The Rotary Club of Aberdeen Balgownie meets in Aberdeen in Rotary District 1010, North Scotland. Click the map to go to the District 1010 website (in a new window).

The Club was formed in 1993 and currently has twenty nine members, many living or working within the Aberdeen suburb of Bridge of Don.

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Thomas Blake Glover

Bridge of Don was the home of Thomas Blake Glover, The Scottish Samurai, who was one of the founders of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd in Nagasaki, Japan. The house Thomas built for his parents on Balgownie Road, Bridge of Don, was given by Mitsubishi to the Thomas Blake Glover Trust, which has now handed over the running of the house to Aberdeen City Council. The Thomas Blake Glover House is open to the public during the summer months.

Every two years, the Rotary Clubs of Nagasaki and Nagasaki West provide a scholarship for a student from the University of Nagasaki to visit Aberdeen, hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Aberdeen Balgownie, Fraserburgh and Aberdeen. In alternate years, the Rotary Club of Aberdeen Balgownie helps provide a scholarship for a student from Aberdeen to visit Nagasaki.The main sponsorship for the Aberdeen-Nagasaki scholarship from 1998 to 2002 was provided by The Robert Gordon University. In 2004 the University of Aberdeen provided the main support. The Club is very grateful to the University of Aberdeen for continuing to support the Thomas Blake Glover Scholarship in 2006 and 2008.

Malcolm White, a fourth year medical student at the University of Aberdeen, was chosen by a joint University/Rotary interviewing team from over 50 applicants as the 2008 Thomas Blake Glover Scholar. The seventh Scottish winner of the scholarship, Malcolm will be leaving on Friday 4 July for his study tour to Japan, hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Nagasaki and Nagasaki West. On 23 June Lord Provost of Aberdeen Peter Stephen handed over a letter to the Mayor of Nagasaki to be delivered by Malcolm, continuing a tradition of friendly relations between the two cities.

The visiting 2007 Thomas Blake Glover Scholar from Nagasaki was Takayuki Mine, a 20 year old student at Nagasaki University. Takayuki is a keen rugby player and is interested in the publishing industry. His visit lasted from 23 August until 14 September 2007.

The Thomas Blake Glover Scholar for 2006 was Catriona Watt, who completed her third year of her studies in History and Anthropology at the University of Aberdeen in June 2007. Catriona's home is a croft in Banffshire and she left Aberdeen en route to Nagasaki on Monday 14 August 2006. Catriona's visit began with a welcome party laid on by the Rotary Clubs of Nagasaki and Nagasaki West - pictures (opens in new window).

Samurai armour and swords in Glover House

Malcolm White and Provost Stephen with letter for Mayor of Nagasaki, flanked by President Erik Stien and Judith Munro, 2002 Thomas Blake Glover Scholar and now a member of Balgownie Rotary

RYLA Scholars Presentation at Balgownie

The Rotary Club of Aberdeen Balgownie is proud to have sponsored two local youngsters from the Bridge of Don to allow them to attend the 2007 Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) courses in July at Abernethy, Speyside.

The two Rotary Youth Leadership Awards scholars gave a joint presentation at the Club Meeting on Thursday 27 September 2007 - an impressive double act which showed once again the benefits gained by young people who attend these leadership courses.

Jill McGrory (17), currently in sixth year at Oldmachar Academy, attended the girls’ week starting on 7 July 2007. Jill lives in Woodcroft Avenue and runs with Aberdeen Athletic Club; she hopes to become a teacher. Stuart Shand (16) who followed a week later is from Braehead Way and is now in fifth year at Bridge of Don Academy. He is a qualified first aider, a lance corporal in the local Boys Brigade, and his aim is to study medicine.

For the first time since the club started supporting RYLA scholars - this was the fifteenth successive year - the selection process was widened to include youth organisations as well as the two local secondary schools. The result was a significant increase in the number of applicants, Stuart being the first successful applicant to be nominated by a youth organisation, the Boys' Brigade. Stuart has already given a presentation to his local BB company and is sure that there will be more BB applicants in 2008.

"We had a tough job selecting candidates this year as no fewer than 9 youngsters were nominated by schools and local youth organisations for the two places which we fund. However the assessment reports we have received on Jill and Stuart have fully justified  our choice" said President Erik Stien.

Jill and Stuart share a common interest in piping, as both are members of the Bucksburn and District Pipe Band, and Stuart brought along his pipes to pipe in the meeting on 27 September as shown in the upper photograph.

The lower photograph shows Jill being presented with her RYLA award certificate for successfully completing the course

Presentation of Cheques for Sandwalk

The total sum raised by the 91 walkers who braved the elements on 24 June 2007 to walk from either Newburgh or Bridge of Don was £4 103.72, shared according to the preferences of the walkers as follows: ALEC £1,467.24, CLAN £2,018.74, Erskine £617.74.

Ron Falconer, Balgownie Junior Vice President, who chaired the Sandwalk committe for the 2007 event, said "In spite of the weather, we were very pleased to have increased the sum raised by more than £1,000 compared with last year, when the inaugural Sandwalk raised just over £3,000. We are very grateful to the 51st Highland Signals Unit of the Territorial Army for logistical support and radio backup as well as providing tents which gave much needed shelter at Balmedie. We are also indebted to Sarah Gosden, Country Park Ranger at Balmedie, for her valued assistance.

