Kilbarchan General Society

2019 Burns Supper

The 2019 celebration of the life and works of Robert Burns began with the traditional grand seating ballet as guests places in the seating plan were arranged around move and counter-move by those arched seat wranglers the Managers of the Society. Once the seating is finalised we disband and let the professionals get on with preparing the hall. Our guests began arriving just after 5pm and it looked like being another full house. The lounge bar buzzed to the meeting of old friends. The formal part of the evening began with the assembly standing to receive their top table. Piper Kerr led Vice Preses S Tennant, Mr I Zycinski, Preses D Blair, Mr A MacMillan and Mr J Wallace to their places. Preses Blair introduced his top table to the assembly before Piper Kerr piped in the Haggis, carried by Mr G Bell. Mr D Dunlop carried the whisky for the toast. Mr J Wallace toasted the Haggis in grand style and cut it up wi ready slicht. The Vice Preses said Grace and supper was served. This is probably the quietest time of the night as the diners get stuck into their soup, haggis and neeps, steak pie and veg and cheese. However the cheese (Cheesegate as it’s now officially known) caused me some heartache, to quote Para Handy, ” it was like the herrings in Loch Fyne, it wasna in it.” The cheese was missing and no sooner had the Preses apologise to the assembly for its absence than with pantomime timing the caterer arrived with the precious curds. Mr J Wallace cutting up the Haggis wi ready slicht. Piper Kerr entertained the assembly with some new tunes and some old favourites before Mr I Zycinski rose to give a very personal and reflective Immortal Memory. We are very fortunate at Kilbarchan General Society in having Mr A Gordon to call upon to perform Tam O Shanter for us. Alan looked resplendent is his Guid Blue Bonnet and braces as he skelpit on through dub and mire. Mr A Gordon performing Tam O Shanter The singing of the Lass O Ballochmyle brought this part of the evening to a short hiatus while glasses were recharged. Mr A MacMillan got the proceedings back underway...

2018 AGM

After a short meeting prior to the AGM to discuss pending items the managers moved upstairs to the main hall to host the 253rd Annual General Meeting of the Kilbarchan General Society. A small number of members joined the Managers. The chairman, Mr Stephen Vaughan ~ Preses, called the meeting to order and Mr A M Connell ~ Officer read the minutes of the 252nd AGM in the absence of the late Mr John Connell ~ much missed Clerk and friend. The minutes were adopted. Mr Vaughan then asked the assembly to rise and observe a minutes silence for those members called home in the past 12 months. The minutes of the managers meetings were approved as read and Mr James Farmer ~ Treasurer rose and gave his report on another successful year. The Societies accounts are available on the OSCAR website for public scrutiny. Our internal Audit found the books to be in their usual good order and Mr Farmer asked to address the meeting with some memories of the late J Connell. Mr S Vaughan gave a short speech thanking the managers for their help over the past year then proposed Mr David Blair as Preses of the Society and presented him with the Chain of Office and the Chair. Mr Blair ~ Preses gave a short acceptance speech to say he was honoured to accept the post and proposed Mr Scott Tennant as his Vice Preses. The meeting then moved on to the election of Managers due to retire and willing to serve another 3 years. Mr E Black, Mr S Vaughan and Mr J Wallace were re-elected unanimously. The death of John Connell caused a bit of a crisis and the Preses was in the process of asking the Officer to take over those duties when Mr J Wallace proposed Mr S Vaughan for the roll this was seconded my Mr Farmer. The Officer and Treasurer were re-elected unopposed and Mr Farmer announced he would be reliquencing the position at the 254th AGM. Mr Vaughan assuming the role of Clerk created a position on the Management Team and Mr I Richie graciously accepted the nomination. The Preses invited the assembly for refreshments at the close of business The New Preses...

Sportsmans Dinner 2018

Saturday 6th of October was the Society’s Sportsmans Dinner with Craig Brown CBE as our speaker, the event was well attended and local MSP Tom Arthur joined Craig, the Preses and Mr Wallace at the top table. The evening began with Grace and then a fine meal of soup, steak pie and trimmings then cheese and biscuits to finish. Tom Arthur MSP had joined us to present a framed copy of the motion that he raised in the Scottish Parliament recognising the work we do in the locale and that we are the oldest charitable institution of our kind. Craig Brown is best known as the manager of the Scotland international football squad but has been involved in the game at all levels as a player, coach and manager. His mix of stories, jokes and anecdotes had the audience enthralled throughout. During a comfort break the Preses got to the fundraising part of the night with a giant football scratchcard and the auction of 2 bottles of whisky, a signed Aberdeen football, a 4 ball at Gleneagles and a signed Scotland jersey. Many thanks to everyone who bid on these. Craig Brown then took a question and answer session with many and varied questions from the audience. The Preses would like to extend the gratitude of the Society to Tom and Craig for attending as Craig especially had had to drive from Aberdeen to be with us. With our guests away home the members and guests of the society concluded the night with a right good...

Our History

The Kilbarchan General Society was founded in 1765 and is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, charitable institution of its type in Scotland. It was formed from several other institutions which operated in the village. The following pages give some of the history of the General Society, details of the current activities of the General Society along with contact details if you would wish to learn more of our work or even become a member. We hope you enjoy your visit and hope to see you at one of our events or Lilias Day, where the General Society Preses leads the historical pageant to the village park.

2019 Events

Mr David Blair is the Preses for this year and has proposed the following programme; we shall have a whisky/gin tasting evening in the Kilbarchan Bowling Club on the 18th of May with a series of sponsored events shortly after this. The annual Sportsman’s Dinner will be on the 5th of October, the speaker is still be to confirmed and a fish supper/quiz night is proposed with the date yet to be confirmed.

Running the Society

The General Society is managed by its office bearers, The Preses, Vice Preses, Secretary (or Clerk) and Treasurer along with eleven Managers. The Managers are elected for 3 years and are available for re-election if so desired. The Preses and Vice Preses hold office for 1 year. These officials meet on a regular, usually bi-monthly, basis. They plan the General Society’s events and fundraising ventures as well as considering new applications for membership and requests for funds. The A.G.M. of the Society is held on St.Barchan’s Day, the first Tuesday in December each year.

Contact Us

Please feel free to e-mail us should you wish any further information, regarding the Kilbarchan General Society.