16th May 2019

Dunfermline Historical Society, 7:30pm

Sam Foster, Dunfermline Town Planning

Sam is an architect in Dunfermline specialising in contemporary ecological architecture. As a member of “Friends of Dunfermline” he is involved in work to regenerate the former Pilmuir Works and the town centre more generally. It should be fascinating to hear about the history of Dunfermline from Sam’s perspective.

As usual we meet in the Abbey Church Halls for our last meeting of this session, and welcome all members and visitors.

18th April 2019

Dunfermline Historical Society, 7:30 pm

Prof. Richard Oram, “Quite Happy  – The Diary of James Fyffe a Cattle Dealer 1836 – 40”

Professor Oram is Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and Professor of Medieval and Environmental history at the University of Stirling. A graduate of St Andrews University, he worked in commercial property before returning to academia as an honorary lecturer in History at Aberdeen. His research interests include; Environmental History of the North Atlantic region, epidemic disease and its associated social impacts in medieval and early modern Scotland, lordship and landscape in medieval Britain and Ireland and Monastic landscapes in northern Europe c.1100-c.1350. In 2008 he was appointed to the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland, which provides advice to Scottish Ministers on aspects of policy and public engagement in the sector.

We meet at the Abbey Church Halls as usual and all visitors are warmly welcome.

21 March 2019

Dunfermline Historical Society.

David Spaven ……. ‘A History and Geography of Scotland’s Railways’ .

David has spent his working life in and around the rail industry, primarily in the freight sector and for two decades he was a leading campaigner for the Borders Railway. He has also written eight books on the geography, history and politics of railways, including the award-winning Mapping the Railways and Highland Survivor: the story of the Far North Line – and most recently, Border Union Dream: the inside story of Britain’s boldest railway preservation bid.

As usual we meet at 7:30 pm in the Abbey Church Halls, all welcome.

21st February 2019

The Annual General Meeting of the Dunfermline Historical Society will take place at 7:30 pm in the Abbey Church Halls. It will be immediately followed by a talk “Ye Jacobites By Name” by Donald Smith.

Donald is a founding member of the Scottish Storytelling Forum, Edinburgh’s Guid Crack Club and is currently Director of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) which brings together Scotland’s traditional arts. He also curates two Festivals: TradFest in the spring and the Scottish International Storytelling Festival in the autumn.

17th January 2019

This season’s members only night takes the form of a musical Celebration of Robert Burns. We are delighted to welcome back Nancy Crook and the ladies of the Queen Anne Singers, who gave such a wonderful concert at our Christmas Party in 2017. For this year’s Burns programme they will be joined by the much lauded Baritone, Ivor Klayman. Ivor is a lawyer by day but he is also well known as an amateur and semi professional operatic performer who has sung many roles across his musical career.

Our usual Members Night light refreshments will be served during what should be a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment.