The speaker at the latest Rotary business lunch was past president and retired outward bound instructor Ron Gretton.
The theme of Ron’s talk was “interesting people I have met” and, in an absorbing 15-minute chat, her covered a lot of territory with some great stories along the way.
Ron’s quest for adventure began at the age of 14 when his Uncle Trevor enrolled him in the Adventure Club of Newport Corporation and resulting weekends away exploring caving systems and climbing mountains.
Before long, through the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme he met Doctor Kurt Hahn, founder of Gordonstoun School as well as Sir John Hunt who led the successful British expedition of the Ascent of Everest in 1953.
Moving into the 1970s, Ron helped crew the Lochaber Yacht Club entry in the Fastnet Yacht Race off southern Ireland and, while competing in the 1974 event, was caught in the two-day storm that destroyed Prime Minister Ted Heath’s yacht “Morning Cloud”.
Other interesting encounters included the Scottish politician the Right Honourable Alick Buchanan Smith (at Eriska), the double Olympic Gold medallist yachtsman Rodney Pattisson and Olympic Curling champion Rhona Martin who was guest speaker at the 135th anniversary of the Lochaber Curling Club and whose father had been manager of the Torlundy Lime Quarry many years earlier.
Ron also met the legendary trade union leader and activist Jimmy Reid from Govan who fought to save the Clyde shipbuilding industry in the 1970s.
President-Elect Malcolm MacRaild thanked Ron for his interesting and wide ranging talk and members responded with warm applause.
Following Ron’s talk, Past-President Paul Brian entertained members with an amusing memory from the annual am-am golf competition.
Although the tournament is always conducted in a light-hearted and friendly manner, it has been the largest fundraiser for the Rotary Club over the past 25 years.
Rotarians have always appreciated the support that they receive from the golf club committee and the generosity of all those club members who take part in the event.
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