Glasgow Botanic Gardens

We had a super talk about Glasgow Botanic Gardens on Tuesday 11 January 2011, given by Ewen Donaldson the General Manager of the Gardens. Ewen explained the history of the Gardens, which were founded in 1817. They were founded on an 8-acre site at the West End of Sauchiehall Street at Sandyford. This was through the initiative of Thomas Hopkirk of Dalbeth who gave his own plant collection to form the nucleus of the new garden.
Mr Donaldson then covered in some detail the recent renovation of the magnificent Kibble Palace.
Finally Ewen

dealt with the plant collections, illustrating his comments with some superb photographs. An excellent start to the 2011 lecture programme.

The KDHG PROGRAMME for January to March 2011

Here is the list of speakers and topics for our 6 meetings between January and March 2011.

11 January Ewen Donaldson - Glasgow Botanic Gardens

25 January Dr Tony Pollard - Rorke’s Drift

8 February KDHG Members - History on the Web

22 February Mrs Sandra Liquorish Fairlie House- It’s Architects and Inhabitants

8 March Graham Boyd - Konigsberg or Kaliningrad??

22 March Alastair Dinsmore - AGM + The History of Glasgow Police

A Royal Engagement

Please note the change of venue and starting time for this Tuesday's(16 Nov)meeting. We will be hearing from Bruce Morgan, Linda Fairlie and their colleagues about their latest exhibition entitled, "A Royal Engagement". We will also be given an opportunity to see behind the scenes into some of the storage areas of the museum. A bit like an iceberg, there's a lot more below the surface than is actually on view. Don't miss this great opportunity.
We meet in the Dick Institute at 7pm on Tuesday 16th November.

Aviation in Scotland

Another excellent talk last night on the history of aviation in Scotland by Dugald Cameron. Dugald, who was Principal of Glasgow School of Art before his retiral in 1999, is an aviation artist and historian.

The meeting was attended by over 80 members, who were treated to a first class presentation on Scotland's contribution to the development on heavier than air machines.

First Meeting of the Session

Last night KDHG held its first meeting of the 2010 - 2011 session. It was attended by over 90 members. Almost a full house!
The audience heard a wonderful talk by John Millar on the history of the Lithuanians in Scotland. John himself was born in Scotland in the 1920s to Lithuanian parents and he gave an excellent account of why people from the Baltic state had chosen to come to Scotland and of how they were treated by the native Scots, which was often, sadly, not very well. Interestingly, he quoted from a speech delivered in Irvine by Keir Hardie, which was, at best, xenophobic. Not the picture of Hardie, the socialist idealogue, that is frequently portrayed.
A great start to what looks like a first class programme for the year.

Scotland and France - A One-Day History Conference

SCOTLAND AND FRANCE
NEW PERSPECTIVES ON AN AULD ALLIANCE

BOOKING REGISTRATION FORM
Name: ………………………….
Address: …………………………………
……………………………………………
……………………………………………
If you are booking for more than one person please give the other names here:
………………………………………
……………………………………..
…………………………………….

Return this form with payment (£10 per person) to
Rob Close, 1 Craigbrae Cottages, Drongan. AYR KA6 7EN
To arrive by 11th October 2010
Cheques should be made payable to
Ayrshire Federation of Historical Societies
If receipt required, please enclose an SAE
SCOTLAND AND FRANCE
NEW PERSPECTIVES ON AN AULD ALLIANCE

CONFERENCE

AYRSHIRE FEDERATION OF HISTORICAL SOCIETIES

WALKER HALLS
TROON
SATURDAY, 16th OCTOBER 2010


Programme

0900 to 1000 Registration and Coffee
1000 to 1015 Chairman’s Introduction

1015 to 1045 Jean Brittain and Denis Reid
Sir Hugh Kennedy and Joan of Arc’s Bodyguard
1045 to 1115 Thomas Clancy
Petit et Beau: French in Medieval Scottish
Names
1115 to 1145 Charles McKean
French Influence on 16th Century Scots
Architecture
1145 to 1230 Godfrey Evans
The 10th Duke of Hamilton and the Emperor
Napoleon

1230 to 1400 Lunch

1400 to 1430 Tom Barclay
The Scoto-French Wine Trade
1430 to 1500 John Burnett
Popular Culture in Scotland and N E France
1500 to 1530 Robin Urquhart
Evidence for the Auld Alliance in Scottish
Wills and Testaments
1530 to 1600 Discussion and closing remarks


The Theme

This conference aims to examine (and re-examine) many aspects of Scotland’s long relationship with France and the French, from the mercenaries of the early modern period to the demotic traditions of the 20th Century.

The Venue

The Walker Halls can be found right in the centre of Troon, on South Beach. The conference will take place in the Walker Hall, while the adjacent Concert Hall will have displays pertinent to our theme.

The Fee

The Conference Registration Fee is £10, to include morning coffee and biscuits.
Please note that lunch is not provided. Troon offers a good selection of restaurants and cafes within easy walking distance of the venue. You are also welcome to bring a packed lunch, which may be eaten within the halls.

The Organisers

Ayrshire Federation of Historical Societies. SCO 09964. All enquiries to Rob Close 1 Craigbrae Cottages, Drongan, AYR KA6 7EN. 01292 590273. thelearnedpig@googlemail.com

Photos of Auld Killie

Thanks to Kenny Baird of Ayrshire History.com who has advised of the following link which members may find of interest.
http://www.ayrshirehistory.com/kilmarnock.html