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Thurso Rotarians and others involved in the sponsorship of Alan McIvor's guide to old Thurso gathered at the Pentland Hotel for the official launch of the publication. Alan is seen presenting a copy to Rotary Secretary Trevor Williams.

Thurso Rotary Club had another very successful event in January 2008. The picture shows the principal performers.

Back Left to Right: John Macrae, Craig Omand, Andy Sutherland, Ann Warren, Graeme Mackay, Alan Sparling.

The Club's RYLA participants for 2007 receive their certificates following an excellent presentation of their activities by both youngsters.

Picture Left to Right: President John Hook, James MacLean, Hayley Swanson and Rotarian Kevin Sutherland.

Members of the New Zealand Fellowship Exchange Group attended the Thursday meeting of the Thurso Club and are shown here with their host Rotarians. The group are visiting sites of interest in Caithness and North Sutherland and on Friday evening will attend a BBQ at Harpsdale arranged by Rotarian Bill Watson and his wife Elaine. On Saturday they set off south on their travels around District 1010.

At the Thurso Rotary Club Assembly and final meeting of the 2006 -2007 rotary year at the end of June plans were outlined for the for the new session of the club, which began on July 1^st. The Club Service, Community Service and Vocational and International Committee Chairmen outlined their programme of events and incoming Club President John Hook gave his vision of the Club's role in the coming year to members.

Also at the meeting three veteran Rotarians, Crear Shearer, James Campbell and Peter Murchison, received souvenir gold seating discs from outgoing President Murray Campbell in recognition of their regular attendance and fellowship at Table D, the 'senior members dinner table' at club meetings.

Assistant District Governor Jim Young, a member of Elgin Rotary Club, was on hand to see how the Thurso Club conducts its business and to enjoy a meal with thirty Thurso area Rotarians.

The Picture shows the presentation of the Thurso Rotary Club Chain of Office to incoming President John Hook by the Immediate Past President Murray Campbell, centre left. They are watched by Assistant District Governor Jim Young on the left and the new Thurso club Vice-President James Simpson.

After a postponement due to bad weather the Rotary Open finally got underway at Reay Golf Club in what was still less than ideal conditions. The winner for the second time, having held the trophy in 2004, was Reay Golf Club Champion, Gavin Sutherland. The Ladies section was won by Thurso's Rebecca Meiklejohn.

The picture shows Graeme Dunnett presenting the Rotary Club of Thurso Open Golf Trophy to Gavin Sutherland while looking on are two other prize winners, Willie Williamson and Neil McDonald.

Thurso High School pupils who took part in a very entertaining speechmaking competition in North Highland College with the competition judges.

Rotary Clubs across Britain and Ireland have been encouraging primary schools to raise money to support one of their projects – Shelterbox. A Shelterbox provides a tent, sleeping bags and other basic survival equipment for a family of 10 people and are despatched to disaster hit areas following earthquakes, floods, etc. Each Shelterbox costs £490.

Miller Academy pupils have taken part in this scheme and have raised £390, mainly by charging £1 for tasks they did at home. This money will go to the Shelterbox fund project to buy the necessary equipment and specifically to assist with the 'A Million in Africa ' project to accommodate a million people in Africa hit by the many disasters troubling that continent.

Pictured with Miller Academy pupils representing each of the school's classes and Depute Head Teacher, Edith Mitchell, are members of Thurso Rotary Club who, as a club, have previously sponsored six Shelterboxes two of which found their way to aid the Pakistan earthquake.

Thurso Rotary took their usual stall at Thurso Round Table Fayre 2006 and though short of helpers they had a very productive afternoon. The three Rotarians in the picture (Allan Lannon, Simon Middlemas and Gordon MacLachlan) plus Rotarian Bob Earnshaw (taking the pic) are seen at their fundraising stall. On the second left can be seen Rotarian Graeme Dunnett who was in attendance to help Round Table in his final year with that club before they put him out to grass.

Once again Thurso audiences were enthralled by two concerts featuring the World renowned UP Concert Chorus. Their marvelous music and dance routines never cease to amaze with their fourth visit to the town being every bit as successful as earlier tours.

A rendition of Happy Birthday was given for Club President Murray Campbell. More accustomed to being surrounded by objecting footballers in his role as a referee Murray far preferred the attentions of a bevy of beautiful Philippinos.

Retiring President Bob Earnshaw passes on the chain of office to incoming president Murray Campbell

Ladies' Night speaker Bunty Gunn takes the applause of Thurso Rotary Club members and guests in the Pentland Hotel, Thurso. The former Radio and TV presenter showed her media skills in an excellent and often humorous presentation on the topic of Communication.

