, scar or condition that makes them look different. Our aim is to create a future where everyone with a visible difference on their face or body has the confidence, support and opportunity to live the lives they want. Being different in a society where there is such pressure to look a certain way is extremely difficult. Changing Faces provide advice and support, we challenge discrimination, and we campaign for a society that respects difference.

Katie Mullen will be happy to come along to your club to tell you more about the charity and her involvement.

Contact details:- Katie Mullen at KatieM@changingfaces.org.uk, Tel:  0141 559 5028

The organisation's web site is www.changingfaces.org.uk

STARCHILD

Michaela Foster Marsh is the founder and Executive Director of Starchild Charity, set up in memory of her adopted Uganda brother who died in a fire in Glasgow age 27yrs. She works primarily with vulnerable children and women and her charity has built a School for Creative Arts in Vvumba, Uganda. In 2017. Michaela was a finalist of Scotswoman of the Year by the Evening Times and has received a Prime Ministers award for her work in Uganda. She has also received a Peace and Unity award for her work with children with autism. Starchild is now working towards building a holistic centre for families affected by autism in Uganda. Her memoir Starchild is the remarkable true story of finding her brothers family 17yrs after his death. It is published in the US with worldwide distribution.

Michaela Foster Marsh will be happy to come along to your club to tell you more about the charity and her book.

Contact details:- Michaela Foster Marsh at Info@starchildcharity.com, Mob:  07796 843442

The organisation's web site is www.starchildcharity.com

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is a Christian based organisation whose volunteers help resolve challenging issues in the world’s most troubled areas through the use of aviation and technologies. Their responses to calls for assistance around the developing world are, inevitably, many and varied  and they receive support to do so from across the community including from Rotary clubs.   

Andy Martin, who is in charge of their operations in Scotland, would be happy to develop further on their achievements by offering a free presentation to Rotary Clubs around Scotland..

Andy can be contacted at andy.martin@maf-uk.org  on 0141 332 5222 or 07710 085 134.

The organisation’s web site is www.maf-uk.org

Council on Deafness (SCoD) - Janis McDonald

Web Site: www.scod.org.uk

Working towards a society where deaf people have equal access, rights and citizenship.Focusing on the “four pillars of deafness” to describe "Deaf, Deafblind, Deafened and Hard of Hearing" as people with different levels of deafness have different barriers to overcome and have different language and communication support needs.Their membership provides an effective partnership working between the Third Sector, the Public Sector, and the Private Sector, and Scottish Government to improve the lives of deaf people.

Janis McDonald is currently the Chief Officer of the Scottish Council on Deafness. Janis has a nursing background and has worked in the Public and Third Sectors. She has thematic specialities: addictions, particularly alcohol; homelessness; equalities and deafness..

Contact details: Email: janis@scod.org.uk, Tel: 0141 248 2474, Mob: 07815311479

National Autistic Society - Karron Kent

Karron is the Fundraising Officer for the National Autistic Society (NAS) in Scotland. The National Autistic Society is the UK's leading charity for autistic people and their families, providing information, support and pioneering services, and campaigning for a better world for people affected by autism.

She would love to visit any of the clubs within our district to offer your members an understanding of autism, our work and how the lives of autistic people and their families can be greatly improved

Karron can be contacted as follows :- T: 0141 285 7112  E: karron.kent@nas.org.uk

Action for Children - Stuart Lawrie

Stuart Lawrie is Scotland'™s Community Fundraiser for one of the country'€™s leading children'€™s charities - Action for Children Scotland (formerly NCH -€“ National Children's Home).  He is responsible for raising awareness of their work in local communities across the country, often speaking with community groups, school pupils, church congregations etc.

He is keen to reach out to as many Rotarian's as possible to raise awareness of their cause, as well as raising awareness of what they do to change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in our local communities.

