|
The Highland Society of
London is a charity, which exists to promote and support the traditions
and culture of the Highlands of Scotland, whilst maintaining a
Membership of individuals to support the Society’s activities. The
trustees of the Society form the Committee of Management, which meets
four times per year to administer the Society’s affairs. The Membership
of the Society meets twice per year to discuss the activities of the
Society in General Court and to elect the Committee of Management; each
General Court is followed by a dinner, and the Society also arranges a
cocktail party each May.
The Highland Society of London was originally formed on 28th May 1778,
when twenty-five Highland gentlemen met at the Spring Garden Coffee
House in London, in order to form a Society that “might prove beneficial
to that part of the Kingdom”. The first President was Lt-General Simon
Fraser of Lovat and the Society was subsequently incorporated by Act of
Parliament in 1816. Since 1965, the Society has been registered as a
charity with the Charity Commission of England and Wales, number 244472.
Her Majesty The Queen is Chief of the Society and the current President
is Duncan Byatt.
For over two hundred years, the Society has been influential in matters
relating to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. In 1782, the Society
procured the repeal of the Disarming Act (passed after the Rising of
1745 and which, amongst other things, prohibited the wearing of Highland
Dress); and from 1784, secured the restoration of forfeited Highland
Estates. The Society was also instrumental in setting up the forerunner
of the British Fisheries Society in 1786, leading to the founding of
fishing villages at Ullapool, Tobermory and others. In 1815, the Society
established the Royal Caledonian Asylum (now Royal Caledonian Schools),
to educate needy children of Highland descent living in London. In 1859,
the Society took a prominent part in forming the London Scottish Rifle
Volunteers; and in 1902, successfully opposed an attempt to abolish the
Kilt as the field dress of Highland Regiments. The Society’s subsidiary
charity, the Baroness Von Wilczek (née Mackenzie) charity, founded in
1911 to help Scottish Regiment war widows in need and whose funds were
finally exhausted in 2014, has now been wound up; its remaining
obligations are being met from a separate fund within the Society.
During this time, the Society gathered a large collection of Gaelic
manuscripts and other historical artefacts. Many of these manuscripts
(including copies of the Poems of Ossian, published in Gaelic by the
Society in 1807) are available to view at the National Library of
Scotland, in Edinburgh; and the Society’s unique collection of ancient
tartans is on view at the National Museum of Scotland, also in
Edinburgh. There are other items on display at the Caledonian Club in
London and at the The Museum of the Isles at the Clan Donald Centre, at
Armadale on Skye.
The current focus of the Society is to support traditions and culture
particular to the Highlands and Islands. The Society awards the
prestigious Gold Medal for the best player of Piobaireachd at each of
the Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting, annually; and awards
prizes at various other Piping competitions. Each year the Society also
gives an art prize through the Royal Scottish Academy; Gaelic singing
prizes at the Royal National Mod; the Gaelic Singer of the Year award at
the Trads; Highland Dancing prizes at the Glenfinnan Games; a
dissertation prize through the University of the Highlands and Islands;
the Highland Book Prize; and the Fiction prize at the Gaelic Literature
Awards. In addition, the Society makes financial grants to a number of
related charities and organisations that promote and support Highland
traditions and culture, and Members are encouraged to contact the
Committee of Management with suggestions for suitable beneficiaries. The
Society is funded through Life Membership fees, income on its
investments and charitable donations.
The Rules and Bye-laws of the Society currently state that: “Persons
qualified for being proposed Members are natives of the Highlands of
Scotland, Descendants or Spouses of Highlanders, Proprietors of Land in
the Highlands, Individuals who have done signal service to that part of
The Kingdom, or Officers serving or who have served in Highland Corps.”
Candidates for Membership must be proposed and seconded by two existing
Members (neither of whom is the candidate’s parent) for approval by the
Membership at a General Court. There is a Life Membership fee due on
joining (currently £250), but no annual subscription; although Members
wishing to make ongoing donations can do so via the Society’s Justgiving
site.
The Society’s regular activities in London include the General Court and
Annual Dinner in March, celebrating General Sir Ralph Abercromby and all
Scotsmen who have fallen in defence of their country, with the focus of
the evening on the piping of the Society’s Honorary Piper; the Spring
Cocktail Party in May, generally held in conjunction with members of the
Northern Meeting and the Argyllshire Gathering; and a second General
Court and Dinner in either November or December, followed by a selection
of Highland music and entertainment. Members are encouraged to attend
these events, and to bring guests. The Highland Ball takes place at the
beginning of March each year, under the auspices of the Highland Society
of London.
Highland
Society of London
Building the Highland Empire
By Katie Louise McCullough
The Highland society of London and the Formation of Charitable Networks
in Great Britain and Canada, 1778-1857
Download the pdf Building the
Highland Empire here
The Highland
Society of London
The Branch Societies and Alphabetical lists of the Members (1856) (pdf) |
