Rotary Club of Dumfries
Annual Christmas Lunch and Theatre Outing
On Friday 14th December, Rotarians were joined by their wives and husbands and the widows of former Rotarians at the Cairndale Hotel for our annual Christmas Lunch.
There was a tremendous "buzz" about the place and, in the absence of any notified complaints it is reasonable to assume that a good time was had by all.
The following day, 53 people boarded a coach at Brooms Road and were driven to Edinburgh to see the musical "Joseph". It was marvellous to hear the chatter en route.
When we left Dumfries it was rather overcast and cold. However, it was a beautiful morning by the time we arrived in the Capital around 11.30am - just in time to shop, drink, visit galleries climb the Scott monument or linger over a lunch in one of the city's better clubs.
As one would expect from a Rotarian outing, no one was late for the performance which started at 2.30pm. the show itself was as you would imagine - very colourful - too loud for some and not loud enough for others. We were also to discover the truth in the myth that Elvis is still alive. Well he was that day at least.
At the end of the show we made our way to the coach in an orderly rotarian fashion and were transported to Guilliano's restaurant on the shore at Leith where we were served fine Italian fare accompanied by equally good Italian wine. Again, it was great to hear the good natured banter and conversation. The atmosphere in the restaurant was, in my opinion, the definition of Rotary at its best.
We left the capital at 8.00pm and arrived in Dumfries after what proved to be a much quieter return journey - save for the gentle snoring of one or two passengers.
Looking to the future - the President's Weekend has been organized for April; we will be arranging a ten pin bowling night in Carlisle and of course we hope to have a visit to DG1 within the next few months.
Report by Trevor Knowles
President’s Weekend in Riga, Latvia.
On Friday, March 30th, eight Rotarians and their spouses accompanied President John and Maureen on a sojourn to Riga. On a flight out from Prestwick, the sedate demeanour of the Rotarian party was in stark contrast to the boisterous behaviour of a stag party heading for a hedonistic weekend in Riga. A late arrival meant exploration of the Old Town of Riga was left to the following day. In warm sunshine groups walked around the spacious and spotlessly clean Capital. The plethora of churches, museums and galleries made, by constraints of time, the choice of visits difficult. Towering over the Old City most steeples of Riga’s churches are topped by gilded cockerels. In Latvian folklore they stand for vigilance and safeguards from evil; when the cockerel crows for the third time the devil must retreat back to hell. A visit to the Museum of Occupation stands as a testament to the oppression and brutal occupation by the Soviet Union. Latvia was only declared a sovereign state in 1991.
View of Riga
The Rotarian party met up for dinner in the evening and enjoyed the exclusive attention of the Gutenberg Hotel staff. This was a very convivial occasion and allegedly twenty one bottles of wine were served. Later in the evening, on returning to our hotel, we were to learn that high heels worn on Riga’s cobbled streets are a hazard. A member’s wife caught her heel, tumbled and broke her hip. An anxious and tedious few days in the local hospital were endured before she was repatriated by air ambulance for surgery and convalescence in Dumfries.The next day, Sunday, again in glorious weather, some members soaked up more of Riga’s history, whilst others went on a train journey to Jurmala on the Baltic coast. However, the highlight of the trip was our visit, the following day, to the Riga Hanzas Rotary Club for lunch. There was no speaker in deference to the Dumfries Club’s lack of a Latvian or Russian linguist. Interpretation was provided by an English speaking Latvian with an Australian accent. Each of the Riga Club introduced themselves and what an elite class of Latvian society they proved to be! Amongst them, the Latvian President’s husband and the Professor of the Academy of Latvian Art. The Dumfries Rotarians thereafter introduced themselves and it was retired prison governor, George Taylor, who generously offered secure accommodation if any of the Riga Club were to visit Dumfries.
President John presents Dumfries Rotary Banner
The meeting adjourned after an hour and a half and some were then fortunate to be invited to the roof top studio and gallery of Juris Jurjans, the Professor of Art. A steep climb up a spiral staircase was rewarded with a glass of Jack Daniels. In his work Professor Jurjans uses gold leaf and oils giving his art a rich, vibrant and colourful result.
The remainder of the day was spent with further meandering around the Old Town. After a splendid evening meal in an Italian restaurant we returned to the airport and flew back to Prestwick accompanied by a very subdued stag party.
Congratulations to President John and Maureen. Riga warrants another visit.
Report by Dave Evans