Stuart Laurie
Community Fundraiser Scotland
Action for Children
City Park, 368 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow, G31 3AU
Tel No: 0141 550 9022 / Mobile: 07715 043 736Email: stuart.laurie@actionforchildren.org.uk

Barry Adams Strump - Medical Murder

Govan member, Barry Adams Strump is willing to speak to clubs on the subject of "Medical Murders".  Barry can be contacted on 0141 637 7284 Email: barryjas@ntlworld.com

Alastair Stewart (Samaritans)

Alastair in a member of Clydebank Rotary and is a volunteer with the Samaritans. He will be pleased to represent them as a speaker to Clubs. He can be contacted on 0141 776 3949 or by email at alastairstewart42@yahoo.co.uk

Maggie's Cancer Care Services

Maggie’s Cancer Care is a unique charity which offers essential support and beautifully designed environment for men and women affected by cancer. They are warm friendly places where people can speak openly about their cancer. Family and friends are also welcome to access information, practical advice and emotional support not only during their loved ones’ cancer treatment but later when help may be needed. All of the existing Centres are situated beside an NHS Cancer Hospital and have been designed to be as non-institutional as possible. 

If you would like further information or a speaker please contact Drew Hughes of the Barrhead Rotary Club: email:  g1drew@btinternet.com

George English - Family History

George English of Kilmarnock Rotary is a professional genealogist with many years of experience of genealogical research in Scotland, UK and other parts of the world. He has spoken at national conferences and published genealogical work in UK, Europe and USA. George specialises in bringing ancestors to life through the social and historical background of the times they lived in. His talks are typically tailored to include examples for the local area. George can be contacted at

 george@researchthroughpeople.com or 01290 559036

Alex Blair

PDG Alex Blair is a past president of "Largs and North Ayrshire Family History Society". He was also the Editor of the society's magazine for a number of years. He is willing to talk about two of his research subjects: "Admiral Lord Cochrane, Earl of Dundonald" or "The Ardrossan, Paisley, Glasgow Canal". Both available on “ZOOM”.

Contact Details: 07971617909, or  alex_blair@outlook.com

Meningitis Reasearch Foundation

The Meningitis Reaseach Foundation's vision is a world free from meningitis and septicaemia. Millions of people have already been affected by meningitis and septicaemia in the UK, Ireland and around the world. They are devastating diseases which can kill and seriously disable in hours.

But the sad fact is meningitis and septicaemia kill around 1,000 people around the world every day. Every single day one person dies in the UK and Ireland alone. Babies and children under five and young people are especially vulnerable but anyone of any age can be affected.

If you would like to hear more about their work and research then contact Ashleigh Hunt, MRF Information Officer on 0131 510 2345 or email: ashleighhunt@scotland-meningitis.org.uk

Aberlour Children's Charity

Aberlour is the largest, solely Scottish, children’s charity and they provide help to over 6000 of Scotland’s most vulnerable children, young people and their families each year.  They provide services all across Scotland from Elgin to Stranraer and Prestwick to Prestonpans.

If you would like to find out more about their activities then contact Morag McGowan on 07730 193675 or email morag.mcgowan@aberlour.org.uk

Ian Dale - "How to poison your ................."

Ian Dale of the Rotary Club of Glasgow is an honorary lecturer in Forensic Medicine and Science at Glasgow University who is happy to talk on “How to poison your  ......  Ian can deliver his presentation by “ZOOM” if required.           He can be contacted on ian.dale@outlook.com

Leuchie House

Leuchie House is an independent charity which provides high quality respite breaks with 24-hour expert nursing care for people and their families living with long-term physical conditions, such as MS, stroke, Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's, Motor Neurone Disease and cerebral palsy.  They are happy to provide speakers to clubs and can be contacted on 01620 692864 or at enquiries@leuchiehouse.org.uk

 Gordon McCorkindale

Gordon is a Past President of Allander Rotary and is very involved with a charity called "Kidney Kids Scotland". He would be happy to visit any club in the district to explain exactlly what the charity does to help children. Gordon can be contacted as follows:-

Telephone:  0141 316 7580, Mob: 07843 174929  

Address: 2/2 No 7 Jackson Place, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1TR.

