ALF BUCHANAN TROPHY, SCOTS SLAVES, AND GRANTHAM ROTARY CLUB.
Never in the history of Donaghadee Rotary Club have so many guests been introduced to so many members by the President as occurred at the weekly meeting on 13.3.08. President Garth Arnold introduced President Yvonne Mercer President of Donaghadee Ladies Probus, Treasurer Eileen Wilkinson, Jonathan Clarke and his mother Mrs Clarke, Mrs Adgey from Regent House School, President Stephen Short and ten other members of Grantham Rotary Club. President Stephen said it was a privilege to come over and visit Donaghadee Rotary Club. He said that they had received a fantastic welcome and thanked the Donaghadee members who had acted as guides that afternoon on their trip up the Antrim coast. Banners were then exchanged.
President Garth then for the benefit of the visiting Rotarians gave the history of the Alf Buchanan Memorial Youth Trophy. The late Alf Buchanan was a founder member of Donaghadee Rotary Club. He was a Past President in 1998/9. Alf was well known as a lover of his fellow man and much of his life, was involved in the juvenile justice system which culminated in him being appointed as Director of Care at Rathgael Juvenile Justice Centre. He was a skilled negotiator and had a particular knack in empathising with young people. Sadly, at the end of his year as club President Alf was diagnosed with cancer and died the following year. It was felt that a fitting tribute would be the creation of the Alf Buchanan Memorial Youth Trophy which would be awarded annually to a worthy recipient of a youth orientated club project. Rotarian John Kane then introduced this year’s winner Jonathan Clarke from Regent House School. Jonathan was the best of the 10 candidates who took part in Donaghadee rotary Club’s heat of The Youth Leadership Development Programme. As well as the trophy Jonathans school received a cheque from the club. Jonathan thanked the club for the experience and the opportunity to develop his interview skills. The guest speaker was Harry Allen, well-known local historian and author. Rotarian Billy Hamilton thanked Harry for his talk. He pointed out that Grantham had another older connection with Donaghadee as the mail coach stopped at The George Coaching Inn Grantham on its way from London to Donaghadee. President Garth thanked the eleven members from Grantham for visiting Donaghadee and hoped that they had enjoyed their visit. He presented their President with a picture of Donaghadee as a memento of the visit. |
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