Strathaven Rotarians tee off for annual competition and some friendly rivalry

May 15 2008

AT the Strathaven Rotary Club’s meeting last week, president Nigel Thomson welcomed president Len Shaw of the Rotary Club of Bothwell and Uddingston together with a large group of visiting Rotarians.

Past President Roger Phayre reported on the golf match between the two clubs which had taken place earlier in the day and that the Strathaven duo of Miller and Hadidi had triumphed over their Bothwell and Uddingston counterparts.

Sandy Pender reluctantly handed over the Mashie trophy ‘on Loan’ to the Strathaven Club until next year’s match.

The speaker was Donald Reid, chairman of Mitchells Robertson, Glasgow’s oldest law firm.

His talk, entitled ‘A Close Shave in Cold Water’, related the trauma to which he was subjected when he cruised into the area of the Arctic Ice Cap from Spitzbergen.

His reason for undertaking the trip had been to see the unique textures, colours, caves, bird-life and waterfalls of the region before they disappeared through global warming.

He was well prepared, being accompanied on all trips ashore by an armed guide, for the known perils of the region, like polar bears, but was totally unprepared for what befell him.

A huge part of the glacier plunged into the ocean within 20 metres of him and his wife as they stood sightseeing at the bow of the cruise ship.

Sandy suffered major injuries from the ice-fall.

He had to be hospitalised in Tromso, arriving there by Gemini helicopter and eventually, air ambulance.

He has suffered no lasting ill-effects from his near-death experience.

An appreciation of his address to both clubs was expressed by Bob Scott.