Thursday 21st November 2024

Dunfermline Historical Society

Bruce Keith              “Scotland Beneath the Surface”

Bruce is a retired surveyor and environmentalist, who first spoke to us in 2018, when he presented a fascinating history of bridges in Scotland. Last year when, he gave us the memorable “Are We Nearly There Yet” , mostly about signposts.

His passion for Scottish history, geography and landscape is a recurring theme throughout his life and is well captured in his book, “Bridgescapes”. In addition to completing the book, Bruce has spent his retirement as an ambassador for the sustainable use of water resources globally, and as President of his professional institution, The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM). He has travelled extensively from New Zealand to Finland via Africa.

This month, his talk is titled “Scotland Beneath the Surface”.

As usual, we meet at 7:30 pm in the Abbey Church Hall, Dunfermline. All welcome.

Dunfermline Historical Society Meeting

17th October 2024, 7:30pm

Abbey Church Hall, Abbey Park Place, Dunfermline.

Eric Melvin will present “The Edinburgh of Deacon Brodie”

Eric is a well known Edinburgh local historian. He spoke to us last year, when he presented “The Athens of the North” a fascinating and informative history of Edinburgh’s New Town and, as usual, all will be welcome.

The first meeting of Dunfermline Historical Society of the 2024-25 season will take place on Thursday 19th September at 7:30 pm in the Abbey Church Halls, Abbey Park Place, Dunfermline.

Ian Archibald will present “Island Jewels of the Forth“.

The Firth of Forth has been for centuries one of the major gateways to Edinburgh and Scotland. This presentation shines a spotlight on the deserted islands of the Forth. All within viewing distance of the land many of these abandoned islands are home to tales that deserve to be better known. From ‘Scotland’s Alcatraz’ at the mouth of the Forth to the ‘Iona of the East’ and then westwards to the iconic Forth Bridge this is a ten island hopping tour which explores and examines their character and rich natural heritage.

Ian has a deep interest in the history of Burntisland and the Firth of Forth and is Convenor of Burntisland Heritage. He is a former Cartographic and Geographic Information Systems Manager for the Crown Estate Office in Edinburgh and before that he worked for the Ordnance Survey as a land surveyor and survey manager.

Ian has spoken to us before, in 2016, when he presented an excellent talk on “Shipwrecks of the Forth”.

Admission is £3 for visitors, who will be made very welcome.

16th May, 7:30, Abbey Church Halls, Dunfermline

In our last meeting of this season, Roy Johnston will present “Gunpowder Plot 1605 – Terror and Treason”

Roy is a very popular speaker who is now a regular and much anticipated guest at the DHS. He has been fascinated by history all his life and, since retiring from a career in the law some years ago, has researched and presented a wide range of talks on many historical subjects. His interests range from at least the 16th to the 20th centuries and his talk last year was on “The Real Wallis Simpson and the abdication crisis of 1936.

As usual all are welcome, with a £3 admission charge for visitors.

Thursday 18th April at 7:30 pm.

Sue Mowat will give our April talk “Grave Errors”, in the Abbey Church Halls, Dunfermline.

Sue is a member of the Dunfermline Historical Society and a well known local historian who has carried out many research projects and published many articles on the history of Dunfermline. Some of her work is published on this website. She is the author of “The Port of Leith, It’s History and People” and “Fire, Foe and Finance” on life in 17th Century Dunfermline.

Sue was much involved in the Abbey Gravestone project, surveying and researching the stones.

As always, everyone is welcome with £3 admission charged to non-members.