Inner Wheel Club of Elgin disbands after more than 70 years
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THE Inner Wheel Club of Elgin has folded after more than 70 years in the community.
Twenty-one members met for the final time at Elgin Golf Club on Tuesday, June 21, before disbanding, after 72 years, due to difficulty attracting fresh blood.
At the final meeting, senior members – including Shelagh, who has been involved with the Inner Wheel Club for 56 years – told of their memories with the group.
The Inner Wheel originally met at Gordon Arms Hotel on Elgin High Street for afternoon tea back in 1950. The club's first president was Florence Shiach.
After meetings, ladies were often seen leaving the hotel and walking along the street wearing their hats and gloves.
Meetings were also held in the Park House Hotel, as well as other venues around town, before they were finally held at Elgin Golf Club.
Fundraising was at the heart of everything the club did. It was raising cash for local causes right until the very end – even giving the last £159 from their closing bank account to Moray Food Plus.
In the years leading up to its folding, the club raised thousands for charity. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, the Inner Wheel Club raised £1170 for the Disasters Emergency Appeal.
A yearly donation was given to Water Aid, while more than £4500 had been raised for Forres Hydrotherapy Pool, K9 Partners, Logan's Fund, CHAS, Marie Curie, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and Moray Food Plus since 2018.
The group has been forced to fold due to a lack of new members, former president Maureen McLeod said.
"It has been increasingly difficult to recruit younger members," she explained.
"The club was no longer able to function. There were no members to take on the presidency. All paperwork regarding the disbandment of the club has been completed."
On the last meeting, Maureen added: "I enjoyed speaking to senior members of the club and hearing some of their memories.
"We were all so delighted to see Shelagh who has been unable to join us for a while. It was very special to have her with us.
"Over the years, the Elgin Club has supported many charities, both locally and internationally, continually fundraising and making donations to chosen charities – and also supporting appeals in emergency situations as they arose.
"Fun and friendship is paramount to the Inner Wheel. Here in Elgin that has been abundant.
"We have enjoyed so many interesting and amusing speakers at meeting over the 72 years and have enjoyed a lot of entertainment provided locally.
"It's so very sad to see the Inner Wheel Club of Elgin ceasing to continue with the good work which has been achieved over the past 72 years.
"Many lasting friendships and memories have been made. Members have always been there to help and support each other as the occasions arose.
"The Inner Wheel of Elgin will be a big miss to many."
Members of the Inner Wheel have also enjoyed trips to the Falkirk Wheel, as well as visits from The Dotty Crotchets. Group members hope to continue to meet for coffee regularly.
