Inverurie Rotary members hear of ship's history
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On February 23 the worldwide Rotary Movement celebrated it's 116th birthday.
As member Jim McColl explained: "For those of you not so thirled to social media or able to take a walk through Inverurie, the promised birthday displays materialised – and how!.
"Courtesy of the management and the skills of Mark Copeland the facade of the Kintore Arms, our regular meeting place, was ablaze with coloured lights and the Rotary banner.
"The colour purple predominated to mark the Rotary involvement in the End Polio Now campaign.
"In Market Place the window of JG Ross's shop was also ablaze with another stunning display.
"Congratulations are due to all who made it possible – surely a bright light shining through the current gloom!."
He continued: "As if that wasn't enough our weekly zoom evening proved to be another belter.
"As regular readers will know by now, we have a guest speaker each week and this year we have enjoyed a veritable box of crackers.
"John Nicol's guest this week was Alan Miller from Wick, his topic was a 'lady' called Isabella Fortuna - a beautiful 40ft long sailing ship built in Arbroath in 1890.
"Since 1997 she has become the property of the Wick Society.
"Whilst retaining many of her original characteristics, Isabella has been refurbished to meet modern standards.
"What an inspiring and fascinating story Allan had to tell, made the more enjoyable by his slide illustrations of how parts were replaced, new bits added, the fitting of an engine, new decks, quarters made for the crew, shots of some at work – in the refurbished shed where she is berthed in winter and where the team of volunteers can work their skills on her.
"Annually, the crew take Isabella to the Portsoy Boat Festival where she is much admired – I attach a copy of my own photo of Isabella taken a few years ago.
"Allan was such a good story teller, obviously happy to talk about something he is passionate about thus happy to answer questions.
"Some of the technicalities were maybe beyond one or two of the audience (well one anyway) but his enthusiasm and his quirky Wick accent carried the day.
"He was great to listen to.
"The privilege of expressing our thanks fell to Don Gordon who ended the social part of our meeting with some fine words of congratulation to Allan."
He said: "The business part of the evening was short, notably with a reminder that our Scatter Week, when Rotarians undertake to make a fraternal visit to another club in the area, will be in mid-March.
"It has been known for some Rotarians to regard 'in the area' as a fine excuse.
"A year or two ago one car load decided to 'scatter' to the Rotary Club of Ullapool.
"All work and no play !."
