Remembering the 50’s
Our earliest testimony dates back to 1953. Keep reading to see what the society was up to then!
Ian Francis Stewart
Ian Stewart on his graduation day, July 1960
Ian Francis Stewart studied an MA (Hons) in “History (British and European)”, between 1956 and 1960. His graduation, of which he sent us pictures, took place in July 1960. These are some of his memories from his time as an undergraduate.
“I have to admit that, although I joined the Historical Society each year, I was not a regular attender at meetings and ‘socials’ or even a regular user of the History library, then in the north-west corner of the Old Quad. I was more a ‘sometimes’ person. But I had several friends and a number of acquaintances who were much more regular than I was. I was also a conscientious attender at lectures and tutorials – except, for one required Honours course, which I passed by dint of a friend’s notes and general history reading. It interfered with Sports afternoons!”
Ian arrived at the University in Autumn 1956, a little late for the start of term, due his “demob” from the army being delayed – “because deluded PM Anthony Eden thought Egypt’s Colonel Nasser was a Hitler in the making and decided Britain should invade the Suez Canal zone”. When he began his studies, he “found settling into a life of studying somewhat difficult and the speed at which courses and lectures, etc. moved through a very wide ‘syllabus’ astonished me. I was immediately ‘behind.’”
“Fairly dramatic events were going on at the Uni in my first month there and prominent History students were much involved. Not only was Britain foolishly ‘invading’the Suez Canal zone but Russian tanks were rolling into Hungary to suppress the popular movement there to throw off rigid Russian control. These feelings became acute as we listened to the Old Quad “orators” – notably history students Charlie Martin, (a mature student, political activist, gifted orator and later school teacher) and Russell Johnston (later MP and “Sir” who was one of a group of us who went on to Moray House after graduating), and then as we welcomed refugee Hungarian students to Edinburgh (a number of whom had actually ‘fought’ Russian tanks with their bare hands). Keeping up with lectures and studies was difficult at that time.”
“Personally, I never enjoyed exams or exam time. As for the Final Honours exams – a week of torture – that wiped me out! The greatest problem surrounding them for me personally was that I was still deeply and determinedly involved in my thesis research when I should have been revising for the Finals. For a while the research took over my life – as it happens I have greatly enjoyed going back to research work since my retiral from school teaching. That meant that I revised every hour of the day and most of every night during the week before and the week of the Finals. When we finished on the Friday afternoon, I went home exhausted to get ready for the Year post-exam party that night, and fell asleep (till the following day noon-time!) I believe it was a good party!
“Nearly all our lectures in those days were delivered in Pollock Hall, very near the Mens’Union building. I think Pollock Hall was used differently in later times. The Mens’ Union, of course, was used for various purposes, not just its bar and the Saturday night Union Dances. The cafeteria was very good and not expensive, the Haggis Bar being its favourite lunchtime feature for many.”
Clare Taylor
Clare has provided our earliest testimony, having studied here from 1953-57! Below is her testimony.
‘I read History at Edinburgh University for an Honours degree from 1953 to 1957 and throughout these four years was an active member of the History Society, becoming its Secretary in the last years. The Society was then sited in the little History Library in the Old Quad and was the centre of our social lives! Several fellow students became lifelong friends- Olga Filios who married Dr William Ferguson, Janet Thistleton Smith, Kirsty Ross, who married Professor John Larner of Glasgow University, Jill Gordon and Willie Wilson, both Edinburgh residents, who married soon after graduating. The most unconventional member of our group was Arthur Marwick- such a contrast to his quiet Quaker father– Willie Marwick, one of our tutors- the most memorable of whom were John P Mackintosh, Denys Hay amd George Shepperson. I went on to study for a PhD with Professor Shepperson to whom I remain greatly indebted. For some of the time I studied in London and America, and exchanged Edinburgh’s sheltered history library for that of the Institute of Historical Research, London University where I remain a Friend- working in its excellent Scottish History section- which now has an autographed edition of William Ferguson’s history of Scotland.’
Keith Watson
Keith read history from 1957-1961 and shares of his favourite lecturers and meetings at Edinburgh
‘There were about twenty of us studying history for the Honours degree and we used to meet often in a room in the north- east corner of the Old College. The Historical Society used to hold regular meetings, on a Friday evening if I recall aright, when we would have talks on different topics. We had the usual parties and once a year we would have a dinner with all the academic staff. I vaguely recall that we, the students, treated the staff.
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