The 2026 AGM will be held by Zoom on Friday 1st May starting at 7pm. Following the AGM and starting at 7.30pm Professor Lee Innes will present a talk on The Moredun Foundation, Its History and Achievents.
The Agenda for the AGM, the draft Minutes of the 2025 AGM and the Report and Accounts for 2025 can be accessed by clicking on:
To attend the AGM by Zoom please register by clicking here and following the instructions from Zoom.
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John Kerry’s talk about Temple Old Kirk traces the long history of this fascinating place.
John Kerry talks about:
Temple Old Kirk, its history and conservation.
Temple Old Kirk is a late medieval Parish Church, the roofless remains of which stand on the bank of the South Esk river in the village of Temple, Midlothian. It is interesting not just for its architectural qualities and picturesque setting, but also because it was built over the foundations of the church of the Knights Templar at Balantrodoch; Balantrodoch was effectively the headquarters of the Knights Templar operation in Scotland. The talk will delve into the history of the church and the work that has been done to conserve it.
John Kerry retired to Temple Village in 2014, after a career editing documentaries for BBC and Channel 4. Since 2021 he has been Secretary of Temple Old Kirk Friends, a charity dedicated to raising money for, and overseeing the conservation of, Temple Old Kirk, and some of the fine memorials in its graveyard.
To watch John’s talk click here
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Diane Martin will talk about: The Story of Newhailes House
Diane has been at Newhailes for seven years and will tell the story of the house and estate, taking you through seven generations of the family who once owned Newhailes – what each one did to create the house and estate we see today.
With a degree in Medieval European History Diane has done extensive research on the site, house, and family. Her contributions to the guidebook, newsletters, and social media (as well as internal projects) inform the regular and specialised tours of the house.
The talk is open to everyone and is free.
To register for this Zoom talk just click on the Zoom link here, enter your email address and you will be sent a Zoom link to join the talk:
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Watch the recording of the talk given by Ray Lafferty (Curator at the National Mining Museum in Newtongrange) given on 4th December 2025
Ray explores the links between mining and football in Scotland with a particular focus on Midlothian and East of Scotland clubs.
Coal mining communities across central Scotland were the incubators of great footballers and a series of successful football club managers.
Working day in day out in a dangerous environment, miners were reliant on each other for safety which naturally fostered a solidarity within mining communities. Resilience, hard work and teamwork, all traits commonly found within the coal mining workforce, are important characteristics of professional football. Mining created strong and fearless players, rich in character and resolute in their loyalty.
The talk reveals Scotland’s linked mining and football heritage and legacy.
To watch the recording of the talk click here.
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The Last Battle Between the Independent Kingdoms of Scotland and England.
David Caldwell gave a talk to the Esk Valley Trust on 4 |September 2025 about:
The Battle of Pinkie, 1547
This battle was of considerable importance in shaping the future development of Britain. It has been much studied by military historians but should also be better known and understood more widely, especially those living in the area where the battle and campaigning took place. It is remarkably well documented in early sources, including illustrations made by participants.
David is now retired from his career in the National Musuem of Scotland, latterly as Keeper of Archeology and Keeper of Scotland and Europe. Most of his research interests focussed on Medieval and Post-Medieval Scotland. Since retiring he has taken on various roles including the chairmanship of OnFife, the presidency of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and serving as a board member of the National Trust for Scotland.
In 2023 he co-authored, with Vicky Oleksy and Bess Rhodes, a detailed study of the battle (The Battle of Pinkie, 1547. The Last Battle Between the Independent Kingdoms of Scotland and England; Oxford: Oxbow, 2023).
To watch the recording of David’s talk click here.
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Learn about the last battle between the independent Kingdoms of England and Scotland.
David Caldwell presented his talk on The Battle of Pinkie, 1547 on September 4 2025.
This battle was of considerable importance in shaping the future development of Britain. It has been much studied by military historians but should also be better known and understood more widely, especially those living in the area where the battle and campaigning took place. It is remarkably well documented in early sources, including illustrations made by participants.
David is now retired from his career in the National Musuem of Scotland, latterly as Keeper of Archeology and Keeper of Scotland and Europe. Most of his research interests focussed on Medieval and Post-Medieval Scotland. Since retiring he has taken on various roles including the chairmanship of OnFife, the presidency of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and serving as a board member of the National Trust for Scotland.
In 2023 he co-authored, with Vicky Oleksy and Bess Rhodes, a detailed study of the battle (The Battle of Pinkie, 1547. The Last Battle Between the Independent Kingdoms of Scotland and England; Oxford: Oxbow, 2023).
The watch the recording of David’s talk click here.
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Watch this video about George Forrest (1873-1932) who was born in Falkirk, educated in Kilmarnock, lived in the Esk Valley as an adult – but made his name as an adventuring plant collector in China.
In 1904, through his connections to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Forrest was given the opportunity to travel to the province of Yunnan in southwest China to collect plants and seeds on behalf of nurseries and estate owners, becoming one of the most successful and prolific collectors to do so. It is likely that most of our gardens will contain plants that have had something to do with George Forrest. The process of collecting plants in China was always interesting but never straightforward, and amongst his archives held in the Library of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh are thousands of letters and photographs that help to tell his perilous and fascinating story.
George Forrest’s story is told by Leonie Paterson who has been the Botanic Garden’s Archivist for over 20 years. She says that her favourite part of the job is working with the Forrest archive and telling his incredible story. – and this rings out as she takes us through the adventurous life of Forrest as a plant collector in remote parts of China in the early part of the twentieth century.
To watch the video click here
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Watch the video of Leonie Paterson’s talk about George Forrest – a Scottish plant collector in China (Presented on 19 June 2025)
George Forrest (1873-1932), although born in Falkirk and educated in Kilmarnock, made the area around the Esk Valley to the south of Edinburgh his home once he became an adult. It is not, however, in the Esk Valley that he made his name. In 1904, through his connections to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Forrest was given the opportunity to travel to the province of Yunnan in southwest China to collect plants and seeds on behalf of nurseries and estate owners, becoming one of the most successful and prolific collectors to do so. It is likely that most of our gardens will contain plants that have had something to do with George Forrest. The process of collecting plants in China was always interesting but never straightforward, and amongst his archives held in the Library of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh are thousands of letters and photographs that help to tell his perilous and fascinating story.
George Forrest’s story is told by Leonie Paterson who has been the Botanic Garden’s Archivist for over 20 years. She says that her favourite part of the job is working with the Forrest archive and telling his incredible story. – and this rings out as she takes us through the adventurous life of Forrest as a plant collector in remote parts of China in the early part of the twentieth century.
To watch the video click here
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Ian Gardner’s talk from May 16 2025 covers the conservation of the Chapel and recent restoration project at Rosslyn Castle.
Ian has been Director of the Rosslyn Chapel Trust since 2012. In addition to his role at Rosslyn Chapel Ian is the current Chair of Midlothian Tourism Forum.
To see the recording of this talk simply click here.
The recording started just a short while after the talk started – so there is a short part of the talk missing, but you will see that the recording is well worth watching.
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Ian Gardner’s talk from May 16 2025 covers the conservation of the Chapel and recent restoration project at Rosslyn Castle.
Ian has been Director of the Rosslyn Chapel Trust since 2012. In addition to his role at Rosslyn Chapel Ian is the current Chair of Midlothian Tourism Forum.
To see the recording of this talk simply click here.
The recording started just a short while after the talk started – so there is a short part of the talk missing, but you will see that the recording is well worth watching.
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