The Club checked the blood pressure of over 50 individuals as part of their Heart, Chest and Stroke Day. Some checked were very pleased they had taken up the offer!

In a an evening of relaxed fun and entertainment in the Mont Pleasant School Hall Miller Academy Primary School narrowly won the Thurso Rotary Club Quiz Cup for 2006. There was a close fought competition between Miller Academy and four other schools - Pennyland, Castletown, Halkirk and Mount Pleasant. The winners were in doubt until the final round and all five teams were separated by just a few points. After the Quiz the large and appreciative audience and the competing schools indicated their pleasure at such an enjoyable evening and their hope that the event will be repeated in 2007.

Above Quiz master Alan Sparling, President Bob Earshaw with the winning team and a motley Rotarian crew known as the adjudicators - John Owens, Ian Manson and Ronnie Johnstone (still determined to keep left!).

Andy Ford, Thurso High School PTA Chairman, and a group of pupils show President Bob Earnshaw and Community Committee Chairman Mike Potts around the new High School Mini-bus in acknowledgement of Thurso Rotary Club's donation to the Mini-bus fundraising effort.

Representatives of Thurso Rotary Club and Thurso Inner Wheel have presented cheques to the Dunbar Hospital, Thurso to assist in the development of the Day Care Centre at the hospital. The total monies raised at a bag packing day in Somerfield's store, Thurso came to a magnificent total of £1165 with £665 being the Rotary contribution and £500 the donation from Thurso Inner Wheel.

Left - Right: Murray Campbell, Rotary Vice President, Charge Nurse Barbara Millar, Trevor Williams, Rotary Secretary, Pat Lannon, Inner Wheel Secretary, Anne Manson, Inner Wheel Member, Staff NurseTina Suttar.

Thurso Rotary are flying in the Gavel Competion having to date beaten Wick and Stornoway in a triangular tournament held in Ullapool and more recently having defeated Dingwall in Thurso by the score of 33 -23. The games played were Dominoes, Draughts, Connect4, Jenga, Pool, Table Tennis and Indoor Curling. Team members: A.Sparling, J.Owen, B.Watson, L. Crawford, J.Simpson, S. Middlemas, F.Bremner, R. Gunn.

The Club now await the draw for the next round which is due to take place early February.

The Rotary Club of Thurso Burns Supper is one of the premier events on the west side of the county. It is always a sell out with over 100 attending this year in the Pentland Hotel. The speakers, and indeed the whole event, was up to usual high standard with some performance that can only be described as superb. Ken Murphy gave an enthralling note free immortal memory, one of the best ever heard by regular supper goers. Rotarian James Campbell toasted the lassies with his customary humour and Celia McDougall replied in similar fashion. The address to the haggis was performed with gusto and superb delivery by Alan Sparling. The singing of Mod Gold medalist Raymond Bremner was outstanding as was a contribution from Celia McDougall. Alan Plowman was piper for the evening and there cannot be many as skillful in the county. The Rotary Club always have Thurso Round Table members as their guests at this function and their Chairman has the duty of getting the evening off to a good start with the Selkirk Grace and Michael Dunnett certainly performed his task with confidence. The evening was rounded off with community singing and a fine vote of thanks by Rotarian John Hook. Finally a report would not be complete without mention of the significant contribution made to the evening by Rotary Vice-President Murray Campbell who chaired the supper. His chairmanship was excellent and humorous and interspersed with authoritive interjections, in keeping with his position as an top grade football referee, when the audience became more than enthusiastic as the evening wore on.

Thurso Rotary Club's All-Stars Charity concert was once again a roaring success with great music, a participative audience and over £1800 raised on the night for 'Sight Savers'. Below is a picture of one of the attractions, the Melvich Gaelic Choir.

The last of the Thurso Beach cleans takes place on 18th October. Rotarians have cleaned litter from Thurso beach throughout Spring, Summer and Autumn in 2005 so helping to make the local environment a safer and more pleasant place.

Rotary Club of Thurso

At a club meeting attend by a very large turnout of club members on 20th November David Grundy was inducted into the Club by President Paul Hagan.

Should bad weather cause cancellation of the event the fireworks display will take place on Saturday 8th but it will not be possible to have the bonfire that evening due to the time of the tides.

The Club's Family Night for members is to be held in the the Pentland Hotel on Thursday 18th December at 7.30pm.

The Burns Supper, one of the foremost in the Burns celebrations calendar, is to take place on Thursday 15th January 2004 in the Pentland Hotel.

BUT the good news is the lecture has been rescheduled for Tuesday 28th October at 7.30pm in the same venue.

Rotary Club of Thurso's first lady member, Carroll Buxton, joined the club at the regular Thursday meeting on 18th September 2003.

Last updated:Friday April 18, 2008