The Lion Foundry on BBC Alba: Wednesday 24th June 2015

BBC Alba is showing again the 1978 series, Diary of Britain, which focuses on the lives of fifteen communities throughout the United Kingdom.

Episode 2, broadcast on Wednesday 24th June 2015 was "Men and Iron" which followed the work of Kirkintilloch's Lion Foundry between the 11th and 15th of December 1978. It is available here on BBC iPlayer until 19th July 2015.

Report on the Summer Outing: Saturday 6th June 2015

Notwithstanding the wet and windy weather, 31 boarded the coach at 9.30 am in Sainsbury’s car park in eager anticipation of a full day’s outing. Travelling by motorway the group arrived at Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway for the great majority to catch the 10.45am train to Manuel hauled by the former LNER steam locomotive Morayshire. As the train departed the station, those on the platform and also some of the passengers were reminded of their childhood - not only by the spectacle but also by the sight and smell of steam, smoke and sulphur fumes!

Morayshire after arrival at Mauel station. © I.S. Ruddock

The Turkish Class 8F undergoing restoration. © I.S. Ruddock

The travellers returned some 60 minutes later to begin a visit of the Museum of Scottish Railways which houses a fine collection of exhibits that record and display railway history - both steam and diesel. Departure from Bo’ness was scheduled for 1.00 pm which gave the group sufficient time to appreciate the exhibits including the LMS designed Class 8F locomotive No.45170 built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow and first steamed on 28th February 1942; after modification, it was shipped by the Ministry of Supply to Turkey and but repatriated to the UK in 2010. This visit was a great start to the day. 

The End of an Era: Update on the Annual General Meeting, Friday 17th April 2015

An important event in the life of the Society occurred at the 2015 AGM on 17th April when Mr Bill McNeill resigned as President. Bill has been a member of the Society for 37 years and was the eleventh and longest serving President. He took up the post in 1991 and during this period the Society’s membership grew to its present large size. The Society is grateful to Bill for his dedicated service and looks forward to welcoming him back to its meetings in the coming session.

As the AGM also included the launch by David Graham of the review of the Society’s constitution, an interim President (Ivan Ruddock) was elected for the 2015-16 session with the other office bearers and committee members remaining unchanged. New elections will take place at the 2016 AGM.