GR ADUATES’
A S S O C I AT I O N
NEWSLETTER
By Elaine Acaster, Graduates’ Association President
Queen Margaret University Graduates’ Association, founded in 1914,
promotes friendship among graduates and salaried members of staff
of the University and its precursor institutions. We welcome members
to all our events, and hope to attract new members during 2020. Despite
the power of social media, our members also enjoy meeting in person and
joining in activities through our annual programme of events.
Annual General Meeting
Our Annual General Meeting in June 2019, held at 5 Atholl Crescent Edinburgh
courtesy of Gillespie MacAndrew, was not only well attended, but a trip down memory
lane for several members who had studied there as students of the Edinburgh College of
Domestic Science. QMUGA
Our agenda included the Annual Report of Queen Margaret University, while a presentation
on the future viability of Madras Lodge was followed by approval of a sustainability plan. It
was pleasing to be able to thank members of both QMUGA and Madras Lodge committees
who were standing down, and to welcome new committee members. Such was the delight in
returning to our roots in Atholl Crescent, the 2020 Annual General Meeting will be held there
again. President
Elaine Acaster
E: [email protected]
T: 07816 661561
Events
Our new initiative ‘Let’s Get Together for Coffee’ has been very successful, normally meeting
at 11am on the second Tuesday of the month at Burr&Co coffee shop, George Hotel, Edinburgh
EH2 2PB. Please join us!
In September Pat Denzler (QMUGA past president, and past Master of the Royal Company of
Merchants of the City of Edinburgh) hosted a visit by QMUGA members at The Merchants’ Hall
and gave an interesting talk on the rich history of the Company and its wide-ranging current
activities. It was also a wonderful opportunity to view the hall, the exquisite silver in the vault,
the paintings and a very comprehensive archive.
Christmas Lunch at the Edinburgh New Town Cookery School is an enjoyable fixture in our
calendar, while supporting the work of students in the early stages of the BA International
Hospitality and Tourism Management course.
CONTACTS
Membership Secretary
Sylvia Northcott
E: [email protected]
T: 01968 674161
Treasurer
Anne Scagell
T: 01259 214668
Social Secretary
Cecilia Young
E. [email protected]
T: 0131 445 1718
QMUGA membership
If you are a graduate of QMU or any of its precursor colleges, or a salaried member of staff
of the University, you are most welcome to join the Association. The cost of life membership
is £45 or £35 in the year immediately following your graduation. The Association depends on
participation by members at our events and also in booking Madras Lodge, which relies on
income from rental by members who must be in residence for the entirety of the booking.
If you have not received recent Newsflash emails from the Association (via Sylvia Northcott,
Membership Secretary), please ensure we have your current email address and that you are
GDPR compliant. All membership and communication enquiries should be directed to sylvia@
thenorthcotts.net. I look forward to meeting Members at our events, and suggestions for future
events would be most welcome.
Future events:
EVENT: Let’s Get Together for Coffee
DATE: Resumes on Tuesday 11 February,
10 March, 7 April (due to Easter we are
meeting on the first Tuesday in April),
and 12 May.TIME: 11am
LOCATION: Burr&Co, George Hotel,
George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PB.
BOOKING: Booking essential. Please
come along and join us.
30
EVENT: New Register House
DATE: Tuesday 11 February or Tuesday
10 March
TIME: 2pm
LOCATION: 3 West Register Street,
Edinburgh EH1 3YT.
DETAILS: A behind-the-scenes visit.
COST: There is no charge for this visit.
BOOKING: Note option of two dates due
to limited capacity - book by 4 February
or 3 March via Cecilia Young, Social
Secretary, [email protected]
QMYOU / Graduates' Association Newsletter
An email NEWSFLASH will provide
details of the following events:
• Dinner, prepared by QMU students
at Edinburgh New Town Cookery
School – 24 March
• J apanese Garden, Cowden, near
Dollar, visit to beautiful historic garden
- May TBC
• A nnual General Meeting, 5 Atholl
Crescent, Edinburgh - Friday 5 June