1pm Thursday 2nd May.
Dr. John Larkin: Why do so many doctors want to write stuff?
Dr. John Larkin (hospital doctor at the local Victoria Infirmary) tells us why he started writing, and how he came to write his latest book How to Keep Your Doctor Happy (‘witty and well-observed’: Amazon.com) while attempting to answer the question: ‘Why do so many doctors want to write stuff?’.
The audience are forewarned (by John) that they will be treated to readings from Cynical Acumen and How to Keep Your Doctor Happy, before an open question-and-answer session.
1pm Thursday 9th May.
Ann Parsonage: The Glasgow Humane Society
The Glasgow Humane Society is the world’s first practical life saving charity and one of Scotland’s oldest charities.
The Society was established with a £200 legacy from a Glasgow merchant, James Coulter for ‘Prevention, Rescue and Recovery’ of people from the River Clyde and the City’s waterways. Ann is daughter of Ben Parsonage, the longest serving officer of the Society, and sister of George, who took on the work after Ben’s death in 1979. Born in the Society’s house in Glasgow Green, Ann cannot remember when she could not row and she speaks of how living in the park and her father’s work affected their family life.
Ann tells of how the work of the Society has been such a big part of Glasgow history over the past 223 years.
1pm Thursday 16th May.
Blair James: Images of Queen’s Park Football Club
The talk explores the story of Queen's Park Football Club – Scotland’s oldest senior club. Blair James will tell their story from humble beginnings on the recreational ground of the south side of Glasgow to their 21st century home at the iconic Hampden Park, the field of dreams for all of Scotland’s football heroes. The talk will give a fascinating glimpse of the men behind the beginnings of organised football and the game they have left as their legacy. Blair is the compiler of the pictorial history of Queen's Park Football Club. He took up supporting The Spiders after Third Lanark went bust in 1967 - but Queen’s Park, their history, their present and future are a true passion of his. Blair currently works as a guide at the Scottish Football Museum.
1pm Thursday 23rd May.
Three Poets: Three Languages
Maggie Rabatski, A C Clarke and Sheila Templeton are Glasgow based prize winning poets. They write in the three languages of Scotland; English, Gaelic and Scots, so their readings have a lovely mixture and variety. There will be a short introduction of themselves and their work, and then each poet will read for around 15 minutes, leaving 15 minutes for questions and discussion. There will be copies of their work for sale.
1pm Thursday 30th May.
Stuart Robertson: The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society
Stuart has been Director of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society since 2001. He has a varied and extensive role in promoting the Society around the world, developing the membership and running The Mackintosh Church as a quality visitor centre. Stuart regularly provides information and articles for television, radio, newspapers and magazines and has given presentations on Mackintosh all over the UK, Isle of Man and the USA. Stuart’s talk will cover the life and work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and include many familiar, and perhaps not so familiar, images from throughout his career.