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Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country’s west central lowlands. A person from Glasgow is known as a Glaswegian, which is also the name of the local dialect.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Glasgow grew to a population of over one million,and was the fourth-largest city in Europe, after London, Paris and Berlin. In the 1960s, large-scale relocation to new towns and peripheral suburbs, followed by successive boundary changes, have reduced the current population of the City of Glasgow unitary authority area to 580,690,[2] with 1,199,629 people living in the Greater Glasgow urban area. The entire region surrounding the conurbation covers approximately 2.3 million people, 41% of Scotland’s population.
Rotary International District 1230, with 56 Clubs, covers much of the West of Scotland, including the City of Glasgow, Argyllshire, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Inverness-shire, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Stirlingshire and Wigtownshire.
The Team
Alex Blair, Team Leader
I’m Alex Blair, team leader and currently Assistant Governor in District 1230. I have 11 clubs in my area. Nine are on, or close to, the coast of the Firth of Clyde and two are on Islands, Arran and Bute. |
I worked in the telecommunications industry for 35 years but now I run a small Environmental Trust specialising in local community improvement projects. I also have fun doing a little TV and flm extra work, and teaching basic computing. I’m married to Kate and have two daughters, Gillian (34), Fiona (32), and a grandson Daniel (11). I’m something of a perpetual student. After working as an engineer for most of my career, I changed track, graduating with a degree in Psychology and Computing from the Open University in time for my 50th birthday.
I live in Kilwinning on the river Garnock. It was the first fording place upriver from the sea and where building of the local Abbey was frst recorded in 1171. Today there is growing speculation of links between the Kilwinning Abbey and the Holy Grail. In my younger days my main interest was sailing, all round the west coast of Scotland, one of the most beautiful cruising areas in the world. Today my principal hobby is curling. I also edit a Journal for Largs & North Ayrshire Family History Society. My own family history research has taken me back through fve generations, mainly fisherman, and all of these Blair’s born within a 15-mile radius of my home.
From what I’ve heard and impressions gained from the New Zealanders I’ve met, the Scots and the Kiwis appear to have a similar sense of humour and a shared love of life. I’m looking forward to discovering this for myself.
Sponsor Club: Ardrossan and Saltcoats
Website: http://www.three-towns-rotary.info
Lindsay Eddleston, Team Member
Hi, my name is Lindsay Eddleston. I am 31 years old, and I’m from Kilmarnock, a small town in East Ayrshire which is just a short distance away from the birthplace of our national poet Robert Burns, and approximately 20 miles south of Glasgow.
I currently work for Glasgow City Council, Scotland’s largest local authority, as a Human Resources Offcer, and have been in this role for over three years. My job largely involves providing a strategic and advisory function to the various service HR teams across the Council. This includes ensuring that the Council is compliant with employment legislation, and reviewing our policies and terms and conditions in line with best practice. I have worked in the HR feld for approximately 7 years, largely in public sector organisations, and I very much enjoy the variety that my job brings - no two days are the same. I am currently a Chartered Member of my professional body, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and hope to upgrade to Chartered Fellow in the next 2-3 years.
Outside of work, I enjoy playing badminton and going to the gym, and I regularly participate in Body Combat classes, a blend of martial arts and aerobics originating from New Zealand. I am also a keen reader, and enjoy going to concerts, comedy shows and the theatre.I am looking forward to fnding out more about New Zealand’s culture, way of life and traditions. I am also interested to learn about employment rights in New Zealand, and how HR practitioners apply these within organisations.
Marie Gannon, Team Member
My name is Marie Gannon and I am 31 years old. I have been living in Glasgow for the last 12 years although I still consider a small island in the North West region of Scotland as my true home. I was born and brought up in a village called Portree on the Isle of Skye. Skye is renowned for its rugged landscape, breathtaking scenery and peaceful way of life. My mum and big brother are still living there and it is my dream to move back one day.
I graduated in 2000 with a BA in Community Arts and went on to study for a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management. It wasn’t until I took an opportunity with VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas), working and living in Russia, that I discovered my niche in the professional world. I have been a learning & development professional for the last 7 years and currently am the Senior Learning Development Offcer for Youth Justice Services in Glasgow City Council’s Social Work Department. My remit includes - identifying training needs, designing appropriate training solutions and the delivery of training courses and seminars. I thoroughly enjoy my job and like working for Glasgow City.
Outside of work I enjoy being energetic with a passion for hill walking, running and mountain biking. I also love experimenting in the kitchen and enjoy both cooking and baking.
During my time in New Zealand I hope to be able to meet fellow Youth Justice professionals and share best practice about ethos, interventions and outcomes. I hope also to learn more about the country and share in some of the amazing cultural experiences that New Zealand has to offer!
Sponsor Club: Kelvin
Email me:
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Neil MacDougall, Team Member
I am Neil MacDougall, I’m 30 years old and a police officer based in the town of Kirkintilloch on the north eastern outskirts of Glasgow. I live in the city of Glasgow with my partner Zoe but I am originally from a small village in highland Perthshire called Dunkeld. My parents still live in the village and I have two brothers and a sister who all stay in various parts of Scotland. My eldest brother is also a police officer, a detective sergeant, and my father, who is now retired was one too – so policing has become the family business.
When not patrolling the streets of Glasgow, I enjoy outdoor activities including hillwalking, golf and, my favourite pastime, snowboarding - and I head for the slopes at every opportunity. I also like to try new activities where possible so I am up for giving most things a go. I am currently a community police officer with specifc responsibility for two villages, which presents a different set of challenges from working in Glasgow city itself. I enjoy the operational, front-line aspects of the job which are both challenging and rewarding, but also look to work with our partner agencies and develop strategies to tackle the issues in the community and wider area. Having taken the opportunity to travel in the past, between studying and joining the police service, I am very much aware of the benefts travel can bring.
In addition I look forward to the unique opportunities for personal development available through GSE and to making the most of this experience.
Lesley McLellan, Team Member
My name is Lesley McLellan, I’m 29 and live in Glasgow. I grew up in the town of Greenock which is approximately 30 miles to the west of Glasgow and famous for its industrial history of ship building and sugar refning. I chose to study geology at The University of Glasgow due to a keen interest, which developed from a childhood hobby. I subsequently obtained a postgraduate Diploma in Geotechnical Engineering to broaden my skills available to the industry. So far my career of approximately 7 years has taken me from a multi-national corporation to an independent consultancy, during which time I progressed from graduate engineer to project manager. I am currently employed by Glasgow City Council as a Geotechnical Engineer Offcer and thoroughly enjoy contributing to an organisation which develops the City in which I live. I am both office and site-based, I love that my work involves outdoor working although I’m frequently standing ankle-deep in mud in the pouring rain!
Music is my main passion amongst many things. I’m an active person enjoying the gym, badminton and, lately, gardening. I thoroughly enjoy being creative and have recently acquired jewellery-making skills. I consider this to be a unique opportunity to share my skills and develop new ones to apply to my career in the future - both technically and personally. New Zealand is famous for its active geological processes and will therefore be an exciting place for me to learn first-hand about aspects of my profession. I am honoured to be part of the GSE program and cannot wait to embark on this opportunity of a lifetime.
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