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Tayside & East Fife Event Reviews updated 09.08.2004 During 2003, the local group committee met on four occasions discussing both local and national issues. A very successful AGM was held at Naughton House near Wormit on 6 June, thanks to the kind hospitality of its owner, Captain James Crawford. Simon Green charmed the 50 or so members Pied Piper-like, round the house's interiors and into the garden and grounds. The situation regarding postholders for Secretary and Events Organiser has been largely resolved: Eva McDonald has agreed to be Secretary and was duly elected as such at our committee meeting in September. The organisation of this year's summer events was shared by Anne Fedele, Andrew Driver and Clare Smoor - with Adam Swan co-ordinating. Anne, Andrew and Clare planned one outing each, to Dunfermline, Strathtay and Kincardineshire respectively. All events were very well supported and good publicity was generated via the Dunfermline Press, thanks to Anne's initiative. A good precedent has been created for each of the three outings to be organised by a separate individual, thus spreading the load of an onerous task. The Annual St Andrews Architectural Lecture continues to make its mark, and attracted around 80 people on 1 October to hear Peter Burman's lecture on 'Country House Conservation in the Contemporary World - Challenges and Opportunities.' As always, we are grateful for the support of the University's School of Art History and the Crawford Arts Centre. Forward publicity was again generated by Anne Fedele, through the Dundee Courier, building on good relations between the local reporter and Glen Pride. Mutual support also works its magic in the form of the Dundee Conservation Lectures planned by Neil Grieve and Adam Swan. Attracting the description 'master classes', these lectures - 16 meetings with a total of 30 -32 lectures delivered - attracts eminent speakers whose expertise during the 2003 - 2004 programme ranges from Contemporary Architecture, through Historic Maps, Timber in Scotland, Urban Regeneration, Florence, City of Art and Architecture, to Ruins and Revivalisms! Festive fayre was provided by local members during the interval at the excellent lecture held on Tuesday 9 December, which was given by Howard Liddell of Gaia Architects, on Sustainability. Our Cases Panels are kept as busy as ever, responding to planning issues and developments, and making comment as appropriate. East Fife continues to be dominated by golfing developments in St Andrews. Perth & Kinross has reported regularly on its concerns about the wilfull neglect at Williamston House, but has given its support for proposals at Taymouth Castle. In Angus, the team has kept a watchful eye on various issues, for example, Ballintore at Lintrathen near Kirriemuir. The seeds of a new panel in Dundee have now been developed with the enthusiastic offer of help from Sarah Kettles. Two good pieces of news from Tayside Building Preservation Trust include the successful bid for lottery funding for the progress of stage 1 at Gardyne's Land, and the royal seal of approval from HRH the Duke of Rothesay given on a visit to the property on 23 September 2003. Last year, the group's promotional video, produced by Eva McDonald, was screened in Linlithgow at the AGM in 2002 and was, we feel, well received. Please remember that we will be very happy to lend the video to other groups of the Society to use in any recruitment drive events or other opportunities. Jean K Gowans |
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