Lockerbie and District Rotary Club

02/06/2026

Rotarian and Manager of the Eskrigg Nature Reserve, Jim Rae was speaker at last Mondays meeting. His subject was the “Fascinating World of Fungi”, and having identified over 303 species in the Reserve, he was ideally placed to talk about the role fungi play in the natural world.

In his usual fact-filled power-point presentation, Jim outlined the relationships between fungi and their host. Fungi are among nature`s main decomposers. These are the saprophytes. Those fungi which feed off living organisms, are classed as parasites. Then there are fungi with a very positive relationship with living plants and trees in particular, an association known as mycorrhiza. They get energy from the plant and in return, the tree obtains nitrogen and phosphorus generated by the fungal action in the soil. Fungi can also spoil food, damage crops, and cause disease in plants and animals, including humans.

We recognise fungi as mushrooms, but the parts above ground represent only the reproductive part, the fruiting body, which produces millions of spores. The major structure is underground or under tree bark, a fine network of hyphae, forming a tangled mat called a mycelium which can be extensive.
Jim went on to discuss the enormous variety and classes of fungi, the two main ones being Pore fungi and Gill fungi. Many fungi are edible, but it is essential that anyone foraging and eating fungi knows what species they are dealing with.

Boletes, one of the most common Pore fungi in the Eskrigg Reserve were almost wiped out by a Bolete eating fungus in 2021 and 2022. The clear out of woodland devastated by storm Arwen in 2021, resulted in much of the fungal underground mycelia being destroyed and Jim has seen much fewer mushrooms in the reserve. But his talk did stimulate a much better understanding of the place of fungi in the natural world. After an interesting Q & A session, a comprehensive vote of thanks was given by Ian Sloan.

Meanwhile, June is a busy month for Rotarians with the Rotary KidsOut National Fun day, taking place next week, a major event hosted at SRUC Barony Campus at Parkgate and organized collectively by local Rotary Clubs - Lockerbie & District Rotary Club, Dumfries RC, Dumfries Devorgilla RC, Annan & District RC and Thornhill & District RC - the event provides a memorable day of “fun and adventure” and a positive experience for children in supported learning from local schools.

The Lockerbie Club is also supporting the local Gala events next week with prizes for the shop window displays and support for the Monday night Gala football tournament.

23/04/2026

Rotary Alan Carmichael and Tasmania 20.04.26

On Monday evening, our Speaker was Rotarian Alan Carmichael who delighted in telling us the story of his recent trip to visit his two daughters who now live in Tasmania. This is not the first time visiting this beautiful and distinct island and he and wife Jeanette were keen to explore much of he island. He spoke at length of their trip to George Town on the north coast of the island, on the River Tamar. There, they visited the Bass and Flinders Maritime Museum and learned of the two Lincolnshire boys who had joined the British Navy in the 1790s. George Bass was a surgeon’s mate and Matthew Flinders a midshipman. On board HMS Reliance they struck up a friendship and arrived at Sydney Cove in September 1795. At that time, Australia was called New Holland and Tasmania was called Van Diemen’s Land and thought to be part of Australia, not a separate island. Bass and Flinders shared a hunger for discovery and exploration and with financial support from Governor Hunter of New South Wales, they undertook numerous expeditions down the coast of NSW charting sites for further settlements. The sloop “Norfolk” was built by convicts on Norfolk Island. Built of Norfolk Island Pine, it was prone to rotting, splitting and although caulking was used, the vessel leaked badly. But this vessel was assigned to Bass and Flinders in October 1798 and they verified the existence of a strait between New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land by circumnavigating the island in 1798.

To acknowledge the achievements of Bass and Flinders and what they did for the development of Tasmania, Bern Cuthbertson, a local Mariner and fisherman built a replica of the Norfolk and re-enacted their epic voyage. The beautiful replica is now stored in the museum even though it meant that the roof had to be taken off the building to do so.

Alan was warmly thanked by President Tom McGuiness for a most interesting talk about his trip and the insight into the history of Tasmania.

The Rotary Club is holding a Spring Sale this Saturday 25th April, between 09.00am and 12.30am at Barony Farm Foods, Laverock Hall Road Lochmaben, by kind permission. On sale will be various wood products along with an assortment of flowers and vegetable plants. These products are the result of the joint venture between Lockerbie and District Rotary Club, HMP Dumfries, James Jones and Sons Ltd., and the McDermid Supply Company. Please come along and support our efforts. All monies go to support local groups and charities.

