The 2018 – 2019 talks programme is now available. We have an exciting and varied set of speakers covering Scottish history from bridges and coal pits to cattle dealers and witches.

The final talk, next May, has now been confirmed as “Dunfermline Town Planning” presented by Sam Foster.

We hope members and visitors will enjoy the season.

17th May 2018

Our next meeting is the last of this current session. We meet, as usual, in the Abbey Church Halls at 7:30pm where Andy Paterson will present his highly recommended talk “Stars of the Silver Screen”. As this is the last meeting of the year, refreshments will be provided.

April 19th   7:30 pm,      Abbey Church Hall

Derek Larkman – “Frederick Maitland, an Ordinary, Extraordinary Man “

Lieutenant Commander Larkman served in the Royal Navy, in frigates, carriers and Polaris submarines as well as a in a variety of shore appointments. After retiring, in 1992, he went into local government, becoming East Lothian Council’s Emergency Planning Officer. He has an active interest in maritime and naval history.

Those who remember Derek’s excellent talk on “Jute, Jack and Journeying” last season,  will be looking forward to this talk, which will tell the story of a senior Naval Officer of the Napoleonic Wars who had a direct connection with Bonaparte himself.

The March meeting will take place at 7:30 pm on Thursday, 15th March in the Abbey Church Hall as usual.

Professor Gordon Findlater will talk on ‘Burke and Hare’.

Professor Findlater has taught Anatomy at the University of Edinburgh since 1984. He was awarded a Personal Chair and appointed Professor of Translational Anatomy in 2013 and made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2014.  In March 2016 he retired from full time employment and now works for the University on a part-time basis.

His main research interest is the development of innovative ways of teaching anatomy and as such, has been involved with the development of a holographic atlas of anatomy and the use of virtual reality in the teaching of anatomy. He has always been interested in spreading knowledge of anatomy beyond those studying Medicine and so I’m sure he will provide us with a talk on the infamous Burke and Hare from an unusual, and very well informed, viewpoint.