Council Members

You can contact any of the council members directly with the email address firstname[at]walterscottclub.org.uk  ie. lee[at]walterscottclub.org.uk 

Council Members:

  • 2002 Lee A. Simpson+ (Events Convener* from 2009 - 2020) and (Hon. Treasurer from 2003 - present)
  • 2009 Prof. Peter Garside (Hon. Secretary from 2010 - 2015) and (Chairman from 2016 - 2019)
  • 2016 Madeleine MacKenzie
  • 2017 David Withington
  • 2017 Kirsty Archer-Thompson
  • 2017 Prof. Penny Fielding
  • 2019 Dr. Michael Wood (Hon. Secretary from 2020 - 2023)
  • 2020 Dr. Lucy Wood (Chairperson from 2022 - present)
  • 2021 Ian Chisholm
  • 2023 David McClay+ (Hon. Secretary from 2023 - present)
  • 2023 Eric Wishart
  • 2023 Dr. Ainsley McIntosh

Hon. Auditor: The Very Rev Allan Maclean of Dochgarroch 2006 - present

+Ex Officio

*In 2021 the role of the Events Convener was merged back into the function of the Hon. Secretary.


Former Council Members

In order of number of years of service to the Club:

38 Kenneth Sanderson C.A.  (Hon. Secretary for 21 years) 1894-1915 1922-1939

32 Elliot R. Smail (Hon. Treasurer) 1894-1915 1922-1933

32 Lt. Cdr. Dairmid Gunn O.B.E 1988-2020 (Chairman from 1999 - 2002)

29 Paul H. Scott (Chairman from 1986 - 1989) 1984-1989 1993-2017

28 T. Hunter Thomson (Hon. Auditor) 1956-1984

27 Alex Morrison O.B.E (Hon. Auditor) 1912-1915 1923-1939 1947-1955

27 Allan C. Frazer W.S. (Hon. Secretary from 1947-1971) 1947-1971 1982-1985

27 W. Fraser Elgin C.A. (Hon. Treasurer from 1981-2001) (and Secretary from 1987-1996 and 2003-2008) 1981-2008

25 Michael McIntosh-Reid (Chairman from 2002- 2005) 1984-2009

21 Adam Smail 1894-1915

21 D.F.Lowe F.R.S.E. 1894-1915

21 J.B. Sutherland S.S.C W.S.1894-1915

21 John Kerr LL.D 1894-1915

20 Alex Cameron 1989-2009

20 D.C Scott-Moncrieff S.W. (Hon. Treasurer from 1953 - 1972) 1952-1972

20 Dr. Hector B. Chawla 1989-2009

19 Kathleen Hardie 2004-2023

19 Alex Currie O.B.E. (Chairman from 1992 - 1995) 1990-2009

19 Alexander Darling J.P. 1899-1904 1922-1936

19 Alexander Laurie (Hon. Treasurer from 1933 - 1952) 1933-1939 1947-1952 1953-1961

17 Sheriff Principal Sir Frederick W.F. O'Brien (Chairman from 1989 - 1992) 1965-1968 1989-2003

16 T. Ritchie Campbell C.A. (Hon. Auditor) 1985-2001

15 Sheriff Isobel Poole (Chairman from 2005 - 2008) 2000-2015

15 George E. Watson CA 1894 - 1909 (Hon. Auditor) 1894 - 1909

14 Alasdair Hutton O.B.E. TD (Chairman from 2011 - 2016) 2004-2018

13 Mrs. Patricia Maxwell-Scott 1956-1959 1965-1968 1973-1976 1981-1998

12 A.D.V. Elliott 1978-1981 1986-1995

12 Charles Ritchie S.S.C. 1903-1915

