Rotary toasts 90th anniversary in style
Ayr Rotary Club toasted their 90th anniversary at a special celebratory dinner last month.
Ninety guests, rotarians and partners joined together at Birg o’Doon to mark the occasion and hear about the start of the club back in 1931.
Guests learned it was the founder President of Hamilton Rotary Club and then District Governor, Rev T F Harkness Graham, who wrote to Rev W Phin Gillison, minister at Ayr Auld Kirk, in December 1929 suggesting the formation of a Rotary Club in Ayr.
At first, little enthusiasm was shown but six months later on December 9, 1930, the decision was made to form the Ayr club under Phin Gillison’s chairmanship.
Many meetings took place in the offices of Kilpatrick and Wilson solicitors, then at 33 Newmarket Street, between that December and May 1931. And a charter dinner was held in September 1931 in the Station Hotel, attended by several dignitaries from all over the county and beyond.
Guests also learned that Mondays at lunchtime were chosen as the best meeting day and time because then, there being no washing machines, the lady of the house was assisted with reasonably cheap domestic servants and she was only too happy to have her husband out all Monday, a recognised washing and cleaning day.
Fast forward 90 years later and Ayr Rotary Club continue to meet and make a difference in their community, including raising monies for local and international charities, as well as contributing to project successes like Message in a Bottle, the Scottish Poppy Appeal, and the Ayrshire Coastal Path.
Fiona McAvoy MBE, head teacher of Newton Primary School, was welcomed into the Paul Harris Fellowship for her sterling work in reducing poverty and helping disadvantaged children and young people in the community.
Also receiving the Paul Harris Fellowship accolade, was their past President and Secretary Craig Wilson for his tireless work in hosting and creating events, and being the steady ‘hand on the tilla’ for many years before moving to Henley on Thames, where he is currently President Elect in his local Rotary Club.