East Kilbride Rotary Club

17/07/2026

At the Club handover meeting last Friday, outgoing President Dan Banks welcomed members, honorary members and their guests. Before handing over the reigns to incoming President John Murphy, President Dan thanked members for their support during the last your and outlined the Clubs many achievements before he invited our newest member Eleanor, to read the Four Way Test and the Objects of Rotary. Following handing over to our 2026/27 President John outlined his hopes for the Club during the year

21/06/2026

The Rotary Club of East Kilbride celebrated its 60th anniversary on Friday 20th April, when members, past members and guests came together and celebrated. The Club was delighted that District Governor Brenda Waugh and her mother Margaret, DGE Callan and Lorna Dick and Assistant Governor James Gibbons and his wife Katriona were all able to join us for the evening, with Rotarians from other Rotary Clubs, including three who made the journey from Leyland in Lancashire to be with us. The definite highlight of the evening was when President Dan Banks presented a very surprised Jim Anderson with a Paul Harris Fellowship award.

In May, the Club welcomed Phil Glennie back to the Club, this time to talk about his experiences with the Braemar Mountain Rescue team, one of the 26 volunteer mountain rescue teams in Scotland. Phil gave a fascinating insight on the work mountain rescue teams do and the valuable and sometimes dangerous situations they endure to locate and get to safely those who get into trouble in our mountains. More recently, the Club heard from Lesley Mcilhaggar who told the fascinating story of Wojteck, a 500 pound bear adopted as a mascot to boost morale by Polish solders during World War 11. Wojteck was conscripted into the Polish Army and fought with them through Palestine and eventually ended up in Italy at the battle of Monte Casino where he carried ammunition to help resupply the troops. He was promoted to Corporal and finally ended up in Scotland at Edinburgh Zoo where he remained for the rest of his life. He passed away on the 2nd December 1963 at the age of 21.
Our last speaker for the Rotary year was Julie Iotna from Parkinsons Scotland, who explained there were over 45 Scottish groups giving friendship and support for people, and their family, who live with Parkinsons. Julie showed a short video about one specialised program which takes place in Dundee, where those with Parkinsons are able to use specially adapted bikes and trikes. The joy seen on one gentleman’s face when he was able to ride a trike round the room affected all who saw the video.

We now look forward to our handover which, for various reasons, will be on 10th July, when President Dan Banks hands over to President Elect John Murphy.

30/03/2026

March has certainly been a busy month for East Kilbride Rotarians. The month's events started with the Club undertaking their fourth tree planting in the town, this time in the Greenhills area. They were ably assisted on this occasion by pupils from South Park Primary School.

On 6th March we welcomed Moira Bell from South Lanarkshire Council's Social Work Department who updated the Club on how the toys bought for our 2025 Toys for Kids Christmas appeal were distributed. The conversation turned to Easter Eggs and shortly afterwards, Rotarians Jim Anderson and John Murphy delivered 300 Easter Eggs to families known to the Social Work Department.

The following week, the Club were delighted to welcome Seamus Grant, Major Gifts Officer for The Rotary Foundation to the club meeting on 13th March when he was able to explain the different gifting opportunities for Foundation. President Dan Banks and Past Presidents Rod and Kath Shanks were also able to meet Seamus again at the District conference taking place on 14th and 15th March at the Normandy Hotel in Glasgow.

20th March saw the Club's annual Quiz Night taking place under the able direction of Quiz Master Alistair Neill. Monies raised from the Quiz go towards our Toys for Kids Christmas appeal. Approximately £400 was raised on the night.

26/02/2026

The coins collected from the Club's Wishing Well in the James Heritage Park are used by the Club to help individuals and groups in East Kilbride with specific projects. Earlier today, President Dan Banks and Treasurer Ian Craig were delighted to be able to hand over a cheque for £500 to the school's jazz band. The jazz band will be performing at Disneyland Paris in June this year. They will also be taking part in the Disney Performing Arts Programme during their stay in Paris.

24/02/2026

East Kilbride Sea Cadets need help! Anyone looking for a new challenge and who wants to support young people to give them a better start in life, why not give the Sea Cadets a try. Contact [email protected], they'll be delighted to hear from you.

17/02/2026

Calling all Quiz fans!

East Kilbride Rotary are holding a Quiz Night on Friday 20th March at the SMT Club, Maxwell Drive, East Kilbride. All proceeds from the Quiz to go towards the Club's Annual Toys for Kids at Christmas appeal. Teams of four, at £10 person. Quiz questions will be in the capable hands of Alistair Neill. For more information, or to enter a team, contact 07976 413596 or 07809 304721.

16/02/2026

A Zoom call enabled club members to welcome Ian Parker PHF to the Club last Friday. Ian, a member of Plymouth Roborough Rotary Club gave a most interesting and thought provoking presentation on Literacy in a Box, the vision of Forbes Watson, a member of the Plymouth Club who visited Zambia on holiday. The belief that every child has the right to an education led the Club to send two boxes containing enough school equipment for 25 primary aged children to South Luangwa Valley in 2006. Since then, the Club has sent more than 800 boxes to Zambia as well other countries where the need is as great. The current cost of the box, its contents and its sending to Zambia is £395.

As well as sending boxes, the Plymouth Club in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Faversham, have been involved in helping to improve the condition of the Taonga Community School in Lusaka. The school, when the Rotary Clubs were first involved, had only one toilet for the 600 pupils. This led to an improvement project which included the building of four new toilets, reroofing and refurbishing the school. This work is still ongoing.

After answering questions, President Dan Banks thanked Ian on behalf of the Club.

04/02/2026

East Kilbride Rotary Club are holding their annual Burns competition for primary schools in East Kilbride on 9th March 2026. Entry forms are now available for pupils in P4/5 and P5/6 in verse speaking, singing and instrumental competitions. Winners in each discipline in each P4/5 and P5/6 competitions go forward to the Lanarkshire round of Robert Burns World Federation Schools competition, and, if successful there, to a National final.

Email [email protected] for more information.

03/02/2026

The Club welcomed Kevin Simpson, the CEO of Malawi Fruits, to the meeting last Friday. Malawi Fruits is a Scottish charity who work with partners in Malawi to establish and grow sustainable community businesses. The charity, formed in 2011, provides start up finance, training and support to smallhold farmers to see their farms as businesses. Kevin gave an excellent presentation on how on the charity's work has reduced poverty and improved the lives of farmers. Perhaps what best illustrated of the difference the charity is making to lives was the story of a farmer who, when was first involved in the charity lived in a hut with a grass roof which meant the floor was literally mud during the rainy season. After being involved for some years, the farmer's hut now has a tin roof. President Dan Banks on behalf of the Club, thanked Kevin for his most interesting presentation.

23/01/2026