Court of Deans’ annual meeting

BRECHIN Guildry hosted the annual meeting of the Court of Deans of Guild of Scotland, with Angus Provost Alex King welcoming delegates from across the country.

The Court of Deans is the gathering of the 11 principal Guildries in Scotland, including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, as well as Arbroath, Ayr, Dundee, Lanark, Perth and Stirling, and Berwickupon-Tweed — the link with the corresponding association south of the Border, the Freemen of England and Wales.

The provost’s welcome was given at a buffet lunch in the Mechanics’ Institute in Brechin and Mr King spoke about the long history of the Guildries in the towns and cities across Scotland as representatives of the merchants and trades but which now have predominantly charitable aims.

The Earl and Countess of Dalhousie welcomed the group for tours of Brechin Castle and the Rev Dr Roderick Graham gave a guided tour of Brechin Cathedral, which celebrates its 800th anniversary in 2020. The event was rounded off by a dinner in Brechin’s Northern Hotel, at which Dean of the Guildry of Brechin, Dr Stanley Callaghan, who has served as the Lord President of the Court of Deans for the last year, handed over the chain of office to William Campbell, Dean of the Guildry of Ayr.

Principal speaker was the Earl of Dalhousie and the vote of thanks was given by Angus Callegari, a former Dean of the Guildry.