12 J.L. Ewing 1903-1915

12 John Jordan 1894-1897 1902-1906 1908-1913

12 Mrs. Maeve Christie 1991-2003

12 Prof. David Purdie (Chairman from 2008 - 2011) 2004-2016

12 Prof. Ian Campbell 1987-1999

12 The Hon. Lord Prosser Q.C.1989-2001

11 Dame Jean Maxwell-Scott 1961-1963 1969-1972 1977-1980 1999-2002

11 H.W.Meikle 1932-1939 1951-1955

11 W.M. Parker 1933-1939 1947-1949 1954-1957

11 Martin Philip 2009-2020

10 Derek Mills 1995-2005

10 Dr. Bernard J. Brown 1985-1995

10 Dr. Tom Johnston 1990-2000

10 James B. Clark M.A., F.R.S.E. 1912-1915 1923-1930

10 James Small 1894-1904

10 Mrs Isobel Forsyth 1990-2000

10 R. Gemmell-Hutchison R.S.A 1911-1915 1930-1936

10 Sheriff Margaret Kidd Q.C.1952-1956 1959-1962 1971-1974

10 Ronnie Renton 2013-2023

9 Archie R. Turnbull 1991-2000

9 J.S. Russell (Hon. Treasurer for 3 years) 1972-1981

9 Rev. Duncan J. McGregor  (Hon. Secretary from 1997-2002) 1973-1977 1997-2002

9 Chris Harvie 2013-2022

8 Louise Gardiner (Hon. Secretary from 2015 - 2020) 2014-2022

8 Alexander M'Callum 1922-1930

8 J. Turnbull Smith LL.D 1896-1900 1907-1911

8 James Hay 1902-1906 1922-1928

8 John Alison M.A. 1909-1912 1922-1927

8 Sheriff Gordon Shiach (Chairman from 1995 - 1998) 1995-2003

8 T.J. Millar C.A.1931-1939

8 William Thomson W.S.1907-1912 1922-1925

7 Basil Skinner 1986-1989 1972-1976

7 F.M.Collinson 1962-1965 1969-1973

7 J.C.Smith C.B.E 1932-1939

7 J.H. Thin 1926-1933

7 Peter C. Millar W.S. (Hon. Secretary from 1972-1978) 1972-1978 1986

7 Sheriff J. Aikman Smith 1969-1972 1985-1989

7 Sir David Paulin 1922-1929

7 W.K. Dickson 1932-1939

7 W.L. Carrie M.A. 1897-1904

7 William Bonnar 1922-1923 1931-1936

7 William Greenhill C.A 1922-1925 1928-1932

7 William K. Allan 1922-1929

7 William Watt W.S. (Hon. Secretary from 1934-1939) 1934-1939 1947-1949

6 A.B. Campbell W.S.1937-1943

6 A.O. Curle 1933-1939

6 A.S. Ritchie 1929-1935

6 A.W. Russell W.S.1930-1936

6 Bill Lynch 2002-2008

6 Brian J. Gill 2007-2013

6 C.D.L. Menzie  (Chairman from 1979-1985) 1979-1985

6 Colonel C.H.K. Corsar O.B.E.1987-1993

6 Dr. Lindsay Levy 2011-2017

6 George Lorimer 1905-1908 1922-1925

6 Hon. Lord St. Vigeans 1930-1936

6 J. Ainslie Thin 1947-1949 1959-1963

6 J.H. Macdonald W.S.1929-1935

6 J.R. Peddie 1933-1939

6 James A. Ferguson 1923-1929

6 James Milligan (Hon. Secretary for 1933) 1933-1939

6 P. M.Macintyre, Advocate1895-1901

6 Prof. David Daiches 1985-1990

6 Stuart Douglas Elliot 1894-1900

5 Bridget Falconer-Salkeld 2007-2012

5 Charles A. Malcolm 1936-1939 1947-1949

5 D..A. Foulis 1936-1939 1947-1949

5 David S. Reith W.S. (Hon Secretary for 1979-1983)1979-1983 1986

