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| The Old Edinburgh Club, Centenary Conference on 4th October 2008 at Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Queen Street ‘EDINBURGH (1908 – 2008): ONCE AND FUTURE CAPITAL’ Speakers: Professor Robert Morris, Professor Hector MacQueen, Professor Aubrey Manning, Professor David Purdie, Owen Dudley Edwards, Professor Randall Stevenson, Professor Stewart J Brown, Professor Tom Devine. For full programe and further information, click here. |
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 Graeme Cruickshank and the group at the long section of the Telfer Wall at Lauriston Place. |
A walking tour round the old city walls, 18th July 2008 On the 18th of July 1908, John Geddie, Assistant Editor of The Scotsman, conducted a ‘Ramble’ around the remnants of Edinburgh’s walls. The trip was a joint meeting of the Edinburgh Photographic Society and the Old Edinburgh Club. Exactly 100 years to the day, historian Graeme Cruickshank guided Club members and guests around the walls. Members met in the National Library of Scotland where Peter Stubbs, the Edinburgh Photographic representative, gave a short talk about the beginnings of photography and the founding of the Society in 1861. Having given a brief introduction, historian Graeme Cruickshank, accompanied by a Times photographer, led about 30 members round the streets of Edinburgh. As Edinburgh Castle on its rock and Nor’ Loch formed natural barriers, the fortifications were built along the south and east borders of the town. They not only served as a military defence but also helped to control trade and acted as a barrier to the dreaded plague. A section of the 15th century King’s Wall still survives in Tweeddale Close and another section of its foundation was recently discovered during the upgrading of the west end of the Grassmarket. Graeme described elaborate Royal pageants which took place at the West Port and Bristo Port. Lengths of the Flodden Wall (16th century) were seen in Greyfriars cemetery and in the Pleasance and a long section of the 17th century Telfer Wall is seen between the Vennel and Lauriston Place. Walkers were privileged to be addressed by Dr. David Caldwell of the Royal Museum of Scotland who showed them one of two remaining short sections of the Flodden Wall which skirted the south side of the museum. Council member Dr. Allen Simpson briefly enlightened us about other sections of the wall which once lay within the Museum. The walk ended up at the Scottish Storytelling Centre where we were served delicious canapés and a glass of wine. President Dr. Iain Brown, who was sporting the Club’s new presidential regalia, described the John Knox House centre as the Club’s birthplace as it was here that William J Hay, one of the founders of the Club, conducted his printing publishing and retails business. As the excursion was oversubscribed Graeme generously conducted a repeat performance the following evening. |
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| Compact Scottish National Dictionary
Scottish Language Dictionaries are celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the publication of John Jamieson's An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language. |
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| The Forest Bookstore
Has a full set of the Book of the Old Edinburgh Club (bound volumes 1908-1966, unbound 1969-1985 & New Series 1-4 1991-1997) which they are willing to sell to a current member. |
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