Paisley Radical Trial 1820 22/09/2016 at 7.30 pm

Due to unforeseen circumstances we were unable to host this last year and Tom Dowds has kindly agreed to deliver this lecture as our opener for 2016/17.

Although Paisley had not been directly involved in the Radical Rising in early 1820, the government was determined to root out what it regarded as trouble-makers and set up a commission to try suspects under English Law, and two Paisley Radicals were put on trial, charged with treason.  Trials in Glasgow and Stirling led to the execution of James Wilson of Strathaven, John Baird of Condorrat and Andrew Hardie of Glasgow, along with the transportation of other Radicals.  When James Spiers was arraigned in Paisley, the authorities were in for a surprise as the hand-picked jury stubbornly refused to be intimidated and bullied into finding him guilty, and the government decided to abandon all other trials throughout Scotland.

The lecture will take place in the Paisley Museum's lecture hall. We look forward to seeing all members, old and new, guests and visitors.

Meetings 2016/17

The meeting dates page has been updated with details of speakers and topics for 2016/17.

Glasgow's Grand Central Hotel

The final meeting of this session will take place on 10 March 2016.in the Lecture Hall of Paisley Museum. The AGM will start at 7.15, followed by a talk on the above subject by Jill Scott and Bill Hicks.

Jill Scott advised us of the following:

Our background is very straightforward...Bill Hicks and I are both former newspaper journalists (we worked for The Sunday Post) and were given the opportunity to write the history of the Central Hotel following its refurbishment in 2009/10.  With new owners carrying out the refurbishment the hotel was entering a new era in Glasgow's history following many years of decline. Amazingly its history had never been documented despite the fact the building has had a landmark place in the city's life since 1883. Many stars of stage and screen in the past have stayed there, from Mae West to the Beatles and Cliff Richards.

Non-members are welcome to attend the talk at a cost of £3.00.

A Way Forward

The next meeting of the Institution will be on Thursday 25 February, in the Lecture Theatre of Paisley Museum at 7.30 pm.

The speaker will be Lyn Carse from Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Cairns, Vikings and Clearances. The work of the Ardnamurchan Transitions Project (ATP)

Our next talk on February 11, will be delivered by Phil Richardson, a director of ATP. For more information on the project you can visit their website here: Ardnamurchan Transitions Project

The talk will commence at 7.3o. Non-members can attend at a cost off£3.00.

Cornwall and the Eden Project

The next meeting of the Institution will take place on Thursday January 28, at Paisley Museum starting 7.30 pm.

The speaker will be Douglas keith

Non-members are welcome at a cost of £3.00.

Challenges and Opportunities in 21st Century Universities

The next meeting of the Institution will take place on Thursday January 14, at Paisley Museum starting 2.00 pm.

The speaker will be Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal of the University of the West of Scotland.

Please note this is an afternoon lecture.

Non-members are welcome at a cost of £3.00.