The Rise and Fall of Kilmarnock by Eddy Burns

 An interesting video has appeared in the Ed Explores Scotland series on YouTube in which Eddy Burns travels to Kilmarnock - not too happy with Scotrail- and offers some thoughts on the 1970s redevelopment of the town centre, a topic we will explore on our first talk on 6th October. Grab a coffee and have a watch (link below). Hopefully it will inspire you to come along to our meeting !

The Rise and Fall of Kilmarnock

HM Queen Elizabeth II

Kilmarnock & District History Group is saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 8th September 2022. 

As historians we have a sense of loss but, at the same time, a feeling of change as one era moves to another. To many of us The Queen has been the only Monarch we have known and her reign of 70 years must surely have seen more advancement in technology, science, medicine than any other. A truly remarkable period to reflect upon. 

We will watch this and next week's historic moments unfold before like no other generation has been able to witness and we will all have our own particular memories of The Queen and her family to remember at this sad time.  May she rest in peace.

God Save The King

2022-23 Talks

 Please note that we have finalised our talks for 2022-23 - apart from some exact titles- and details can be found HERE . Meetings will take place on a Thursday evening this session

We will meet at Ayrshire College, Hill Street Kilmarnock except Thursday 20 October when we will meet in the Laigh Kirk.

Notice of 2022 AGM

 Members will have received an e-mail today advising if the agenda for our forthcoming AGM at 7.30pn on 22 March 2022.

Please direct any queries to Gary Torbett

Talk scheduled for 25th January will go ahead

 We are pleased to advise that our talk on the history of Kilwinning Abbey will go ahead thisTuesday at 7.30pm in Kay Park Church hall, London Road, Kilmarnock

Cancellation of talk - Tuesday 11th January 2022

 Unfortunately we have had to cancel our talk on Tuesday 11th January. We hope to reschedule this in due course. 

First talk of new session - Tuesday 5th October 2021

Apologies for the fairly short notice, but it has been an interesting journey trying to secure a venue for us to hold our first lecture where we can meet up in person since March 2020. We have been working with our friends at CentreStage and will be using their new facility at the old Kilmarnock Academy campus for the timebeing. (KA1 3AE for SatNav)

Whilst the use of Zoom enabled us to 'meet' last session, we are keen to get back to as close to normal as we can, therefore. our first talk will be delivered by Bill Fitzpatrick - The Railway Companies' Race To Open Up The North. 7.30pm start, although we do appreciate it may take a few minutes to have everyone settled into an unfamiliar venue. We will have the room from 7pm onwards.

For those who know the academy building, the entrance is situated in what was the connecting corridor between the old building and the newer 1960s style building. There is a reception there and we will be kept right as to where to go. It is straightforward and the accessibility in the building is excellent. There is a Cafe Bar which is presently open until 7pm should you wish to arrive early for a refreshment. Our understanding is that this may open later on occasions once everything has settled down. There is also parking available in old playground and on Elmbank Drive. 

The committee appreciate that some of you may not be comfortable meeting in public presently. Please be assure that the venue is COVID compliant and every effort will be made to ensure the safety of everyone in the building, including in our meeting room. We do, however, respect anybody's concerns.

CentreStage's website is https://www.centrestagemt.org.uk/ for those wishing to have a look.

We do have a full programme of talks in place which will be published in the near future. Membership cards will be produced in the next couple of weeks.

Regards subscriptions - these are set at £20 for the session and will be collected in the near future. There has been quite a bit of uncertainty over the last few weeks so we are a bit behind where we would normally like to be so it is best that we don't add to any stress levels next Tuesday by collecting these. Please bear with us.

Can we ask that if you know anyone who does not usually receive e-mails or uses the internet that you let them know we are back up and running. We will write to them in due course. Thank-you.