THE new president of Cowdenbeath Rotary Club is former Central Fife Times editor Jim Stark.

He was installed at last Thursday’s meeting, held at the club’s Wee Jimmies base in High Street, by immediate past president, Maureen Cuthbertson.

Jim underlined that 2022-23 is an important year for the Cowden Rotarians, as the club approaches its centenary celebrations.

Jim, now semi-retired but still contributing stories to the Times after spending 31 years in charge of the paper, said: “I am delighted to be given the chance to be president of Cowdenbeath Rotary Club for a second time.

“It was in 2004-2005 I last had the honour, but the aim of the club is still very much the same, to support the communities of the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area, and where possible, back deserving local causes.

“Cowdenbeath Rotary Club celebrates its 100th birthday in 2023-24, but it is important that in the next 12 months we can set a solid base to help this milestone to be celebrated.”

Jim added: “After the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused so much of the club’s normal programme to be suspended, such as youth activities like the primary school quiz and sending two young people to the Rotary Youth Leadership Award camps, hopefully we can see some sort of normality resume.

“And can I also say that it is excellent to see our two secondary schools, Beath High and Lochgelly High, again being corporate members of the club for 2022-23.”