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 192. 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 98. (See Picture Gallery)
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THE SCOTS SOCIETY OF ST ANDREW, BEDFORD |
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PRESIDENTS OF THE SOCIETY FROM INAUGURATION 1931/32 |
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1931-32 |
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Dr G Butters |
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1974-75 |
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Major J Kelly |
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1932-33 |
Mr. A. Matthews |
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1975-76 |
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Major J Kelly |
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1933-34 |
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1976-77 |
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Mrs N Guild |
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1934-35 |
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1977-78 |
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Mrs N Guild |
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1935-36 |
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Mr J McNicholl Gibson |
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1978-79 |
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Mr N Ferguson |
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1936-37 |
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1979-80 |
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Mr N Ferguson |
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1937-38 |
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Mr N Bell |
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1980-81 |
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Mr D Irvine |
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1938-39 |
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Society in abeyance (WW2) |
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1981-82 |
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Mr D Irvine |
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1939-40 |
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Society in abeyance (WW2) |
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1982-83 |
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Mr H Constable |
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1940-41 |
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Society in abeyance (WW2) |
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1983-84 |
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Mr H Constable |
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1941-42 |
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Society in abeyance (WW2) |
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1984-85 |
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Mr W Booth |
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1942-43 |
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Society in abeyance (WW2) |
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1985-86 |
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Mr W Booth |
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1943-44 |
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Society in abeyance (WW2) |
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1986-87 |
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Mr R Borland |
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1944-45 |
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Society in abeyance (WW2) |
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1987-88 |
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Mr R Borland |
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1945-46 |
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1988-89 |
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Mr B Reid |
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1946-47 |
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1989-90 |
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Mr B Reid |
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1947-48 |
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Dr C A Harvey |
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1990-91 |
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Mr B Reid |
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1948-49 |
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Mr J Russell Taylor |
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1991-92 |
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Mr W Meek |
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1949-50 |
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Capt. L M Robertson |
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1992-93 |
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Mrs H Watson |
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1950-51 |
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1993-94 |
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Mrs H Watson |
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1951-52 |
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Mr W Sharp |
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1994-95 |
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Mrs M Staddon |
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1952-53 |
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Dr C A Harvey |
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1995-96 |
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Mrs M Staddon |
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1953-54 |
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Dr W L Anderson |
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1996-97 |
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Mrs M Staddon |
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1954-55 |
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Dr W L Anderson |
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1997-98 |
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Mr J Winter |
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1955-56 |
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Mr W T Stewart |
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1998-99 |
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Mrs M Staddon |
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1956-57 |
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Dr C A Harvey |
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1999-2000 |
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Mr B Reid |
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1957-58 |
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Mr J Russell-Taylor |
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2000-2001 |
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Mr B Reid |
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1958-59 |
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Mr A M Pritchett |
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2001-2002 |
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Mr I Slatter |
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1959-60 |
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Dr W L Anderson |
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2002-2003 |
Mr I Slatter |
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1960-61 |
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Mr W T Stewart |
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2003-2004 |
Mr I Slatter |
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1961-62 |
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Mr R F Harrow |
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2004-2005 |
Mrs N Barr |
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1962-63 |
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Rev. R Henderson-Begg |
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2005-2006 |
Mrs N Barr |
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1963-64 |
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Rev. R Henderson-Begg |
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2006-2007 |
Mrs N Barr |
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1964-65 |
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Rev. R Henderson-Begg |
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2007-2008 |
Mr R Buchanan |
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1965-66 |
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Dr H.R Livingstone |
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2008-2009 |
Mr R Buchanan |
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1966-67 |
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Rev. R Henderson-Begg |
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2009-2010 |
Mr R Buchanan |
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1967-68 |
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Rev. R Henderson-Begg |
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2010-2011 |
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1968-69 |
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Rev. R Henderson-Begg |
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1969-70 |
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Mr W Annan |
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1970-71 |
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Mr W Annan |
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1971-72 |
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Mr J Singer |
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1972-73 |
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Mr J Singer |
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1973-74 |
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Mr J Singer |
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