EACH year, at the end of June, Rotary Clubs the world over elect a new President.

After another exceptional year, the Peebles Club’s President, Bob Milne, handed over the wheel to Jim Robertson on June 29.

The outgoing President thanked all the club members for their commitment, effort and support that made the last year such as a success.

During his presidency the club raised around £5,000 through street collections, supermarket bag packing, the annual pigeon race, internal raffles and other internal activities. The club also received many anonymous donations to support its local and international causes. The support and generosity of the people in and around Peebles was highlighted as a main contributor to the club’s success.

Much of the money raised has been given to local charities such as Peebles Youth Action, the Scouts and the Guides and Bonnie Peebles. The club was also able to provide much needed help to the Ebola crisis via Mary’s Meals and to the Nepal earthquake in the form of two Shelterboxes and one Aquabox Gold.

To support the education and development of the young, the club has managed to send two students from Peebles High School to the Rotary Youth Leadership Award event and support the Scottish Young Engineer competition where the Kingsland team achieved a highly commended second place.

The club also had a very enjoyable occasion when the French Rotary Club of Hendaye came to visit at the end of November last year. The two clubs are now twinned as are the towns.

The club has also worked closely with the neighbouring club of Innerleithen, Walkerburn and Traquair to facilitate the purchase and placement of benches along the new path between Peebles and Innerleithen.

When taking on the presidency, Jim Robertson said: “First of all I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate President Bob on his year in office. When you consider the workload he had to contend with, both in his professional and Rotary life, he had probably the hardest task of any President for some time. A Minister, a Moderator and a President of a Rotary Club, that’s some going. Bob, you will step down leaving the club in good heart, I and all the members congratulate and thank you for that. I shall try my best to inspire the club to maintain the rotary ethos of 'Service above Self’.” The club is now looking forward to a new successful year.