27th November 2025 (note – this talk was delayed a week from its programmed date due to weather)

Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson gave an insightful and informative talk on the ‘Scottish Samurai’, Thomas Glover. Glover  was a prominent business man who was influential in Japan at a time when that country was going through considerable political and economic change. The speaker explained that Glover helped the rising generation of political and business leaders make contacts in Britain, which among other things led to Aberdeen benefitting from orders for the construction of ships. Glover had many business interests including with  Mitsubishi and Kirin beer. In the second half of the talk the North East of Scotland connections were explored, notably in Fraserburgh, where Glover was born, and in Aberdeen where he lived with his parents in ‘Glover House’ in the north of the city.

16th October 2025

Kathleen Anderson

Kathleen Anderson gave a well researched talk on the subject of the Balmoral Cairns. These are sixteen stone cairns on the Balmoral and Birkhall Estates. The context was explained of Victoria and Albert buying the Estates and in doing so having a long lasting impact on Upper Deeside, and a continuing Royal connection to the area. It was pointed out that the first cairn commemorated Prince Albert, whose early death devasted the Queen. Thereafter Victoria commissioned cairns, largely to mark the weddings of her nine children. It was fascinating to learn how through the marriage of her children, ties were made and strenghened with Royal families in Prussia, Russia and Spain; and finally we learnt of more recent cairns to mark milestones in Queen Elizabeth II’s life.

Cairns Smith

18th September 2025

Professor Cairns Smith gave a fascinating talk on two eminent North East of Scotland doctors who made a major contribution to our understanding of tropical diseases and their treatment. Patrick Manson from Old Meldrum graduated from the University of Aberdeen and had a medical career in Britain and China, founding the College of Medicine in Hong Kong. The talk explained his discovery of the connection between Malaria and the Mosquito. James Cantlie was another North East doctor featured in the talk. Like Manson his career took him to China and he co-founded the Hong Kong College of Medicine. He also played a role in helping to save Sun Yat Sen from kidnapping in London, thereby enabling Sun Yat Sen to later be instrumental in overthrowing the Manchu Chinese Empire. Professor Smith through his own wide knowledge of medicine was able to combine erudition with insights into the impact of these and other Scottish doctors.