January Quiz and Social Event

If Covid-19 regulations permit, this will be a light-hearted afternoon event at the library for members. Yvonne and Ina will (we hope!) set the quizzes for us, then there will be some light refreshment with a shared table.

• Date: 16th January 2021, 2.00pm
• Venue: Manchester City Library
• Quiz and social event
• Booking: none
• Cost: Free to members

Alan Crosby recently talked to us about 'Crossing the Solway' and this talk continues the story of some people who were encountered during that talk. The story takes us to Liverpool. Liverpool, like Manchester, was a popular destination for Scots and especially the younger educated sons who were financed or encouraged by their fathers to make their own way in the world. The subject of this story, and his Scottish peers, changed Liverpool for the better, and the changes they made improved lives all over the country and beyond.

• Date: 20th March 2021, 2.00pm
• Venue: Manchester City Library
• Speaker: Alan Crosby
• Booking: Eventbrite
• Cost: Free to members, £3 to non-members*

The Mitchell Library and its Holdings - Irene O'Brien

Irene O’Brien will bring to life for us the extensive holdings of the library and how they can help us with our family and regional research. Meantime, I noticed in researching this short article, that the library building also has an interesting history. The library is named after Stephen Mitchell, a wealthy tobacco producer, its earliest collection was originally gifted to the University of Glasgow in 1874 by the Glasgow philanthropist William Euing, the foundation stone of the new buildings was laid by Andrew Carnegie in 1907 and the building was opened by Lord Rosebery in 1911; the statue “Literature” on the dome was the work of Thomas Clapperton and the architectural competition for the build was won by William B Whitie. Now we look forward to hearing from Irene O’Brien about the library’s holding of over one million volumes!

• Date: 17th April 2021. 2.00pm
• Venue: Manchester City Library
• Speaker: Irene O’Brien
• Booking: Eventbrite
• Cost: Free to members, £3 to non-members*

The Great Tapestry of Scotland - Sue Whitaker

There has been a recent ‘tradition’ of making large tapestries to depict Scottish life, beginning with Helen Crummy who designed the Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry and the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry. More recently author Alexander McCall Smith initiated the idea of creating a tapestry that would cover 12,000 years of Scottish history. Creation of this tapestry – twice as long as the Bayeux Tapestry – involved numerous embroidery groups across the length and breadth of Scotland and over a thousand volunteers of all ages, the panels taking on average 500 hours of work each to complete. Sue Whittaker worked on Panel 116 and will talk about the creation and stitching of the tapestry, supported with photographs, and also the complexity of managing and volunteering in such a large project, something which, we suspect, might not always have been plain sailing! This promises to be a talk that will appeal to many of us, from historians and project managers to artists and embroiderers. Booking will be essential so please check the Eventbrite link on our Home Page to see when booking opens.

• Date: 15th May 2021, 2.00pm
• Venue: Manchester Central Library
• Speaker: Sue Whittaker
• Booking: Eventbrite
• Cost: Free to members, £3 to non-members*

Walking Tour, Gems of Manchester - Johnathan Schofield

As usual, we trust that July will bring us the ideal weather for a stroll around Manchester, and this time we will join Jonathan Schofield for a walking tour that takes in the Free Trade Hall, the Midland Hotel and the Refuge Building. These are three iconic buildings, full of architectural and social history interest, and a walk that should suit everyone. We shall meet in St Peter's Square, in front of the library. Information about Booking and Meeting Place will be posted here and on social media nearer to the date.

• Date: 17th July 2021, 2.00pm
• Venue: Manchester Central Library
• Speaker: Jonathan Schofield
• Booking: Eventbrite – members only
• Cost: to be confirmed

Double Feature - Chris Paton

If Covid-19 restrictions are lifted and if life has returned to the New Normal, with safe travel and events resumed, then this will be a great way to fill a November Saturday. Two talks by Chris Paton in the warmth of the Manchester Central Library, with opportunity between the two to buy some lunch at one of the library cafés, browse through the bookshelves in the Local History Section (on the ground floor), look at the wider range of books on the 4th floor, or just stretch your legs and have a pleasant walk around St Peter’s Square and Albert Square. The morning talk is sure to be popular because of the frequency of movement of people between Ireland and Scotland over the centuries, and we are certain to get some ideas about tracing any missing ancestors in our trees. The afternoon talk will also appeal to all as we are led into the legal side of Scottish marriages, a subject that will, no doubt, be both informative and entertaining.

To accommodate both talks, the afternoon talk will begin a little earlier than usual. Precise timings will be confirmed nearer the date, so please check these pages, our social media and Eventbrite from time to time for booking information

• Date: November 2021 - two events
• Venue: Manchester Central Library
• Speaker: Chris Paton
• Booking: Eventbrite
• Cost: Free to members, £3 per session to non-members*