The club meeting of 13th May included reports from the club treasurer, the youth activities convenor and president. We heard of the Rotary Primary School Quiz and the heat recently held at Bell Baxter High School. We were sorry to hear that our local champions at Anstruther school did not emerge victorious - but every congratulation to them for all they have achieved.

The report from the president was serious in that it covered information about copyright matters and the care that is needed when photographs, images or other materials are used by clubs. Particularly mentioned were the use of social media and websites. This prompted considerable discussion and led to consideration of safeguarding responsibilities too.

Following a meal the speaker for the evening, club member Roderick Skinner entertained with a quiz. This proved to be an interesting yet demanding series of questions about Fife. A challenge for those not from Fife! But a learning opportunity too.

A vote of thanks was proposed by George Hunter. 

At the club meeting of Monday 29th April we heard that the Rotary Primary School Quiz final will be held at Bell Baxter High school, Cupar on Friday 3rd May - best wishes to all the competing teams and of course to the one from Anstruther.

Following a meal our speaker was club member Steve Blaney who brought along holiday videos - and we had a choice of destination! The decision was made to see the tour of Holland and Germany and this proved to be a colourful and interesting trip through popular areas from the port of Ijmuiden to Koblenz, Moselle, Mainz and Rüdesheim am Rhein

We were treated to much picturesque scenery with characterful castles, broad rivers, medieval towns and enticing vineyards. After such a long and wet winter it certainly cheered everyone up and even started thoughts of the next holiday.

Following questions an appreciative vote of thanks was proposed by Colin Campbell

Our club meeting of April 1st was the AGM which, in spite of the date, went off without incident! Accounts had previously been approved, so the business was simplified to the election of office bearers for the coming year. The level of subs was also agreed at £110.

Following this, our usual talk was substituted with a quiz. Probably inspired by Monday of last week, which saw the Rotary Primary School quiz take place. Seven local schools were in contention, with Anstruther School emerging victorious and ready to progress to the next round.

We also heard that a student from Waid Academy has been selected for this year’s RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) and will be coming to speak to the club shortly.

With a conclusion to the business, Bill Batchelor brought the meeting to a close with a vote of thanks to Derek Mathie for arranging the quiz - apparently at a somewhat less challenging level to the one faced by the primary schools!!

Following business and a meal our speaker on 18th March was club member Malcolm MacDonald. Malcolm has a keen interest in local history, especially of fishing and boat building and chose a film to describe the herring fishing of years past. 

This was historic footage of a way of life that used to exist around the coast of Scotland and featured fishermen, mostly from the West coast, with the film being entirely in Gaelic - fortunately with translations on the screen!

What came across very plainly was the dangers the fishermen faced daily, in  a way of life going back 200 years or so - and of the lack of safety provision in the boats - the ‘luggies’ of 40 or 45 tons. Thirty foot long or so with mostly open decks. We learned that boys would start out to sea with the job of coiling ropes and cooking the food. And with boats going as far as Iceland for weeks at a time.

The film also told the story of the shore-based work, with local cooperages producing the barrels that were then packed with gutted and salted fish.

It was interesting to hear from Malcolm how this life changed when steam trawlers came and later the arrival of radio made it possible to share information about shoals of fish - and to keep in touch with the home port. The coming of railways also meant that a catch could be landed and delivered to markets much faster.

A very interesting talk with an appreciative vote of thanks proposed by William Duncan.