Marafun Cheques Presentation 16 November 2011

100 local charities gathered in Elgin Town Hall  to receive £500 each from the funds raised by the 2011 Bell's Marafun City Centre Relay Race organised by Elgin Rotary Club.

The Main sponsor, Bell's, was thanked for its support as were all who helped the Club to to reach this incredible total.

Despite the financial climate the event raised a considerable sum which the club rounded up to ensure that each charity received a generous donation.

Elgin High School Garden Project

In March 2011, The Club assisted Elgin High School in clearing and replanting areas at the main entrance to the school. Click here for photographs

Japan Tsunami and Flood Relief

Once again the people of Moray have responded generously to Elgin Rotary Club's appeal for this enormous human disaster. As a result, the Club has been able to purchase 10 Shelterboxes (see below) which will be sent out to give temporary accommodation to those who have lost homes.

Secretary gets an award

Club Secretary Iain Jamieson is presented with a silver quaich by President Ian Davidson in recognition of his outstanding service to Elgin Rotary Club.

This annual award is voted for by Club Council members all of whom have benefitted from Iain's commitment to his role as Club Secretary. Iain takes on a mountain of work and keeps club members well informed through his 'Weekly Snips' newsletters with great efficiency, patience and good humour.

Bonfire & Fireworks Display: 6 November 2010

Elgin Rotary Club took over the organisation of the Elgin Cooper Park Bonfire & Firework display from Elgin Round Table this year. It was a steep learning curve for the Club members but they succeeded in putting on a memorable show which, some say, was the best ever seen in Elgin.

Princes Anne lunches with The Club

Honorary member of Elgin Rotary Club, HRH Princess Anne paid a visit to Elgin on Thursday and lunched with the members of the Elgin Club.

In a speech, she praised the work of the Club both at home with the Royal Marines Concert and Holding Hands for Heroes and overseas, especially in Nepal and said that Rotary played an important part internationally in bringing help to the poor and starving of the world through projects such as Polio Plus and that this benefit could be extended greatly by organisations working together to solve problems.

Club raises £22,800 for Help for Heroes.

Elgin Rotary Club President, Ian Davidson, presented a cheque for £22,800 to representatives of Help for Heroes at a recent lunchtime meeting.

The sum was raised by the sell-out Royal Marines' Concert on the 3rd September and the Holding Hands for Heroes event on the 12th September.

The President thanked all those who supported the events and those who worked hard to make them possible including concert organiser, Glen Elliot and sponsor Diageo and the Holding Hands team of Lawrence Fraser & Brodie Ross & sponsor, Robertsons.

The Digital Team

Rotarians, Donald Brown, Lester Hernden, Ian McCartney & David Sutherland, organised by Rotarian Brodie Ross, in St Giles shopping centre in Elgin where they volunteered to help with the digital switchover information campaign.  The help desk was available on the 8th & 9th, 22nd &23rd September.

Pakistan Flood Relief. After a successful street collection and a substantial private donation, Elgin Rotary Club has purchased 12 Shelterboxes costing £490 each to be sent to Pakistan.

These boxes (see right) contain a large tent, clothing, tools, cooking utensils, water purifying equipment, children's toys and other appropriate items. The Club wishes to express its thanks to all those who gave so generously.

Holding Hands for Heroes

On the 24th June 2010, President Graeme presented a cheque for £4100 to Jane Ferguson and Gordon Milne of Macmillan Cancer Support, watched by Senior Vice President Ian.

The funds were raised by a Fun Run in the Cooper Park and by 'Music in the Park' where Cantare and the Elgin Rotary Male Voice Choir entertained an enthusiastic audience in the Cooper Park in Elgin. These events were part of the Club's biennial MotorFun extravaganza.

Grateful thanks were given to all who helped raise this fantastic sum.

Rotary Presidential Citation

This prestigious award was presented by assistant District Governor Maureen Holmes to Elgin Rotary Club President Graham Archibald at the Club's Annual Assembly on 17 June 2010.

To qualify a club must complete an activity from 3 of 6 categories such as work with polio eradication, increasing membership, service to the community and leadership, to a standard set by the awards committee. The purpose of the award is to help clubs to focus on Rotary International's strategic plan of tackling health and hunger, literacy and water.