5 Dr. A. Melville Clark 1954-1956 1959-1962

5 Dr. H.H. Mills 1975-1980

5 E.A. Savage 1927-1933

5 F.P. Milligan W.S.1922-1925 1947-1949

5 Hippolyte J. Blanc R.S.A. 1901-1906

5 Ian J. Boyd 1975-1980

5 J.A.R. Moffatt 1975-1980

5 J.B. Rankin 1984-1989

5 J.L. Clyde 1936-1939 1947-1949

5 John Alison 1922-1927

5 John Harrison J.P. 1898-1903

5 John Hogben 1926-1931

5 Mrs Pringle of Torwoodlee 1975-1980

5 R. Addison Smith 1897-1902

5 R.M. Martin W.S.1984-1989

5 Rev. R. H. Fisher 1923-1928

5 Sheriff Jameson 1894-1899

5 Sherifff A.B. Wilkinson 2004-2011

5 Sir Alexander K. Wright K.B.E 1926-1931

5 Sir Andrew Grierson 1927-1933

5 Sir J.R. Philip O.B.E Q.C 1952-1957

5 Sir John M. Clark 1922-1927

5 T.A.C. Mortimer 1900-1905

5 T.P. Macdonald Q.C.1952-1957

5 The Hon. Lord Birsay 1965-1968 1972-1974

5 The Rt. Hon. Lord Mathers K.T. 1956-1959 1963-1964

5 Thomas D. Hunter 1922-1927

5 W. Fraser Dobie 1922-1927

5 W. Glassford Walker 1934-1939

5 W. King Gillies 1927-1933

5 William Whyte 1934-1939

5 Wm. Park 1966-1971

4 Prof. Sir Iain Torrance KCVO Kt FRSE (Chairman from 2019 - 2022) 2018-2022

4 A.R. Waterston 1974-1978

4 Adam Letham 1950-1954

4 Alex Mitchell 1935-1939

4 Alexander Gilmour 1897-1901

4 D.S.M. Imrie 1951-1955

4 David Deuchar F.F.A 1900-1904

4 Denis Aldridge 1972-1976

4 Dr. Bill Bell 2013

4 Dr. Iain G. Brown 1989-1993

4 Dr. James C. Corson 1956-1960

4 Dr. R.R. Taylor Q.C.1970-1974

4 Dr. W.J. Lyon Dean 1976-1980

4 E.K. Cameron 1976-1980

4 G.A. Macnab 1974-1978

4 Ivor Guild W.S. 1958-1962

4 J. Liddell Geddie 1947-1951

4 J.G.L. Wright 1981-1985

4 J.J. Herdman W.S.1929-1933

4 J.J. Lamb 1979-1983

4 J.R. Fiddes 1961-1965

4 James Bruce 1898-1902

4 James Currie 1926-1930

4 John Ayling 1901-1905

4 John Cameron (Dean of the Faculty) 1950-1954

4 John Milligan 1899-1903

4 K.H. Osborne 1977-1981

4 Michael Bruce 1971-1975

4 Miss D.M. Little 1976-1977 1979-1980

4 Miss M. Dorothy Nicolson 1950-1954

4 Miss Margaret Laurie 1968-1972

4 Mrs Mary W. Dale 1954-1958

4 Mrs. Margaret Bayne 1981-1985

4 P.J. Oliphant D.K.S 1968-1972

4 Prof. Paterson D.D. 1903-1907

4 Prof. William Annan C.A.1947-1951

4 Prof. Wm. Beattie 1976-1980

4 Rev. A. Wallace Williamson D.D. 1909-1913

4 Rev. Adam W. Burnet 1953-1957

4 Rev. Dr. W.D. Cattanach 1979-1983

4 Rev. Ronald Selby Wright 1953-1957

4 Sandra McNeil 2013-2017

4 Sir H.J.C. Grierson 1937-1939 1947-1949

4 Sir William Watson 1973-1977

4 T.G. Nasmyth 1928-1932

4 The Hon. Lord Kilbrandon 1962-1966

4 The Rt. Rev. K.C.H. Warner (Bishop of Edinburgh) 1950-1954

4 Very Rev. E.W. Brady 1981-1985

