The Rotary Club of Dundee will achieve two milestones at its charity dinner tonight it will be the 25th such event, and marks its raising over £500,000 for local, national and international charities.
At tonight’s event in the Invercarse Hotel, 300 members and guests will be entertained by guest speakers George McNeil and Eric Davidson. MCs are Peter Martin, of Sky Sports, and club member David Adam, a well-known raconteur and after dinner speaker.
David, with fellow Rotarian and business partner Bill Christie, organised the first event after attending a pre-rugby international dinner at Prestonfield House, Edinburgh.
He said, “We realised a similar event in Dundee had the potential to raise far more money than the ‘cheese and wine’ fund-raising evenings, which typically raised £400.
“Our dinner, the first of its kind in Dundee, raised a more impressive £10,000.”
It will also mark the 25th anniversary of the continuous involvement of their major supporter, Dunhill. The first event coincided with the Alfred Dunhill Cup golf tournament and the company was invited to donate a raffle prize. It generously gave a limited edition watch, and has continued to donate this “star prize”, worth £1500-£2000, for every event since.
Initially a Sportsman’s Dinner, the event at its height drew more than 600 people to hear some eminent speakers, including Tony Jacklin and Gary Player, footballers Jimmy Hill, Bobby and Jack Charlton and Ian St John, and rugby legends David Leslie who helped to host and organise the event for many years and Gavin Hastings, as well as Irish stars Mike Gibson and Fergus Slattery.
Tonight’s two are George McNeil, world 110m record setter in 1970, and Eric Davidson, of Edinburgh Fringe hit show Rhymes and Misdemeanours.
David paid tribute to Dr Pat McPherson, a club member until his death in March 2008, who played a major role in the success of the charity dinners.