Rotary Male Voice Choir Sing at Music in the Park

Elgin Rotary Male Voice Choir helped Cantare ((below right) raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Care at a concert in the Cooper Park (see item above). Both choirs were grateful for the help given by local musicians.

Both choirs are trained and conducted by Jane Ferguson pictured with two choir members (above)

Connecticut Trophy

This annual trophy for international service has been awarded to District 1010, the north-east district of Rotary in Britain for the first time by Rotary International Britain & Ireland. This is in recognition of the work done for overseas charities by several clubs including Elgin Rotary Club with its water projects in Nepal.

Elgin Rotarian Dr Donald Brown (on the right) collected the trophy on behalf of the Club and its International Committee.

Stroke Awareness Blood Pressure Checking in Asda & Tesco 17th April 2010

A total of 398 people came forward to have their blood pressure checked with 98 being advised to have further checks at their Practice. The hope is that these people will avoid the disastrous results of living and perhaps dying with undetected high blood pressure; effects can include eyesight damage, kidney failure, heart failure and stroke.

The Club would like to thank Asda and Tesco staff, the nurses, doctors and others who helped to make the day a success.

Toposcope installation on Ladyhill

The Elgin Fund, set up by the first president of Elgin Rotary club in 1964 and which has continued its close associations with the Elgin Club, is to set up a toposcope, also known as a topograph, on top of Ladyhill in Elgin. The toposcope or topograph will consist of a brass plaque which will display the direction and distance to notable locations near and far around Elgin. It will be mounted on a stone slab and column at a total cost of £25,000, work to commence in May 2010.

The Elgin Fund was established to maintain the archaeological heritage of Elgin. It has been involved in the preservation and refurbishment of various buildings in Elgin High Street as well as work on lanes and wynds around the town including the reslabbing of the Plainstones in co-operation with Moray Council and St Giles Church and the erection of the Harrison Gate at the old entrance to the Cooper Park.

Polio Plus Boosts

Young Musician of the Year Competition 6th March 2010

11 local musicians and vocalists entered this competition which was be held in St Columba's Church Elgin.  The instruments included trumpet, violin, cello and piano.

Winners

Voice: Amy Gordon of Banff

Instrumental: Kirsten Mustard (Cello) Alves

Haiti

Thanks to the enormous generosity of the public, the Club raised the staggering sum of £7,690 which will enable the purchase of 15 ShelterBoxes which contain vital survival items such as a 10 person tent, bedding, tools, water purification equipment and even children's drawing crayons and paper.

The 28th Bothy Ballads Competition in Elgin Town Hall on 13th February 2010.

The Annual competition to find the 'Champion of Champions' was sponsored by The Macallan, Claymore Dairies and Duncan's of Deeside.

After an entertaining evening of close competition the eventual winner was Hector Riddell

Opposite top: Winner Hector Riddell received the Macallan Porage Bowl and Spoon from president Graeme and his wife

Opposite bottom: A group photograph of all the contestants 

Thanks for Life' Campaign 2010

Elgin Rotary Club erected a display in the St Giles Centre, a local shopping mall, to celebrate and inform the public about the work of the Club and Rotary International.

It shows Rotary International working to eradicate polio through 'Polio Plus' and the Club's involvement in training doctors from Romania, providing Disaster Boxes (see item on Haiti, above) and the Club's work with SightSavers and a host of other agencies and charities both local and international.

100 Charities benefit from Marafun's £54,000.

At a ceremony in Elgin Town Hall, on November 18th 2009 , 100 local charities received their share of the funds raised by the 2009 Marafun city centre marathon relay race.

The total raised was £54,056, a wonderful achievement by the runners, sponsors and helpers.

The Club has also been recognised by Rotary International Headquarters for its achievements. Click here to read more of the history of Elgin Rotary's Marafun.

The 10th Bell's Rotary Marafun is gone but not forgotten! Click here to read more or here to read the history of Elgin Rotary's Marafun.

The 10th Bell's Rotary Marafun is gone but not forgotten!

On the 7th of June 2009 the rain stopped, the sun came out and so did the spectators to support the competitors, stallholders and charities. Thanks to all who helped to make the day such a success.

The winners were Aberdeen Uni Old Guns in a new record time of 2:16:13 followed by Keith Builders Merchants, Keith & District AAC and Moray Road Runners, the former course record holders.

Click to download full Results as XL spreadsheet or PDF or view some photographs of the day.