The History, Culture and Politics of Berwick upon Tweed
Saturday 17th November 2018
Keynote Lecture by John Home Robertson. (11.30am)
The History of Parliamentary Representation of Berwick, Berwickshire and East Lothian since the Union of 1707
John spent 23 years at Westminster and 8 years at Holyrood as a Labour MP. His ancestral home was Paxton House which is well worth a visit.
This is Berwick and District Trades Union Council’s 25th Annual Day school.
Lectures by distinguished experts on the history and culture of Berwick upon Tweed with discussion time.
From top left, clockwise: Linda Bankier, Jim Herbert, John Home Robertson, Mike Fraser
Linda Bankier
Evidence of Women and their Lives in the Berwick Archives
Berwick archivist and historian. Linda has organised many exhibitions in the town as well as giving lectures to numerous groups. She has helped many families trace their ancestors and created a fascinating collection of documents and knowledge about the area.
John Home Robertson
The History of Parliamentary Representation of Berwick, Berwickshire and East Lothian since the Union (1707)
23 years at Westminster 8 years at Holyrood as a Labour MP. John gifted his ancestral home Paxton House to a trust.
Jim Herbert
The History of Art in Berwick - From the earliest, Jim can find to the present
Local historian and author of Berwick Time Lines. Jim works at Berwick Museum, is a great supporter of The Maltings and conducts tours of Berwick and The Elizabethan walls.
Mike Fraser
John Mackay Wilson (1805-1835)
In his latest local historical study, Mike turns his attention to a significant early nineteenth century Berwick Literary and political writer. At this turbulent stage in British history, Wilson wrote his hugely popular Tales of The Borders and transformed The Advertiser, writing, for example, controversial editorials on The Great Reform Act and The Freemen of Berwick. Mike discusses what Wilson's writings tell us about Berwick then and Britain then and now.