I am most grateful to members for their continued support of the Society and especially to the committee for their efforts in bringing the annual programme of lectures to fruition. In particular, Marion Garroch deserves commendation for taking over the duties as our Secretary from her long-serving predecessor, Helen Bowick. I am delighted Helen has continued with an active role in the Society looking after, and enhancing, the website. The club remains in a healthy financial position thanks to the diligence of Treasurer Donald Cowell. Thanks also to David Collin for producing the striking posters, to Ron McHugh for helping to provide an audio system, which has been particularly beneficial, to David Devereux for running the magazine library and to Tania Gardener and Margaret Scott for providing refreshments and all-round assistance.
We have had a most enjoyable and informative series of lectures and I am very grateful to Donald Cowell for writing up articles for the Galloway News and other publications, such as History Scotland, which gives us national coverage. Thanks are also due to Donald for lending us the use of his audio visual equipment for our speakers. Your committee has decided to investigate the possibility of the Society purchasing its own equipment.
Although our website www.kirkcudbrighthistorysociety.org.uk gives us an excellent vehicle for publicising our programme, events and activities as well as a worldwide presence, it is in need of some re-design and this will be taken forward with a change of webmaster. We are grateful to Glen Murray for his past efforts in getting the website up and running.
The Society will be reconnecting with a project known as ‘Scotland’s Urban Past’ which is a five-year nationwide project about the history of Scotland’s towns and cities. Kirkcudbright has been nominated as one of the participating towns. Groups and individuals will investigate how their urban environments have changed over time by capturing memories, surveying buildings, gathering information and exploring sources of local knowledge. Funding for projects is going to be available for the next five years and it might be a way for the History Society to fund publications on research being undertaken by society members.
Society members helped in the geophysical survey of Tongland Abbey carried out as part of Tongland and Ringford Community Council’s ‘Magna Carta 800’ project. This year it is planned to carry out a series of trial excavations in the grounds of Mansewood with the aim of locating more of the Abbey’s buildings. Volunteers are most welcome – please speak to David Devereux or see more details on our Society’s website.’
The Kirkyard Tours in the summer attracted over fifty visitors and offered an interesting and informative trail through Kirkcudbright’s past. Based on the popularity of the tours we have decided to lay on the same number of evening and afternoon tours this coming year. Research by Donald Cowell, David Devereux and others continues to expand the information available about the kirkyard and enhance the visitor experience. Donald’s research into the will of William Johnston and building of Johnston School was presented to the Galloway Association of Glasgow’s AGM earlier this month.
Members of the Society who had previously responded the European Ethnology Research Project based at Edinburgh University have been assisting a student in a study to identify the effectiveness of the project and to identify potential improvements.
I thank you again for your continued support and look forward to another informative and enjoyable session after the summer break.