Email: dgmccorkindale53@gmail.com

John Steele

John has written several books about HMS Dasher. Nearly 400 navy personnel drowned or were burned to death when HMS Dasher exploded off Arran in March, 1943. There were 149 survivors but, in spite of a high-level inquiry, they were never told what caused the disaster. John has indicated his willingness to speak to any Rotary Club. His email address is j.steele2@talktalk.net    

Positive Women

Stephen Brown is the cofounded of the 'Positive Women'  Charity and they work and support exceptional women in Africa to take control of their own futures. There is never a more inspiring or humbling experience than meeting the exceptional women of Africa. Women's access to resources and power in these countries is practically non-existent and so have the burden of survival placed heavily upon them and their families.

In the face of all these challenges exceptional women emerge and change their lives and the world around them. If Africa is to progress, women will need to be front and centre of its development. They are working, already with women in Swaziland to establish women in local communities as leaders. They help them secure their rights, create small enterprises and support their children through education.

They work with these exceptional women to ensure that they are supported in the amazing work they already undertake. They will help through improving efficiencies and management and ensuring sustainable funding based on need.

They are looking for individuals and organisations that are able to support them to make a real impact and a huge difference. They would love to come and talk to Clubs about the work they undertake and Stephen can be contacted by email at stephen.brown@positivewomen.org

Further information can be found on the website  Positive Women

Scottish Huntington's Association

Scottish Huntington's Association, Business First, Burnbrae Road, Paisley, PA1 2FB 

The Scottish Huntington's Association would like the opportunity to visit your club to tell your members about Huntington's disease, and the effect this devastating illness has on around 6,000 people in Scotland today. We will tell you about the lifeline specialist services we provide to people impacted by Huntington’s disease and their families and how we support them. Thank you!

Web site - hdscotland.org

To book a speaker, please contact us on 0141 848 0308 or 07710 391623. 
or email fundraising@hdscotland.org

Jim Duffy

Jim Duffy is a retired Police Officer who served with the Strathclyde Police Force between December 1975 and May 2007. Prior to retirement Jim held the rank of Inspector and the position of Chairman of the Strathclyde Police Federation Joint Branch Board.

Before retiring from the Police service he argued for the legalisation of all currently illegal drugs as, in his view , the War against Drugs will never be won in the current climate of prohibition.  Since his retirement he has become a member of LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition)an american based organisation, comprising of many serving and former law enforcement agents and prosecutors who believe that the only way to deal with the menace of drugs is to take control of them through legalisation.

Jim is a member of the Rotary club of Loudoun and can be contacted on  07912 419748      .

Graeme Smith - Theatre Royal

Graeme Smith has written books on the Theatre Royal and the Alhambra. He would be happy to talk about the book and theatre. he can be contacted on mail.smith@btopenworld.com

Colin McKeand

Colin McKeand runs Nutri-tox and talks on health and wellbeing...being quite an expert there.  He can be contacted on colin@nutri-tox.com or  01324 823664      

History of the Highway Code

John McIlhagger, President of East Kilbride Kittoch, is a Chartered Civil Engineer specialising in Traffic Engineering who operates his own consultancy. He is willing to talk on the “History of the Highway Code” which includes a short quiz on the subject and “The Goodwood Festival of Speed”.

Contact details: 07831 111 732 or at mcilhagger@btinternet.com

"Gathering the Voices"

Speakers are available to present information on those who sought refuge in Scotland to escape Nazi racism, most, though not all being Jewish.    Web site:  www.gatheringthevoices.com.

Contact with speakers can come through Steven Anston on 07828527864 email:

abercairn.scotland@googlemail.com or clairesingerman@gmail.com

The Panoptican Music Hall

When Janet Muir volunteered to assist at Glasgow's own Britannia Panoptican Music Hall she never realised that her great great uncle Harry Braham, a comic vocalist and actor, had  appeared there in 1880.   The result?  Janet has now written a fascinating book "Masks and Faces" on the life of her internationally acclaimed relative's adventures throughout the UK, Australia and America.  

Janet can be contacted on 0141 771 1149, 07817474906 

or email:   glasgowmusichall@yahoo.co.uk