Rotary Club of Senlac
WITH the speaker, Rolf Killingbeck visiting the Rotary Club of Senlac it was not until dinner had been served that members were aware the subject was ''The Pleasure of Travelling''.
As a young man residing in Egypt (end of Empire), people were very much coming-and-going in the '30's – a period of deep depression.
Being at university the speaker was awakened through education in the studies of history and geography.
After college travelling was back to the United Kingdom. It was to be that activities led to entry into the world of 'shipping'. Becoming a director of a shipping company it was a period to enter into trade and competition requiring regular travelling to discuss contracts with shippers. Concentration in Far East proved to be like a shot of adrenaline -- seventeen hours to fly by British Airways to Hong Kong.
There was a determination to succeed.
Meeting remarkable and knowledgeable people was significant as I was serving to help within a British colony. Career progressed to point where lunch was taken with the Prime Minister of Singapore, in Brussels and was surprised by his approach to secure a 'good deal'.
Vision was to add value to enterprise.
Enthusiasm for people to give best possible education was evident. It was interesting that the opportunity arose to meet people and talk to them and to be dined in eating establishments.
Eating in Singapore was to be presented with a 'rice supper'.
Eventually a posting to the Hague became another experience. Moving to Japan involvement was with a business centre where he was to speak in English; the audience being Japanese. Sight of industry was remarkable and 'social cohesion' was noticeable.
Not everything was to the traveller's liking - love of nature and attitude to gardens was prominent in observations made, possibly linked to religious beliefs (earth and soil). In January it was pleasant to walk. Formalities were liberating. With experiences of 17 hours travelling in the sky there seemed to be a vacuum – neither here or there before arriving back after a job completed hopefully succeeding rather than failing and once again relaxing. Still in the region of Asia a visit to Thailand and South Korea meant eating food which did take time to familiarise with - eating dog was not appealing followed by garlic chestnut dessert!
In North Korea arrival meant passing thorough x-ray checks. Purpose of visit was to review a range of activity, industry to shipbuilding.
In Thailand, presenting a lecture on costings in shipping industry for the ministry of Transport did present difficulties as charming ladies listening could not understand English. In Hong Kong the opportunity arose to speak to officials. Trading with China was operational.
With an interpreter able to speak English questions could be asked to establish contacts.
Moving to the Soviet Union it was possible to meet a delegation of shipowners, business being conducted over three days – the flight to Leningrad was from Hamburg, arriving in freezing conditions. The year was 1984. Difficulties arose in the hotel with regard to making telephone calls, choosing menu and obtaining drinks. Coffee was rationed. Discussions difficult, although at meeting a trolley of drinks were made available for choice.
Lunch was served. So the travelling speaker concluded in the time available.
Rotarian Henry Band spoke of the commercial activities in Hong Kong and Japan and rise in trading with the wider world.
Concluding, a Vote of Thanks, on behalf of members, was echoed to Rolf for his in-depth recollections of experiences and pleasure in travelling.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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