News

Please find attached papers for forthcoming AGM. Tea/Coffee and Biscuits will be served pre AGM commencing at 18.00.

Dear Burgesses

Please see note below from the Lord Dean. Can you please advise via – clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com if you plan to attend the AGM in Town & County Hall, or if you wish to send apologies. This will assist with gauging numbers.

Papers will be issued shortly as we are still waiting completion of these.

Message from Lord Dean:

You will note from the formal  intimation of the AGM that we require to appoint two new Assessors. This year we have the two Senior Assessors stepping down as time-served.  To date we have received  one noted interest,  so I am seeking at least one other submission to fulfil the quota of six Assessors. The role of an Assessor is open to any Burgess with at least five years’ membership  who believes that they have the time and interest for this commitment. This is an important role for the Burgesses of Aberdeen and I have repeatedly used the expression that I view them as “the Board” of the Burgesses. They are appraised of and involved in all matters ranging from admissions to good governance and forward planning.

Anyone who wishes to be considered for an Assessor position may contact me directly  lorddean@aberdeenburgesses.com  or via the Clerk , clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com by Monday 13^th May 2024. Any confirmed notification of interest will then then be submitted as a written nomination. In the event of more nominations being received than vacancies the appointment will go to ballot. Please do not be deterred by procedure, we are here to assist any interested candidate.

Sylvia Halkerston

Lord Dean

The AGM will take place at the Town and County Room, Aberdeen Town House on Tuesday 14th May 2024, but please note the change of time to 6PM.

The time has been changed from noon to encourage and enable more Burgesses to attend as I understand that 12 noon on a week day may not be convenient for all Burgesses. I also want to afford attendees time to ask questions and discuss agenda items.

Meeting papers will be issued in due course by our Clerk

Kind Regards

Lord Dean of Guild

Please see information relating to opportunities to be a sponsor at the Tall Ships Event next year:

It has been a number of years since we last held a Burgess of Guild Golf Competition. If there is enough interest then we can look to hold a competition with a meal after, at a suitable date later this year. Previous years have been enjoyable -perhaps not the golf for some – but the social aspect after!

If any Burgesses would like to take part please email Clerk at – clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com

Many Thanks

Clerk

As part of our Action Plan please see the Communication from ACVO showing the list of vacancies for Trustees/Board Members for local charitable organisations in Aberdeen. This was one of the areas in which Burgesses expressed an interest. It would be helpful if anyone responds to ACVO expressing an interest that you copy the Clerk – clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com

To those who wish to participate, thank you

Lord Dean

Pleased to post a photograph of Burgesses who were awarded various levels of recognition for their contribution and achievements in their professions and/or community activities at the Order of Scottish Samurai ceremony led by Ronnie Watt at Broomhall House on Sunday 3rd March.

Ronnie Watt, a strongly committed and supportive Burgess, is the founder of the OSS. The ceremony was a special celebration celebrating 30 years of the OSS attended by the Japanese Consul and hosted by Lord Charles Bruce, a direct descendant of Robert the Bruce, and whose historical home is Broomhall House.

All awardees have gone above and beyond for their communities and in keeping with the ethos of being a Burgess of Guild.

Congratulations to all award winners and to Ronnie Watt for his outstanding continuing commitment to our wider community.

We still have some places for our lunches in March and April. Please also see details for lunches in May and June. The lunches have been booked as normal at the RNUC. Lunches will commence at the normal time of 12.14 prompt (Date of Charter) and will conclude at 14.00. Cost will be £15. If you wish to attend any of the lunches, please email Garry Stevens, Clerk at – clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com

Payment can be paid via cheque made payable to Burgesses of Guild of the City of Aberdeen and sent to Garry Stevens, Clerk to the Burgesses of Guild, 6 Craigarbel Crescent, Inverbervie, Montrose DD10 0SJ or via BACS to: Sort Code 826011, Account Number 50325609, Ref Surname/Lunches or if evening event name of event.

Members are reminded that there is a dress code at the Club which we will respect. No blue jeans and trainers and gentlemen please wear a collared shirt and jacket.

