The Rev. D. Norman Maclean founded Colinton Parish Church Literary Society (the ‘Lit’) in October 1903 with three Members of the congregation. They met in a wood and corrugated building in Dreghorn Loan, known as the Old Tin Hall. For more than 100 years the Lit programmes have covered both literary topics and those of general interest across the entire community from whom our membership is drawn. The Lit has hosted many eminent academics, authors, artists and musicians. In 1911, Sir Ernest Shackleton gave a lecture entitled ‘Furthest South’ and in 2011, author Ian Rankin let us into his secrets of crime writing. Our annual programme is based on suggestions made by the Members themselves and proposals for future talks may be handed in to the Secretary at any time. Membership is £10.00 for the whole season, with a visitor charge of £3.00 per meeting. Our meetings are held in the Dreghorn Loan Hall, Colinton EH13 0DE. Tea, coffee and wine is served from 7:30pm. Each talk will commence at 8pm and the evening finishes at 9pm. Colinton Parish Church Literary Society
Our programme covers both literary topics and those of general interest which should be attractive across the entire community from which our membership is drawn. Proposals for future talks may be handed in to the Programme Co-ordinator at any time. Hon. President The Rev. Rolf Billes President Morag Marshall Secretary Sally Fischbacher cmfischbacher@yahoo.co.uk Treasurer Katie Davidson Programme Coordinator Morag Marshall Morag.l.marshall@btinternet.com 0131 441 2108 Committee Colin Fischbacher, Joe McGeogh, Bob Mylchreest, Gemma Roper-Caldbeck, Lorraine Veitch-Rutherford Hon. Accounts Examiner A W Murray |
An Invitation to The Lit The 110th season of Colinton Parish Church Literary Society will begin on Wednesday 12th October 2022. We are delighted to be back after a two-year break due to the pandemic. Our meetings take place in Dreghorn Loan Hall, Colinton, EH13 0DE. Membership costs just £10 for the full programme of 17 meetings, or £3 per meeting for visitors. New members of all ages are assured of a warm welcome. Coffee, tea and wine are served from 7:30pm. Below you will find a full list of all talks for the coming season. 2022 12 Oct / Sir Walter Scott. Professor David Purdie talks about the life and legacy of one of Scotland’s greatest writers 19 Oct / Kidnapped. Lachlan Munro discusses Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel 26 Oct / Is a university education still worthwhile? Sir Paul Grice, Vice-Chancellor of Queen Margaret University, considers the question 02 Nov / Preacher of the Pacific. Kath Hay tells the story of the Scot from Kirkmahoe who faced up to the cannibals of the New Hebrides 09 Nov / Uncovering American history. David and Selda Dow give an illustrated overview of the archaeological sites of central America 16 Nov / Light at the end of the tunnel. Mike Scott and Chris Rutterford describe the work to develop this important Colinton landmark 23 Nov / Dickens' Favourite Blacking Factory. Neil Price tells the continuing story of Charles Day of 'Day and Martin', Bleak House and the foggy dealings of the Court of Chancery in the mid-19th century 30 Nov / Buffet supper with musical entertainment (note 7:30pm start) 2023 11 Jan / The Central Intelligence Agency. Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones shows how our understanding of the CIA has been shaped by its presentation in popular cartoons 18 Jan / How the movies learned to talk. James Beyer talks about the pioneering years of sound in cinema, with clips from key films 25 Jan / Bach - his music and his faith. Sam Orr talks about the 17th century composer and performs some of his music 01 Feb / Shining lights. Mike Bullock, CEO of the Northern Lighthouse Board, talks about its vital safety role 08 Feb / Beastly Edinburgh. Barclay Price gives us a taste of his new book, which includes many interesting examples of the role of animals in Edinburgh’s history 15 Feb / Scotland’s role in slavery. Alan McLean QC describes the case of the Tumbling Lassie 22 Feb / The 1956 Suez crisis. Ian Gardiner tells the story of one of the major political dramas of the early post-war years 01 Mar / Gasmasks and Lipstick. Margaret Collingwood talks about her experiences as a nurse in the First Gulf War 08 Mar / AGM / followed by Ann Lindsay’s talk on Lady MacRobert, geologist, cattle breeder and feminist |