Group Leader: David Bowman 01292 474067
Location: North Ayr Parish Church (Formally Newton Wallacetown)
Day & Time: Wednesday 10.00 am - 12.00 noon (fortnightly)
David Bowman – Group Leader
Many thanks to the History Group!
OiR History Group Programme September to December 2026
9th September Ian McAnulla – History and Cartoons
Cartoons can help us to understand events in the past. For example, why is a cartoon showing John Bull falling off a pile of stones? Why does another cartoon feature a group of men ransacking a school classroom?
23rd September Isobel Mullarkey – The History of Criminology
7th October Jean Lockley – The Italian Scots
21st October Meg Steel – Lord North
Lord North was Prime Minister from 1770 – 1792. As this year is the 250th anniversary of American Independence, and Lord North was the incumbent Prime Minister at the time and was blamed for the catastrophe, it seems relevant to talk about his time in office, and some of the decisions taken. The choices are fascinating because they are a mirror image of some of the decisions taken in the last two years by the current American President. The meeting will stop around 11.30am as this is also OiR Welcome Day, this year being held at Ayr Town Hall in the afternoon.
4th November Ian McAnulla – Myths of the 20th Century
Today, the term myth has evolved to mean a widely held, but false, belief, or misconception. The talk will discuss some recent myths from the 20th Century. For example, how did the “stab-in-the-back” myth help the Nazis rise to power?
18th November Meg Steel – James Murray and the OED (Oxford English Dictionary)
Yet another brilliant Scotsman, whose work brought together the OED. He gathered information from many cultures, and words from a vast variety of people. The talk will cover a brief outline of Murray’s life, and his methods of collecting information for the dictionary, and finish with examples of some of his contributors.
2nd December Ian McAnulla – Title of talk to be confirmed0
16th December Mick Roebuck – Some Scottish influences on the early British takeover of Australia
Meetings will resume on 13th January 2027
Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum Trip – 5th June
On Wednesday 5th June 2024, 8 members of the History Group travelled by car to the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum, where an interesting day out was experienced by all who attended. At the Museum a highlight was the talk on the salvaging and reconstruction of the Spitfire which crashed into Loch Doon during World War 2. Refreshments were enjoyed in the on site café.
Other members of the History Group visited the Museum of Rural Life at East Kilbride.
OiR History Group
This thriving group finished the 2024/2025 session, on 18th June, with a bus trip to Dunfermline. Members of the History Group and fellow OiR members – 50 in total – had a very enjoyable day away.
We had the opportunity of visiting Dunfermline Abbey, Palace, and Church; Andrew Carnegie’s Birthplace Museum; Pittencrieff Park; and other places of interest including the town itself.
A memorable time was had by all attending. Many thanks to Liz McAdam for all her arrangements and to Margaret Fagan for help with booking the bus.
David Bowman (Group Leader)
History Group trip to Cumnock Heritage Centre, 22nd May 2024.
On Wednesday 22nd May, our normal meeting venue was not available to us due to it being used as a Covid-Jab centre. Also, a number of our members had appointments to receive their jabs there, consequently a trip was arranged to the Cumnock Heritage Centre where 16 of us were in attendance. Jim and Audrey Smith gave us excellent conducted tours of the centre and rounded off our visit by giving us a cuppa and a biscuit. A great morning was enjoyed by all present.
First meeting of the 2023-2024 season:
The History Group had a great start to its 2023/24 programme on Wednesday 13th September. Ian McAnulla gave an excellent illustrated talk entitled History and Cartoons to an audience of 48 group members. We were also pleased to welcome two new members to the group, and would be happy to welcome along any others who would be interested in joining our very friendly group, at future meetings.
26th July 2023 – 2nd trip to Glasgow Museum Resource Centre
Wednesday 26th July 2023 – The History Group enjoyed a second opportunity to visit GMRC to see a selection of the vast number of objects being stored there. The trip was again organised by Liz Macadam and on this visit 15 people attended. With a different guide from our previous visit, time was spent in two of the pods. Again, tea/coffee was provided following our visit. A most interesting and enjoyable time was had by all those attending.
28th June 2023 – Trip to Glasgow Museum Resource Centre
Wednesday 28th June 2023 – 15 members of OiR’s History Group visited the Glasgow Museums Resource Centre. Approximately 2% of the items held by the Museum Service are currently on display in the city museums, so there are numerous items held in storage. Although being stored, members of the public can arrange to view these items which are stored in themed pods. On our trip today we were able to view items stored in 3 of these pods. Complimentary teas/coffees were available after our tour. We are grateful to Liz Macadam for making the arrangements for this visit, and also a second visit to be held on 26th July.
