‘Family’ enjoy get-together for birthday of Inner Wheel
Rutherglen’s Inner Wheel Club marked their birthday in style last month.
The club turned 55, and had a special dinner at the King’s Park Hotel to mark the occasion.
T h e y w e re joined by representatives from their mother club in Hamilton, and their daughter club in Cambuslang for the dinner.
The birthday cake was cut by senior member Morag Whittle.Background music was provided by Alexander Maxwell on his keyboard. Alexander is a pupil at Hutcheson’s Grammar School, and is about to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
The speaker for the evening was Rt. Rev. Idris Jones, retired Bishop in Glasgow and Galloway of the Episcopal Church.
His theme was voluntary work and the charity sector, which were very appropriate as one of the objectives of Inner Wheel is ‘to encourage the ideals of personal service.’
The club look to their members being involved, at whatever level they can, in other organisations together with the club.
Although the Inner Wheel are not a fundraising organisation, the members interest themselves in voluntary organisations, locally, nationally and internationally and, through social events raise amounts to donate to chosen groups.
Rev Jones spoke of the basis of “charity” in the various religious bodies.
He related the modern translation of “love” in the New Testament to compassion and empathy, a necessary element in service in the voluntary sector and of commitment to others.
As a former Deacon Convenor of Trades House, he spoke of some of their involvement in charitable working in various areas of need throughout Glasgow and beyond for young and old.
He also spoke of the satisfaction of knowing that one can make a contribution, not necessarily of money, but of time, interest and skills as he had also been able to do in his time working full time for the church.
Members were very appreciative of his thoughts and felt that there had also been some encouragement for them for their other objectives, which are ‘to promote true friendship’ and ‘ to foster international understanding.”
These are easy to say but not always easy to put into practise.
Being the world’s largest voluntary organisation for women, stronger in some countries than in others, the Inner Wheel will remain ‘unique and united’.
Members are now looking forward to their National Conference for Great Britain and Ireland, which will be held at the SECC in Glasgow.