4 W. Addis Miller 1928-1932

4 W. Schomberg Scott 1977-1981

4 W. W. Robertson 1894-1898

4 W.A. Elliot 1961-1965

4 W.S. McIntosh-Reid 1967-1971

4 Walter T. Watson K.C.1926-1930

4 William Mill 1950-1954

4 William Park 1955-1959

3 A.T. Clark C.B.E 1986-1989

3 A.W. McGregor W.S. 1904-1907

3 Alan F. Stark 1967-1970

3 Alastair M. Dunnett 1966-1969

3 Alastair Mackenzie 1964-1967

3 Alexander Pollock 1990-1993

3 Angus Macbeath C.A.1970-1973

3 Archibald Milne 1922-1925

3 C. Martin Hardie R.S.A. 1906-1909

3 Charles A. Fraser W.S.1970-1973

3 Courtenay J. Shiells C.A.1912-1915

3 David J. Bogie T.D., B.Com., Ph.D., C.A.1968-1971

3 David Maxwell Q.C.1957-1960

3 Dr. Donald Low 1986-1989

3 Dr. G.R. Thomson 1963-1966

3 G.A. Pollock 1971-1974

3 H.A. Shewan Q.C.1955-1958

3 H.R. Leslie M.B.E, Q.C 1955-1958

3 Hon. Mrs C.H.K. Corsar 1982-1985

3 Ian D. McIntosh 1960-1963

3 J. Murray Watson 1949-1952

3 J.B. Mackenzie 1970-1973

3 James L. Anderson 1894-1987

3 James Monteth Grant W.S.1958-1961

3 John B. Clark 1905-1908

3 John G. Jameson, Advocate 1910-1913

3 John Struthers 1894-1897

3 John W. Oliver 1949-1952

3 Kenneith Croft Gray 1963-1966

3 Major Borthwick of Borthwick 1966-1969

3 Michael E. Beilby 1968-1971

3 Miss Campbell Hamilton 1978-1981

3 Miss Jean Gracie 1961-1965

3 Miss M. Maxwell 1964-1967

3 Miss M. Tait 1964-1967

3 Miss Marion Lochhead 1957-1960

3 Miss. Flora Welch 1980-1983

3 Miss. Margaret Laurie 1982-1985

3 Mrs. P.J.G. Hiddleston 1982-1984

3 Mrs. Sheila Burness 1974-1977

3 N. Croumbie Macpherson 1964-1967

3 Neville Fullwood 1987-1990

3 Peter Millar 1967-1970

3 Prof. G.L. Montgomery 1965-1968

3 Prof. W.L. Renwick 1949-1952

3 Prof. Wm S. Tindal O.B.E. 1959-1962

3 R. Butchart 1955-1958

3 R.S. Morpeth 1978-1981

3 R.W. Borland 1974-1977

3 Rev. Dr. R. Smith 1984-1986

3 Rev. H.C. Whitley 1958-1961

3 Rev. J.B. Donald 1977-1980

3 Rev. J.B. Longmuir 1966-1969

3 Rev. Murdo Ewen McDonald 1957-1960

3 Sheriff D.M. Campbell 1960-1963

3 Sheriff M'Lennan K.C. 1906-1909

3 Sir A. D. Buchanan Smith C.B.E.1954-1957

3 Sir James Monteith-Grant 1973-1976

3 Sir John Bruce 1971-1974

3 Sir John H.F. McEwen 1956-1959

3 T. Norman F. Salvesen 1949-1952

3 T.S. Thomson 1912-1915

3 The Hon. Lord Migdale 1958-1961

3 The Hon. Lord Thomson 1967-1970

3 The Rt. Hon. Lord Milligan 1960-1963

3 Thomas A. Joynt 1949-1952

3 W.B. Blaikie 1897-1900

3 W.Dickson 1978-1981

3 W.F. Arbuckle 1949-1952

3 W.Y. King 1902-1905

3 William B. Wilson W.S.1905-1908

3 William Garson 1896-1899

2 A. Davidson Smith C.A. 1903-1905

2 A.C. Murray 1950-1952

