2014

Our President in 2014/5 was:

Brian Taylor

He gave the Toast to Sir Walter at our 106th Annual Dinner on 5th March 2015 in the New Club, Edinburgh. 

Brian Taylor is BBC Scotland's Political Editor.

Brian joined the BBC in 1985. After a spell co-presenting the political programme Left, Right and Centre, he was appointed Political Correspondent and then Political Editor.

In that role he covers Scottish politics for all outlets, including BBC Scotland and UK network programmes.

His weekly Big Debate on Radio Scotland has become an audience favourite. In addition, he has presented Good Morning Scotland and is a regular contributor to other BBC programmes.

Before joining the BBC, Brian worked in newspapers for eight years including six years as a lobby correspondent at Westminster.

Brian has written two books on Scotland's new Parliament and co-written eight more. Among other things, he is the author of The Scottish Parliament (Polygon, Edinburgh University Press, 1999): a definitive account of the road to devolution and its consequences, now republished in revised form.

He updated that narrative in Scotland's Parliament: Triumph and Disaster (Edinburgh University Press, November 2002). This analyses the early years of the new Parliament.

He has lectured on politics and identity in Washington, Stockholm, Madrid, Edinburgh, London and throughout Germany.

Born in 1955 in Dundee, he is a former pupil of Dundee High School and graduated MA (Honours) in English from the University of St Andrews in 1977.

Brian is an honorary Professor in the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Edinburgh Napier University in 2008; and from Abertay University in 2010.

He is married with two sons.

Brian maintains contact with the realities of Scottish life through passionate support of Dundee United Football Club. Other interests include literature, theatre and golf.