When Bruce Irving, Chairman of SAFHS, announced at the 14th
Conference in Dundee that no-one had yet offered to host the 2004 one,
two of Central Scotland FHS delegates, who just happened to have
recently completed a book about a Stirling graveyard, idly aired the idea
that graveyards might be a good topic for a conference. Before much
longer, the date was fixed, hall and speakers booked, and the awful
realisation dawned that we could not, under any circumstance, back out of
it. It was a busy year, to say the least.
The Conference was a resounding success, number-wise far more so than
any of the Conference Committee ever anticipated. By the Friday
afternoon, after another visit to the Albert Hall and a further check on the
figures, the decision was taken, with the greatest reluctance, that for
safety's sake the 'House Full' notices had to be printed. Two hundred and
sixty nine graveyard enthusiasts had booked in, with twenty six societies
or groups taking book stalls. In addition, the BBC had asked to come too,
to give a presentation on their latest 'Scotland OnLine' series, which had
just begun at the beginning of the month. On the Friday evening, after two
hectic hours spent setting up stalls, testing AV equipment and generally
putting all the last minute things in order, it was very pleasant to amble
fifty yards up the road to the Municipal Buildings, a grandiose Edwardian
edifice boasting handsome stained glass windows and an impressive marble
stair case, where Stirling's Provost Colin O'Brien was waiting with
several councillors and senior members of Stirling Council staff to greet
the representatives from the societies who were attending the Conference.
Drinks and light refreshments were distributed and Provost O'Brien talked
to everyone present before extending a very warm welcome on behalf of
Stirling Council.
Saturday's proceedings got off to a splendid start with a welcome speech
from Dr Bill Inglis, former chairman of the Association of Heritage
Societies of Mid Scotland and current chair of the Scottish Local History
Forum. The three morning speakers, Dr Angus Mitchell, Dr David Caldwell
and Rachel Hoskers, each gave excellent presentations; perhaps the most
intruiging fact to emerge was from Rachel. Speaking on the value of
Undertakers' Burial Records we learned that we can work out the height of
our ancestors simply by knowing, from those records, the size of the
coffin. During the lunch break, lunch very kindly having been provided by
BBC Scotland, we were entertained by their 'Scotland OnLine'
presentation, then it was back to our seats for the afternoon session. The
morning's high standards were maintained with talks from Elizabeth Roy,
Dr Susan Buckham (standing in at the last minute for Irene Mackay,
unfortunately smitten by a particularly nasty virus) and Bill Wolsley. Then
the raffle was drawn, votes of thanks given, and that was that. All over.
Well, not quite.
80 guests assembled later that evening at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery
and Museum for the 'Wake'. Moira Lawson of Doune provided a superb
buffet supper, and while we were enjoying our wine, our meal, and the
inevitable chat in which family historians invariably engage, we were
entertained by Lorna Swan, a very talented local musician. Lorna plays
both the clarsach and the Scottish fiddle and the Smith's excellent
acoustics made the most of her delightful music. Finally, Paraig MacNeil,
who specialises in traditional story-telling, kept us on the edge of our
seats with his graveyard tales. I do hope everyone got home safely after
that, and did not stop to speak to any strange skulls, no matter how
friendly, on the way home.
The week-end was still not over. Blessed with lovely warm sunshine, on
Sunday morning Betty Roy, one of the Saturday afternoon speakers, led a
walk round Alloa Kirkgate Graveyard, the subject of her talk. The sun was
still shining in the afternoon when we headed for Tulliallan and Bill
Wolsley's guided tour round the old graveyard there. An unexpected bonus
was slipping through a little side door, Alice in Wonderland fashion, and
finding ourselves in the lovely grounds of Tulliallan Castle, now the
Scottish Police College. And that really was the end of the Conference...
Grateful thanks are extended to the following for sponsorship, grants, and
help in kind: Stirling Council, Stirling Council Library Service, Stirlingshire
Educational Trust, Falkirk Council, Scottish Co-op, Awards For All,
Inglewood Press, and internet bookseller Mrs Elizabeth Young. Thanks
are also due to all who gave raffle prizes: Pizza Express, McMichael
Brothers, Harviestoun Brewery, Bridge of Allan Brewery, Bridge of Allan
Glass, Mrs Tilly Confectionery, Thistle Genealogy, Mrs M McIntyre and
others. The Conference Committee would also like to thank members of
the society who helped on the day.