Next month we are holding our annual “Walk the Walk”, around the Castle Loch, Lochmaben on Sunday 17th May This is a chance for local groups, teams, or organisations to raise money for their preferred charity or organisation. There is No Entry Fee. Over the years, this Walk has raised over £80,000 for local groups. Register at WalkTheWalk2026.eventbrite.com

03/04/2026

Rotary Report of Talk by George Trudt 30.03.26

Vice President Ivan Kennedy conducted the business of the evening before introducing speaker Rotarian George Trudt. George’s subject was the inns of Lockerbie, and through his intense interest in the history of the burgh, and its hostelries, he was well qualified to do so. In his own inimitable style he gave us a talk laced with personal reminiscences and historical detail.

He noted the principal coaching Inns and the Toll houses with many years of history, but also the more recent Public Houses and bars associated with the many sports clubs which grew up in the town. He noted that in 1850s there were some 16 hostelries in the town, and many others dotted in the countryside.
The Kings Arms dates back to about 1714 and George could have a whole chapter on the rich history within its walls. Bonnie Prince Charlie had stayed there as had Sir Walter Scott. More recently, Bing Crosby in the late 1960s and Giant Haystacks needed an extra bed when he stayed. The Blue Bell, also known as the “Big Hoose” was established in 1789 under Isaac Mullender. It was a coaching inn and was associated with Joe Graham who ran the Annandale hounds from the late 1840s. They had stabling for 30 horses and up to 30 hounds would sometimes be there.

The Black Bull Inn was also established about that time close to Flosh Meadow and was associated with the French POWs billeted in Lockerbie post the Napoleonic War. Charles III stopped by the Black Bull when he was Prince Charles. The Royal Bar, close by, once boasted hotel accommodation. Lockerbie Railway Station was opened in 1847 and would have had some restaurant and refreshment facilities for travelers. The Station Square later served as a rest spot for busses on the A74 and the Rex Restaurant was a licensed premises in the 1970s.

The Townhead Hotel was a Toll house at the entrance to Lockerbie and there was a Jeannie McGowans Inn on Townhead Street

On the High Street, there was the Globe Inn (which is where the former Royal Bank building Stands), the George Inn north of Market Square, The Ewe and Lamb and the Spur. The Crosskeys Inn was up what is now Bridge Street. Further down the High Street is the Crown Hotel founded in 1825. Again, a Posting House, and it had a Brewery across the road in in a cattle and horse market later to become the Crown Motor Works. And there were many fond memories of the Beveridge family. Further down on Main Street there was the St Mungo Inn established in the mid 1800s. There was also a Toll Bar at Nether Place.

Going back to the great days of the Lammas Fair and the great Sheep sales in Lockerbie, there were several other coaching inns outside the town such as Dinwoodie Green. Dinwoodie Lodge was a shooting lodge before becoming a hotel. Other house were converted post-war into hotels, such as Dryfesdale House, (Former Manse of Dryfesdale), Lockerbie House, Somerton House, the Queens, formerly Broombush and the Ravenshill Hotel on Dumfries Road. Add to that number the licensed premises in the clubs established post war. The Ice Rink, The Golf Club, the Bowling Club, The MACC founded in the 1950s.

As was noted, it was safer to drink ale than water in those days. John Carpenter gave a fulsome vote of thanks to George for his most interesting and illuminating talk on old Lockerbie.

06/12/2025

The wooden Christmas trees and bird boxes are available now (until 1pm on Saturday) at Barony Country Foods in Lochmaben.

If you missed them on Saturday and would like to buy a tree or bird box send us a message.

05/12/2025

02/12/2025

Wooden Christmas trees (some with shelves for baubles or candles) for sale. Also bird boxes.

Prices from £5 to £20.

Available to browse or for collection from Barony Country Foods, on Glebe St, Lochmaben, on Saturday 6th December 11am - 1pm.

All proceeds will go to Lockerbie Rotary’s funds to support their charities, causes and projects.

(Thanks to AI for the seasonal backdrop)

30/11/2025

Come along and see Santa as he tours Lochmaben and Lockerbie - with a little help from 9th Dumfriesshire - Lockerbie Scout Group and Lockerbie and District Rotary Club! Details below....

Lockerbie and District Rotary Club and 9th Dumfriesshire - Lockerbie Scout Group are bringing the much loved Santa Run to Lochmaben and Lockerbie next week!