President Erik Stien of Aberdeen Balgownie said “we were delighted with the response of the public to this worthy cause and my fellow President Ian Morris of Ellon shares our pleasure in presenting the entire proceeds of the walk to representatives of the three charities”.

From left to right: Jim Porter (ALEC), Ron Falconer (chair of Sandwalk committee) Catherine Cowie (Erskine), Stewart Mitchell (Sandwalk Treasurer), Susan Crichton and Duncan Charles (CLAN), President Ian Morris (Rotary Club of Ellon).

Thomas Blake Glover Scholar Arrives

The 2007 Thomas Blake Glover Scholar, Takayuki Mine, arrived at Aberdeen Airport on Thursday 23 August, where he was met by President Erik Stien, International Chair Alister Robertson and International Vice Chair Rathin Khaund. He had a hectic programme of events and visits over the three weeks in which he was in Aberdeen.

The picture shows President Erik and Alister Robertson with Takayuki at the airport.

On Thursday 30 August, Taka met Lord Provost Peter Stephen at Aberdeen Town House.

Left-right: Raymond Massie, Judith Munro, President Erik Stien, Eileen Gibson, Graham Donaldson.

Balgownie Bridges Gender Gap

The Rotary Club of Aberdeen Balgownie elected its first two female members in August 2007.

Judith Munro was the Thomas Blake Glover Scholar in 2002, spending three weeks in Japan as a guest of Rotary Clubs in Nagasaki, and has kept in touch with the club since then. She has recently set up her own property letting business and sees Rotary as a way to grow both personally and professionally while also giving her the opportunity to participate in the work of Rotary at home and internationally.

Eileen Gibson has a strong background in the caring professions and aims to make use of her experience in supporting Rotary community initiatives. President Erik hopes that, now the gender gap has been bridged, more women will soon be encouraged to join the Rotary Club of Aberdeen Balgownie.

The Sandwalk Sunday 24 June 2007

91 participants on this sponsored walk for young and old braved very wet conditions when they walked from Newburgh to Balmedie (5 miles) or from Bridge of Don to Balmedie (6 miles). Thanks are due to First Aberdeen for providing buses to take walkers to their start point from Balmedie. The total sum raised was £4 103.72, shared according to the preferences of the walkers as follows: ALEC £1,467.24, CLAN £2,018.74, Erskine £617.74.

The annual Sandwalk, a joint venture with the Rotary Club of Ellon, this year supported walkers' choice of charities from ALEC, CLAN and Erskine. Read the Press and Journal report published on Monday 25 June 2007.

Kids Out Craibstone 13 June 2007

In a massive effort by many Rotarians from around Aberdeen, a rather damp Kids Out took place at Craibstone, where children with special needs took part in a wide variety of fun activities accompanied by teachers and support staff. Members from Balgownie were involved in planning and setting up the event, manning the pony riding and accompanying a group from Glashieburn Primary School.

Charity Race Night Friday 8 June 2007

The annual Charity Race Night took place in the Hilton Treetops Hotel, Aberdeen on Friday 8 June 2007. The proceeds will go to UCAN and to local and international charities and projects supported by Rotary International. Early indications were that at least £5 000 had been raised during a very successful evening enjoyed by all.

Primary School Quiz Westhill 12 May 2007

Leading at the start of a tense ten round quiz held in Westhill to determine the zonal champion, Upper Westfield our local "top team" from Bridge of Don finished within only a few points of the eventual winners Alford, who now go forward along with second-placed Crombie to the Distict finals in Dundee in June. All 14 teams competing received a certificate from District Governor Bill Leslie, who is shown presenting the certificates to the Upper Westfield team and their mascot.

BB Inspection 18 May 2007

President Elect Erik Stien was invited by 3rd Aberdeen Company of the Boys Brigade to be inspecting officer for their annual company inspection in St Columba's Church, which was well attended by parents and friends of the boys.

One of their number L/Cpl Stuart Shand was selected by our club to attend the annual Rotary Youth Leadership Adventure camp at the Abernethy Centre in July, where he will learn and practise the fundamentals of leadership with a group of some 40 outstanding 15-18 year olds nominated by Rotary clubs across the whole of Northern Scotland. However Stuart couldn't attend the inspection because of a commitment to play with Bucksburn Pipe Band, and so Erik is seen here with two officers and two of the other trophy winners

Brig of Balgownie from the North (Bridge of Don) end

Brig of Balgownie

The ancient Brig of Balgownie across the Don connects Bridge of Don with Old Aberdeen. The bridge was built in the fourteenth century and rebuilt in 1470. It is no longer used for vehicular traffic but it is still a popular spot for walkers.

President: Jack Archibald

Senior Vice President: Ron Falconer

Junior Vice President: Allan Thom

Immediate Past President: Erik Stien

Secretary: Graham Donaldson

Club Service: Ron Falconer

Treasurer: Stewart Mitchell

International/Foundation: Mike Daw

Community Service: Graham Low

Vocational/Youth Service: Alister Robertson

Charities: Chris Schenk

Outreach/Public Relations: Erik Stien