7th June 2023 – Trip to New Lanark Heritage Centre
The History Group organised one away day this year. A trip to New Lanark Heritage Centre was held on 7th June and made available to all members of OiR Ayr.
38 members travelled to New Lanark by bus, when a most successful day out was enjoyed by all. 32 members opted for the Annie McLeod Experience and a self led tour of the village, while 6 opted to walk to the Falls of Clyde (below photo). The period of warm dry weather being experienced currently had resulted in the level of water in the river being very low.
16th Nov 2022 – Trip to Heritage Museum, Cumnock
On Wednesday 16th November 22 members visited the Heritage Centre at Cumnock. We are grateful to Frances Corbett for arranging this most interesting and enjoyable trip. Prior to today’s visit most members were unaware of the vast range of exhibits on display. We are also very grateful for the number of volunteer staff members who were on hand to talk about and give meaning to the exhibits, and for laying on refreshments. This was voted a great visit by all who attended. More information can be found by visiting the Cumnock Heritage Centre website.
8th June 2022 – Trip by bus to the Burrell
On Wednesday, 8th June 2022, OiR’s History Group enjoyed “a good day out” at the Burrell Museum in Pollok Country Park, Glasgow. The museum reopened on 29th March of this year, having been closed for refurbishment since 23rd October 2016. A ‘Bennett’s of Kilwinning’ coach with 48 OiR members on board arrived at the Burrell at 10.45 am.
The Burrell Collection is one of the greatest art collections ever amassed by one person, the shipping magnate, Sir William Burrell, and consists of more than 9000 objects, and spans 6000 years of history. John and Denis Rattenbury, fellow OiR members, well known to all of us in OiR, are museum guides at the Burrell. We are so fortunate, in that, divided into two groups of 24, then sub-divided into 4 groups of 12, John and Denis, individually guided 12 of us at a time through some of the galleries of the Burrell Collection. The first groups were guided at 11.30am and the second groups at 1.30pm.
There are 2000 exhibits on 3 floors exhibited on 24 galleries at present. I first visited the Burrell in the mid 1980s with my family. My first impression then was that the woodland with magnificent trees was so visible through the glass walls of the museum. I had never forgotten that first impression it gave. The Warwick Vase made a large impact on me, as did Lohan—a Buddhist Disciple—near the entance.
The restaurant and coffee bar were well supported by OiR members . We had actually taken packed lunches—-just in case! It gave us great pleasure in having a special OiR member accompany us on this outing—Harry Richardson, our centenarian—–now 104 years old—accompanied by his daughter, Penny.
When not on a tour with John or Denis, we were free to wander wherever the mood took us. Admission is free in this wonderful museum. Donations may be deposited in a box near the Grand Entrance. We left the museum at 4pm to return to Ayr, It had been a showery, dreich day–weatherwise, but a very full, interesting day for 48 fortunate OiR members.
Many thanks to David Bowman , Group Leader of OiR’s History Group for arranging this most enjoyable trip, and to John and Denis Rattenbury. In their usual , extremely competent fashion, they informed, educated and amused 48 OiR members . A happy, relaxed coach load of OiR members returned to Ayr that afternoon, having had their minds stimulated and informed by a really satisfactory, good day-out. Amy Kinnaird
22nd June 2022 – Trip by bus to Bannockburn
On Wednesday 22nd June 2022 a group of 40 OiR members, mainly from the History Group, travelled by coach to the Battle of Bannockburn Centre, close to the site of the 1314 battle.
By coincidence, the visit took place on the anniversary of the countdown to the battle.
Many took advantage of joining in the Bannockburn Experience, an illustrated talk through the prelude to the battle, the battle itself, and the aftermath of the battle.
This was well presented and set the historical scene, and context, in laymen’s terms.
The weather was also kind to us, allowing us to view the outdoor section of the Centre, and take in the magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. The view towards nearby Stirling Castle, which has important connections with the Battle, was particularly breathtaking.
Everything, and everyone, contributed towards this being a memorable, and enjoyable, day out.
With an average attendance of 65 before covid-19 social distancing restrictions, this is one of the largest groups in the OiR. It meets every other Wednesday from 10am to 12noon including the vital coffee break.
The group has gone from strength to strength under the guiding hand of its leader, David Bowman. He has a small committee, which makes up the programme. Speakers include both members and guest speakers. The programme, which, under normal circumstances, is advertised on the group’s web page, is arranged months in advance so it is likely that David and his team are already thinking of topics for when they restart.
In addition to the fortnightly meetings, trips are organised to places near and far, e.g. Stirling Castle, Caerlaverock Castle, the underground museum at Glasgow central station.
Because of their common interests, members also arrange “side-shoot” meetings e.g. to events at the Irvine Harbour Arts Centre. All in all, it’s a very sociable group. Come and join us!
OiR Ayr 