Our Christmas Postal Delivery Service will be run again this year from December 4th - 18th and will as usual serve the East Neuk coastal villages from Crail to Elie & Earlsferry, as well as to Arncroach, Carnbee, Colinsburgh, Kilconquhar and Kilrenny. Sorry but not to outlying farms. Cost is the same as last year at 40p per card and all money raised will go to charities. Cards can be handed in to:-

        Crail - Crail Pharmacy

        Cellardyke - The Corner Shop

        Anstruther & Pittenweem - G H Barnett

        St Monans - Mini Market

        Elie / Earlsferry - Elie Newsagents

        Colinsburgh - Corner Shop

our club meeting of 11th November opened with President Ian Brunton reflecting on Remembrance and the importance of the day in honouring the many who fell in defence of our freedom.

Following Grace and a meal several items of business were addressed including the sad news of the deaths of past club member Jim Horsfield and past Rotary District officer Cath Chorley. 

We also covered the upcoming events of the 14th November School Debate at Waid Academy and plans for another ‘Christmas post’ - most likely the 10th to 17th December.

Following business, our speaker was Ron Black, who gave an interesting and extremely well researched history of Henry Balfour and Company of Durie Foundry, Leven. This took the form of an illustrated timeline from the firm’s founding in 1810, up to today. It proved to be a remarkable story of continuous adaptation to changing technologies and business opportunities.

From the earliest times of simple iron-foundry production of cast Iron stoves, we were taken through the years of potash kettles, spinning mules, mining, iron ship building, steam engines and pumps, coal-gas production, oil refinery equipment, North Sea gas and oil exploration, chemical plant, brewery equipment and on to modern antibiotic and pharmaceutical process plant.

War times brought the need for armaments and ammunition - and in an unexpected surprise, to the manufacture of wings for the Hurricane fighter aircraft of WW2.

Diversification led to arc welding, to pressed steel manufacture and to development of the production of very specialised glass lining of tanks and other chemical processing equipment.

In concluding his talk Ron provided an insight to the ways companies diversify, restructure and become international players. Most recently the company became part of the international Pfaulder group and known within the the UK as Robbins and Myers UK Ltd.

Following questions, a vote of thanks was proposed by Ian Brunton.

Nine Rotarians visited the Futtle Brewery at Bowhouse St Monans, Monday 4th November, for a guided tour hosted by owner Stephen Marshall.

Futtle is the only organic brewery in Scotland and is fully certified by the Soil Association.

Formed in 2019 by Stephen & his partner Lucy, they brew with whole grains and whole leaf hops from organic certified growers.
The water comes from a borehole just behind Bowhouse.

They brew table beers, pale beers & foraged beers made from plant, root or seed harvested locally. Stephen is currently brewing their first batch of lager.

There is also a bottle shop on site and they regularly host music events at weekends. The pandemic curtailed the growth of the business, but profits are forecast for next year.

After a tour of the entire Bowhouse facility, president Ian thanked Stephen, whose energy & enthusiasm deserve success,for his tour.
 

The 21st October meeting was a business meeting, which dealt with a number of routine planning matters.

The main topic of discussion however was regarding the consitution of the club's charity. Concerns have been raised about the possible unlimited liability of trustees of the charity - something that other clubs have addressed by converting their charity to a SCIO - a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

There was considerable debate on this topic and the need for review was accepted. As first steps both Rotary District and GB&I will be consulted to establish what protection already exists for club members - and to seek general advice. Local clubs that have already converted their charity to a SCIO, will also be consulted.

it was agreed to taoke this matter forward to a future meeting. 

Speaker at our club meeting of 14th October was Eric Dewhirst, who built his talk around the fact that this day is International Standards Day. 

Living as we do in a ‘digital age’ - our everyday lives depend on international agreements on standards - especially in engineering and technology. We heard that the need for standardisation in areas like weights and measures was understood from very early times and that the need became increasingly vital as the industrial revolution progressed. Today Standards are at the very heart of international cooperation, business and trade.

Almost every country in the world is cooperatively involved - which is impressive and with many countries having their own well-established standards organisations. The UK has the British Standards Institute - BSI, with its well known ‘kite mark’.

The International standards organisation ISO has at its core a mission to ensure  that the products and services we use daily are safe, reliable, and of high quality. They also guide businesses in adopting sustainable and ethical practices, helping to create a future where our purchases not only perform excellently but also safeguard our planet.

Following questions, a vote of thanks was proposed by Tom O’Connell.

Speaker at our meeting of 30th September was club member Findlay McLaren - without doubt the adventurer of the club. This time his talk was about the challenge of tackling the first third of An Turas Mor, described as a ‘non-technical’ cycle ride through the wild heart of Scotland, which stretches 353 miles from Kelvingrove Museum to Cape Wrath in the far north. With 26,984ft of hills - and off-road using cycle tracks, old railway beds, forest tracks and mountain passes.

It all started with a ride from Pittenweem to Leven, then train to Glasgow and a short ride to Kelvingrove. A circuitous route including mudbaths and rain led to the first nights camp just short of Drymen. With wet tent and sleeping bag, having found the panniers were not sufficiently waterproof!

And then onwards for four more days via the Rob Roy Way, Aberfoyle, the Dukes Pass, Boulders and hidden streams, Strathyre, Lochearnhead, Killin, Glen Lochay, Brig O’Baiglie 

What we heard was a story of rain, mud, midges, headwinds, diversions, a collapsed bridge, poor route directions,  broken spokes, a worn out wheel rim, wet camping. And hills. And some sunshine. 135 miles  covered in 5 days; then Rannoch Station and a train home.

Findlay told us that he is now working on plans to return for a second stretch and with lessons learned about reducing the weight carried - and investing in some lower gears! 

Following questions an awestruck vote of thanks was proposed by Eric Govan. What an interesting talk - what a challenge and what an adventure.