Thursday 21st March – Dr Lynne Taylor is guest speaker. Dr Taylor has a Doctorate in Clinical Phycology, A recently admitted Burgess, Dr Taylor currently an advisor to the Scottish Government, she will share some developments and impacts of mental health since the pandemic, and how her role influences national strategy and policy.

Tuesday 16th April – Paula Cormack, Chief Executive Officer, The Archie Foundation. Archie is a charity which aims to transform experiences and outcomes in healthcare and bereavement for babies, children, and families in the north of Scotland. The topic will be Babies, Bairns & Now the Baird – the history and exciting future works of The Archie Foundation in making the difference for local children and families.

Tuesday 7th May 2024 – Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 – Emma Wadee, Project Manager. In conjunction with Sail Training International, Port of Aberdeen & Aberdeen Inspired, the Aberdeen City Council project team will welcome the Tall Ships Races back to Aberdeen for the third time, when hundreds of thousands of people will descend on the city for four days of celebrating, sharing culture and forging international friendships at Europe’s largest free family event.

We are fortunate to have secured Emma Wadee, Project Manager of Tall Ships Races 2025, to share an informative presentation about the exciting plans for Aberdeen in July 2025.

Emma will guide us through the preparation and planning for this world class event which will raise the profile and reputation of Aberdeen and the North East as a tourism and event destination, support young sail trainees from the city, create over 400 volunteering opportunities and offer a wealth of opportunities for commercial engagement and support. Emma will outline the project team’s ideas for staging an outstanding entertainment and cultural programme for crews, trainees and visitors who will be able to enjoy a whole host of sporting events, music, and entertainment, and take part in activities on land and at sea including the traditional crew parade, crew party, captains’ dinner and a final night fireworks and light show.

An opportunity for questions will be included at the end of Emma’s presentation.

Wednesday 5th June – Pastor Iain Duthie of Kings Church, Aberdeen will be our guest speaker. The current leadership team led by Pastor Duthie and his wife Elizabeth took over King’s Community Church in 2004. Pastor Duthie was a GP before taking on the mammoth job at King’s Community Church.

He will give an insight in to the work that the Church does to benefit the communities it serves.  They are engaged in many initiatives to help the city and in particular communities and individuals in need.

This presentation is not of a religious nature and is not intended to put his religious views across but rather what can be done for the community and the city

The presentation will include how they have:

· Developed a team to build connections in the marketplace, the business and academic communities, and the civic space.

· Brought support and encouragement into the school environment for students and teachers by extending their school work through presence in several primary and secondary schools.

Link to the website – https://kingschurchaberdeen.com/

On Saturday 17th February we held an event in conjunction with the Order of Scottish Samurai at the Town House with two internationally renowned speakers – Professor Thomas Weber, an authority on and author of books on Adolf Hitler and Professor Beatrice de Graaf, an authority on and author of books on Vladimir Putin. Both speakers are winners in their own right of the Duc d’Arenberg Prize which is awarded for the best book on European History. They did not disappoint giving us facts, perhaps unknown, the story behind the men and their objectives. Hitler may well have been a history lesson with lessons for the future, but the Putin story brought us from his beginnings right to the present day.

The speakers gave generously of their time presenting on their subjects and the questions from the floor of ninety-four attendees were plentiful. The turnout was exceptional given that it was a very wet, Saturday night and the event only consisted of the presentations and questions. I thank all who attended.

 Our fellow Burgess, Ronnie Watt, President of the OSS, suggested these speakers. We have a full calendar of lunchtime speakers, but if any Burgesses would like to recommend speakers or topics for events, I will happily pursue.

Sylvia Halkerston
Lord Dean of Guild

We are delighted to announce a shared event with the Incorporated Trades to attend Sunshine on Leith at HMT Theatre on Friday 28^th June. It will include a pre-Theatre 2 course meal at Amarone.

Timings will be:

Meal at 17.30

Theatre at 19.30

We have 30 places available on a first come first served basis for one Burgess and one guest only.

Cost for the event will be £51 per person to include the meal.

If you wish to attend, then please contact Clerk by 26^th February at:

clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com

Once we have numbers confirmed information on how to pay for the event will be issued.