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The Scots' Society of St Andrew, Bedford

 

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Bedford Embankment on a July morning

 

In the 1930s farming land was scarce in Scotland, the depression years made life more difficult and with no law of succession to guarantee that land would pass from tenant farmer to his sons, it was necessary to look for other opportunities.

Farming land was more plentiful in parts of England and in particular, Essex and Bedfordshire so Scottish farmers moved south, sometimes hiring an entire train to bring their cattle, machinery and furniture.

Amongst these farmers, were William & Jeannie Hope who moved to Essex and then to Manor Farm at Thurleigh in 1939 by which time those who had arrived a few years earlier had already set up this Society of Scots who loved to get together and make their own entertainment, dancing, singing and piping the music of home.

The Society was founded in 1931 and currently has a membership of 187. In November 2006 The Society celebrated its 75th birthday which was attended by 160 members and friends, including seven Past Presidents, the oldest of whom is now 97. (See Picture Gallery)

 

THE SCOTS SOCIETY OF ST ANDREW, BEDFORD
PRESIDENTS OF THE SOCIETY FROM INAUGURATION 1931/32
1931-32 Dr G Butters 1971-72 Mr J Singer
1932-33   Mr. A. Matthews 1972-73 Mr J Singer
1933-34   1973-74 Mr J Singer
1934-35 1974-75 Major J Kelly
1935-36  Mr J McNicholl Gibson 1975-76 Major J Kelly
1936-37 1976-77 Mrs N Guild
1937-38  Mr N Bell 1977-78 Mrs N Guild
1938-39 Society in abeyance (WW2) 1978-79 Mr N Ferguson
1939-40 Society in abeyance (WW2) 1979-80 Mr N Ferguson
1940-41 Society in abeyance (WW2) 1980-81 Mr D Irvine
1941-42 Society in abeyance (WW2) 1981-82 Mr D Irvine
1942-43 Society in abeyance (WW2) 1982-83 Mr H Constable
1943-44 Society in abeyance (WW2) 1983-84 Mr H Constable
1944-45 Society in abeyance (WW2) 1984-85 Mr W Booth
1945-46 1985-86 Mr W Booth
1946-47 1986-87 Mr R Borland
1947-48  Dr C A Harvey 1987-88 Mr R Borland
1948-49  Mr J Russell Taylor 1988-89 Mr B Reid
1949-50 Capt. L M Robertson 1989-90 Mr B Reid
1950-51 1990-91 Mr B Reid
1951-52 Mr W Sharp 1991-92 Mr W Meek
1952-53 Dr C A Harvey 1992-93 Mrs H Watson
1953-54 Dr W L Anderson 1993-94 Mrs H Watson
1954-55 Dr W L Anderson 1994-95 Mrs M Staddon
1955-56 Mr W T Stewart 1995-96 Mrs M Staddon
1956-57 Dr C A Harvey 1996-97 Mrs M Staddon
1957-58 Mr J Russell-Taylor 1997-98 Mr J Winter
1958-59 Mr A M Pritchett 1998-99 Mrs M Staddon
1959-60 Dr W L Anderson 1999-2000 Mr B Reid
1960-61 Mr W T Stewart 2000-2001 Mr B Reid
1961-62 Mr R F Harrow 2001-2002 Mr I Slatter
1962-63 Rev. R Henderson-Begg 2002-2003 Mr I Slatter
1963-64 Rev. R Henderson-Begg 2003-2004 Mr I Slatter
1964-65 Rev. R Henderson-Begg 2004-2005 Mrs N Barr
1965-66 Dr H.R Livingstone 2005-2006 Mrs N Barr
1966-67 Rev. R Henderson-Begg 2006-2007 Mrs N Barr
1967-68 Rev. R Henderson-Begg 2007-2008 Mr R Buchanan
1968-69 Rev. R Henderson-Begg 2008-2009 Mr R Buchanan
1969-70 Mr W Annan 2009-2010 Mr R Buchanan
1970-71 Mr W Annan