Thanks from Malawi for books donation

VIP guests who attended the recent meeting of Carluke Rotary Club included George Bayle, the immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of West Wight, and his wife Carol.

The couple were visiting Clydesdale on holiday from the Isle of Wight, which is famed for solid fuelled heating systems, production of sails for the wind turbine generating industry, tourism – and three HMP establishments.

The club also hosted Jim Greenshields and Frank Wilkinson from the Larkhall Club, who were there to publicise their club's charity event, to be held on September 11 at the Shawlands Park Hotel, and Jim Trainer from Lanark Rotary Club, a regular guest at the Carluke Club.

Amongst business discussed, Bill Downie of the vocational committee reported that a second contingent of senior citizens from Carluke had enjoyed a part day trip, including lunch, to Biggar.

Alistair Mackie advised members that the Junior Golf competition at Torwoodlea, sponsored by District 1020, had been played off with their own contender, Stephen McNally, coming in at a very respectable fifth place.

He commented on the success of this year's competition, which is due in great part to the excellent organisation and management skills of Millar Stoddart from the Rotary Club of Lanark.

In January, several members of the international committee spent a long afternoon sorting and sifting books donated by South Lanarkshire Council’s libraries department and numerous football strips, surplus to requirements, donated by local football clubs.

Allan Smith, former international committee chairman, was able to report to members that he had received a letter of appreciation to the club from Dr A.C. Mkandawire, of the Rotary Club of Mzuzu, Malawi.

The books were being distributed to secondary and primary schools in the Livingstonia and Mzuzu areas.

The football kits were to be shared with the Ekwendeni Hospital football team, Rotaract clubs of Mzuzu and Livingstonia universities.

This was described as an excellent example of Rotary work in action.

BOOK SORTING: Rotary members are pictured (right) with some of the books and football kits they collected.