2 A.L.F. Smith C.B.E 1952-1954

2 Alexander Morgan D.Sc., F.R.S.E. 1911-1913

2 C.H. Stewart 1981-1983

2 Charles M. Malcolm 1947-1949

2 D.M. Burns W.S.1985-1986

2 David Patrick LL.D F.R.S.E. 1894-1896

2 Dr. C.D. Waterson 1984-1985

2 Dr. H.J.L. Robbie 1961-1963

2 F.G. Sutherland 1947-1949

2 Gordon Douglas 1913-1915

2 J. B. Rankin 1967-1969

2 J. Boyd Jamieson 1947-1949

2 J.M. Caie 1947-1949

2 J.M. Erskine C.B.E 1947-1949

2 James J. Dobbie D.Sc. 1908-1910

2 James Kirkwood 1894-1896

2 John Donaldson 1896-1898

2 John L. Mounsey 1894-1896

2 John Smart 1897-1899

2 Lord Cameron Q.C.1984-1985

2 Miss Ida Hayward 1947-1949

2 Miss Jessie O. Ramsay 1952-1954

2 Miss Vera Syme Henderson 1981-1983

2 Mrs L.M.Skinner 1981-1983

2 Peter H. Crassweller 1972-1974

2 Principal Emeritus J. Cameron Smail O.B.E 1950-1952

2 Prof. David Hewitt 2012-2013

2 Prof. J. MacQueen 1991-1993

2 Prof. Laurie 1894-1896

2 R.T. Norfor C.A. 1905-1907

2 Rev. A. Pollck Sym 1937-1939

2 Rev. D.D.L. Lockhart 1960-1961

2 Rev. I. Dunlop 1984-1985

2 Robin D. Fulton (Hon. Secretary)1983-1984

2 Sir Alastair C. Blair W.S 1967-1969

2 Sir Hugh Watson 1965-1966

2 Sir John I. Falconer W.S.1947-1949

2 Sir William C. Johnston 1937-1939

2 T. Craig Brown 1898-1900

2 The Rt. Hon. George Mathers M.P. 1949-1951

2 The Rt. Hon. Lord Polwarth 1952-1954

2 The Very Rev. R. Foskett 1964-1966

2 Tom Fleming 1969-1971

2 Very Rev. James Black 1947-1949

2 Very Rev. Ronald Selby Wright 1972-1974

2 W.J. Kinlock Anderson 1896-1898

2 W.Scott Dalgleish LL.D 1894-1896

2 William Blair W.S.1913-1915

1 Capt. J. Noel Phillipps 1965

1 Joan Dunnett (Hon. Secretary 2009)

1 John Russell 1894

1 Mitchel Thomson 1895

1 Mr E. W. Burness 1963

1 Mrs Margaret Buchanan-Smith 1989

1 R.D. Graham F.R.S.E 1910-1911

1 Sheriff Vary Campbell 1900

1 Sir John R. Findlay 1926

From 1894 until 1979 our President was effectively also our Chairman. During those years the AGM was held in the middle of the Annual Dinner! In 1979 Fraser Elgin changed the Club from having just one meeting a year to having several... and in doing so he also moved the date of the AGM... From that date the Council elected one of its members to be Chairman instead. 

(Some dates have been approximated where the data was not available)


Council Minute Books

They contain signatures of almost all past Presidents including: Stanley Baldwin, Harold Macmillan, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, C.S.Lewis, Ludovic Kennedy, Lord Tweedsmuir and Magnus Magnusson 

From 1894-1958 View it here: 1894 Minute Book

From 1958-1986 View it here: 1958 Minute Book .