This season, as Secretary, I have the task of composing our annual newsletter.
I am hopeful that I will manage to achieve some of the level of professionalism shown by our Honorary President Neil Stewart.
For our first meeting on Wednesday 16th October 19, we will welcome Ruth Boreham. She will deliver a talk on ‘The History of the Usher Hall.’ Ruth has spoken to many groups from Local History Enthusiasts to Genealogists about such topics as The Suffragette Protests in 1911 to the brilliance of the forgotten 18th century female Mathematician Mary Somerville.
At our second meeting on Wednesday 20th November 19, Jim Renwick, brother of our Chairman Andrew will give us a talk on ‘Rosewell Memorial Hall, a Village at War 1914-1918’. Jim has already delivered some talks to this Society as well as tonight’s talk to the local History Group in Rosewell.
December offers no visiting speakers but a Christmas Lunch on Wednesday 11th December 2019 at the Broomieknowe Golf Club. The meal has been arranged as 12.30 for 1pm and if you would like to attend we would ask that you let us know a.s.a.p. so that final numbers can be calculated.
Our third meeting will be on Wednesday 15th January 2020 with presenters Herbert Dryden and Neil Stewart delivering a talk on ‘The Life and Work of Dr Douglas Strachan’. As you may know Dr Strachan lived the latter part of his life at Pittendreich House, Lasswade. He is considered the most significant Scottish designer of stained glass windows in the 20th Century. Amongst his many notable works, the Peace Palace in The Hague in Holland and the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle are seen as his most important.
The 19th February 2020 brings our fourth and final speaker. Professor Gordon Findlater, Professor of Anatomy at Edinburgh University will deliver a talk on ‘Burke and Hare the Real Story’. His many audiences have ranged from Camera Clubs to History Societies!
At our fifth meeting, held on Wednesday 18th March 2020 in Bonnyrigg Parish Church, the winners of the Dr Mary Noble Memorial Award will be announced. This annual competition, for Primary five pupils attending our local schools has been running for seven years. The topic for 2019/2020 is ‘Climate Change, Past and Present in Our Area’. If you would like to be involved in the judging of the entries, please let us know.
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Wednesday 15th April 2020. There will an opportunity to view the entries of The Dr Mary Noble Memorial Award and if like this year they will demonstrate the use of both modern and traditional methods to deliver their presentation.
As it was last year, our membership subscription will be seven pounds with visitors being charged two pounds per meeting. Herbert Dryden has very kindly agreed to be our interim Treasurer this season.
Looking forward to seeing you all at our first meeting in October.
Best wishes Lesley Campbell