A Message from the Founder of the Project- Ruby Hann
Below is a message from our 2018/19 President, Ruby Hann. Ruby started the project during her time at the History Society. Below are some of her memories.
I first conceptualised this project when I was President of the History Society, during the academic year 2018-2019, and the third year of my undergraduate degree. I had always presumed that the “Est. 1898” on our crest was likely a fabrication, but, regardless, I knew the Society had been functioning for at least a few decades. I was curious about what memories alumni had of their time in the society and when our best-known events, such as the annual Winter Ball, first made their way into the calendar.
Unfortunately, President is a busy role, and the term is short, so I never completed this project before it was time to hand over responsibility. I’m indebted to my three successors Rachel Irwin, Lucy Parfitt, and especially Scarlett Attari for their hard work in getting this project complete. Our alumni put so much thought, effort, and emotion into their testimonies and I’m so pleased and proud to add my own to the record.
I joined the History Society as a first year, in Welcome Week of 2016, and never looked back. I then served as Social Secretary 2017-2018, before my year as President. As a result, I have far too many fond memories of the Society to list them all (and a few that probably shouldn’t be published, to save my friends some embarrassments!) Instead, I’ll touch on just a few highlights.
Winning “Best Academic Society” and “Star Society” at the EUSA Activities Awards 2017/2018 (I’m in the green.)
One of the best decisions I made throughout my time at Edinburgh was securing one of the coveted Winter Ball tickets – even though I didn’t know anyone else attending. The event was always so popular that the Students Association website would crash when tickets went live; one of the key perks of being on the Society committee was a guaranteed spot on the guest list. That first year, I remember writing a pleading note on my order form, asking that I please be sat with any other first years who had also bought a ticket. In a huge stroke of luck, I found myself round a table with people I quickly became inseparable from.
Lisbon, 2017
The annual History Society trip abroad was another hugely popular event in the calendar, and I was lucky enough to secure a spot twice. The trip always took place in February, in our Reading Week: throughout my time at University it was rebranded “Innovative Learning Week” or the “Festival of Creative Learning”, but my tutors often referred to it as “Skiing Week” as everyone went on holiday and did very little reading. In my first year we went to Lisbon and stuck out like a sore thumb as Scottish tourists. It was probably less than 20 degrees, but in comparison to February in Edinburgh it felt tropical! Most of us wore summer clothes and I’m sure the locals thought we looked ridiculous. The only notable exception is my good friend George: I still have a picture of him in the sea up to his waist, still wearing a woolly jumper on top! As well as a day trip to the beach, I remember we hiked through a national park to Pena Palace in Sintra and ate plenty of pastel de nata.
Momento Park, Budapest, 2018
In my second year, we went to both Budapest and Vienna. This was an ambitious trip and whilst I’m sure it was stressful for the Trip Officers, Carmen and George, I remember it as a total success. It snowed heavily the whole time we were there which made both cities look magical. My favourite memory is sitting in the outdoor thermal baths in Budapest, watching the snowfall. Another highlight was a trip to Memento Park, where giant communist statues had been relocated in the 1990s.
Other special memories come from my year as President. I was lucky to be elected in the final academic year before the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic, when we could still run all of our annual events. I worked with a really amazing committee and had the opportunity to practice and improve my leadership and organisational skills. I definitely didn’t get every decision right first time, but it was a learning experience, and I was amongst friends. My most meaningful memory of the Society that year is one I can take very little credit for. Our Academic Secretary and Student Experience Officers worked incredibly hard, in collaboration with the Edinburgh University Jewish Society and the Holocaust Educational Trust, to organise a visit from Holocaust Survivor Tomi Komoly and here his testimony. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment that I’m very grateful to have experienced.
Winning the “Place for All” Award at the EUSA Activities Awards 2018/2018
And being shortlisted for three more awards!
I graduated from my Undergraduate degree in History in 2020, then my Masters degree in 2021. I stayed involved with the History Society even as a Masters student – sharing my tips on how to complete a dissertation in an online talk, and meeting new friends at Zoom socials during lockdown. I still have my History Society hoody (with “President” on the back!) and sometimes still even wear it.
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