Lochmaben - Tuesday 2nd December from 16:30

Lockerbie - Wednesday 3rd December from 16:30

Lockerbie - Thursday 4th December from 16:30

Santa will have a live tracker on his sleigh (once the IT elves get it sorted) and you can follow his progress here: https://santa.lockerbiescoutgroup.org.uk

(Santa and his sleigh are weather dependent and times are approximate).

24/11/2025

Rotary Jim Rae Moth Talk 17.11.25 - edited

Members had a treat on Monday evening when their own Jim Rae gave a talk on Macro-moths at Eskrigg Reserve and illustrated it with his own photographs.

​ During the last 36 years, Jim has been trapping moths at Eskrigg Nature Reserve, almost as long as he taught Biology at Lockerbie Academy. After retiring, he has been able to focus more on studying moths at the reserve and has identified roughly 360 of Scotland's 1,500 macro and micro moth species on the reserve. Moths belong to the family Lepidoptera, which includes butterflies and moths. While there are some 59 species of Butterfly in the UK, there are around 2500 resident species of moth in the UK and as you can imagine, with that number, there is an amazing amount of diversity. Some fly only at night and some by day, while others fly at both times.

​All members of Lepidoptera, go through the egg, larva, pupa and adult stages. The larva is the feeding stage. Some moth larvae have very specific food plants while others have very varied diets. The adult stage is simply the reproductive stage, mating and laying eggs. Moths are divided into Macro-moths and Micro-moths and of the 1500 or so Scottish species Jim has photographed about 225 at Eskrigg. To trap them he usually sets up 3 light traps, two small heath traps and a larger one with a mercury vapour lamp. The following days are spent identifying and photographing them. Some escape before they can be logged and photographed and many, such as the Pug moths with over 50 different British species, can be very difficult to identify. Jim illustrated his talk with beautiful photographs of the macro-moths he had found on the reserve, and introduced us all to the beauty, diversity and amazing colours used for merging with their habitats. All of which added to the complexity of identification. Pictures of some of the larvae also showed the great variation there.

​The talk illustrated to members that moths are a very important and overlooked species in our ecosystem. They are fundamental for the livelihood of many types of wildlife. Many birds rely on specific larvae to feed their young, while others such as bats, feast on the adults. Increasingly, scientists are realising that moths play a vital role in measuring the health of our environment. ​

At the close, Jim was warmly thanked by Past President Ivan Kennedy for a most enlightening introduction to the world of moths.

14/11/2025

Post removed

08/11/2025

Rotary Nith Inshore Rescue Visit 20.10.25

Last Monday night, in place of the usual meeting, the Club and friends made a visit to the Nith Inshore Rescue facility at Glencaple. After a fine High Tea in the Nith Hotel we were welcomed to the NIR station by Chairman, Peter Bryden. The mission statement declares that their aim is to protect life and property under threat from the sea, inland water, flooding and other related incidents in the Uper Solway and surrounding area. It is an independent lifeboat facility, one of many around the coast of Britain who are not part of the RNLI. All lifeboats, whether RNLI or independent, come under the control of the Coastguard and NIR carry out the same frontline search and rescue duties. It is manned by a cross generational team of volunteers who undergo training and development on a constant basis.

Peter gave members a short history how the NIR came into being following a disaster in the winter of 1981/82, when locals could only watch on helplessly as the Nith claimed the life of a man caught on a sandbank. The local people determined that Glencaple should have its own rescue boat based in the village. A massive fund-raising effort swung into action with private individuals and local businesses donating generously. A former car showroom on the banks of the Nith was acquired as a base and since then has had to be extended. to accommodate the equipment which the team now possesses. Again, this was generously funded by grants, and from businesses and individual and local people. The team needs some £30,000 annually.

Members were shown the mobile unit which comprised the Ineos Grenadier attached to a rib on a very well equipped trailer that could be swiftly delivered to a launch site nearest to any incident. The vehicle was equipped with radio equipment sufficient to act as a base or control room for an incident. The main recuse boat was ready for action attached to the newly acquired launch tractor they obtained through Lloyds, Dumfries. Peter showed us the Control room and everyone was impressed by the equipment, quality and capability and the also the quality of the clothing they had. As night fell, we were also able to test the capability of the night vision goggles.

All in all it was a very worthwhile visit and everyone lauded the efforts made by all at the facility. How reassuring it must be for all to know that such a well equipped team is at hand on the Nith should an emergency present itself.

At the close, Rotarian Alan Carmichael who had facilitated the visit gave a very well deserved vote of thanks to Peter and his team.