Note: there are errors in the addition on several pages of Accounts. Presumably these are errors made by the Clerk copying them from the Cash Book into this Book

At Dundee the Nineteenth day of October 1954

At a Special General Meeting of the Bonnetmaker Craft of Dundee held within the Queen’s Hotel Dundee at 6.30 p.m.

Present:

Also attending:

Forty two Members of the Craft and Frank Hay Clerk

Apologies for absence were intimated by the Clerk

Deacon George F Brown proposed and John M Robb seconded the following gentlemen for admission to the Craft namely:

John Arnot Motor Engineer 9 Binsted Avenue Dundee

Norman Kirkaldy Works Manager 29 Baldovan Terrace Dundee

Robert Cuthbert Lamont Master Sheet Metal Worker Shielding Lyndhurst Terrace Dundee

Allan Stewart Watson Master Plumber 11 Lawside Terrace Dundee

Norman Benet Representative Millers & Grain Merchants 87 Magdalen Yard Road

These gentlemen having severally emitted the customary declaration were accordingly admitted members with all the rights, privileges and immunities appertaining to Membership conform to Minute of Admission in the Lockit Book. The clerk was instructed to have Certificates of Membership issued on payment of entry money and dues.

George F Brown Deacon
At Dundee the Nineteenth day of October 1954

At the Annual General Meeting of the Bonnetmaker Craft of Dundee held within Queen’s Hotel Dundee at 7 p.m.

Present:

Deacon George F Brown, Boxmaster John M Robb, Mr Frank Hay Clerk

And

Fifty Members of the Craft.

The following Minutes were read and approved:

(a) Annual General Meeting 20^th October 1953

(b) Special General Meeting 26^th October 1953

(c) –do- 24^th February 1954

The Clerk reported that Committee Meetings were held on 29^th October 1953, 7^th January 1954, 31^st August 1954 and 24^th September 1954

The Boxmaster’s Cash Account for the year ended 15^th September 1954 was submitted along with the relative Vouchers and these were approved on the motion of Ex-Convener A S Drummond and seconded by Convener Andrew Wallace.

(a). Deacon.

On the motion of Ex-Deacon J A Davidson, Deacon Brown was unanimously re-elected Deacon for the ensuing year.

(b) Boxmaster

On the motion of he Deacon Mr John M Robb was re-elected Boxmaster for the ensuing year,

(c) Committee.

It was intimated that Messers W A Findlay, R A Pride, Robert Simpson and Matthew M Waddell were due to retire and were not eligible for re-election. The following Members were elected to the committee to fill the vacancies and to hold office of two years namely, Messers R S May, Andrew Scott and W L Weir.
IV. Annual Dinner

The Deacon intimated that the Annual Dinner was to be held in Kidd’s Rooms Lindsay Street on 30^th November 154 and requested that all the Members should support the function as we hoped to proceed with outstanding Speakers on that occasion.

Mr W A Findlay raised the point hat as our Annual General Meeting as held after the Kirking of the Trade the Deacon had to wait about a year before he was “Kirked”. He thought that he Annual General Meeting should be put forward to say the end of September in order that the new Officials could be appointed and thus enable hem to attend the Kirking which is normally held on the second Sunday of October.

The Boxmaster Mr John M Robb thought that to hold the Annual General Meeting in September would result in a very much poorer attendance than normal and also expressed the opinion that he did not think there would be any undue hardship to the Deacon if he had to wait almost a year until he was kirked as Deacon as he would have been kirked as Boxmaster. The Clerk was asked to express his views as to whether there was any statutory conditions laid down which stipulated that the accounts had to close on 15^th September each year and that the Annual general Meeting should be held in October. The Clerk expressed the opinion that he did not think thee was any Rules as to this matter but promised to look into it. The reverend T R S Campbell also spoke on the matter and he suggested that this question might be discussed by the General Fund Court of the Nine Incorporated trades. Mr Findlay then put his motion to the Meeting which was seconded by Dr Smith. The Boxmaster moved as an amendment the status quo which was seconded by Ex-Convener Drummond and on a vote being taken the Amendment was carried by a large majority.

George F Brown Deacon

At a Meeting of the Committee of the Bonnetmaker Craft of Dundee held at 148 Nethergate Dundee at 4.15 p.m.

Present: Deacon George F Brown, Boxmaster John M Robb, Ex-Deacon J A Davidson, Messers William Blain, James A Bruce, Robert S May, George Muir, Andrew Scott and W L Weir and Mr Frank Hay Clerk

The Deacon occupied the Chair

The Minutes of Meeting held on 24^th September was read and approved

The Clerk submitted the Toast List which was approved. There was also submitted to the Meeting the proposed Menu and after discussion it was agreed to accept the Menu a suggested be Andrew G Kidd Ltd. the clerk also reported that a Musical Trio had been engaged and that he was endeavouring to arrange for Mr Imrie as Vocalist. It was reported to the Meeting that the Charge to be made by Andrew G Kidd Ltd was to be 15/- per head and £10.10/- for the use of the Room. In the circumstances it was agreed that the price of the Tickets should remain the same as last year namely 25/-.

A full discussion took place regarding the Seating arrangements and it was felt that it would be more suitable to revert of a Head Table with Legs instead of as formerly separate small tables.

The Circular drawing the Members attention to the Annual Dinner was approved and it was decided that the Members of Committee should not receive Tickets to sell but that they should endeavour to bring to the notice of Members the Annual Dinner and so all they can to make this Function a success.

The Meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

Geo F Brown Deacon

At a Meeting of the Committee of the Bonnetmaker Craft of Dundee held within the Office of the Clerk at 148 Nethergate Dundee at 3 p.m.

Present: Deacon George F Brown, Boxmaster John M Robb, William Blain, J A Bruce W L Jackson, George Muir, and the Clerk

The Deacon occupied the Chair

The Minute of Meeting held on 4^th November 1954 was read and approved. The Clerk submitted the Statement of Income and Expenditure of the Annual Dinner which showed that there was a profit of 10/3d. The Committee approved of the Statement.

The Clerk intimated that he had received Applications for Membership.

1. John Mitchell Boath Solicitor 12 Victoria Chambers Dundee

2. Alexander Moir Easson Chartered Accountant Cowgate Dundee.

3. Alexander John Mackenzie Doctor 2 Kelso Street Dundee

Ian Middleton Strachan Robertson Solicitor 7 Camphill Road Broughty Ferry

5. David Arnot Shepherd Chartered Surveyor 59/64 Gellatly Street Dundee.

6. Robert Thomson Fimister Wilson Master Bake 22 Lawside Road Dundee.

The Committee having fully considered these Applications unanimously recommended the admission of the Applicants and fixed Tuesday 22nd March 1955 in the Queen’s Hotel for a Special Meeting for Initiation of New Members.

The Application by John Strachan Mackie which had already been approved of by the Committee would also be considered at that Meeting.

Arrangements for the Meeting were then discussed and it was decided that the Toasts would be:

“The Nine Incorporated Trades”“, The Clergy” “The New Members”

It was decided to ask Mr William Sinclair Gauldie to propose the Toast of “The Nine Incorporated Trades” and Mr Alexander Gordon Milne to propose the Toast of “The Clergy”.

It was decided to ask Mr Ian Carmichael to again favour us with Violin Selections and that Ex-Deacon Dargie and Mr Mackenzie might favour the Company with Songs.

The Meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman

George F Brown Deacon

At a Meeting of the Committee of the Bonnetmaker Craft of Dundee held within the Office of the Clerk at 148 Nethergate Dundee at 4.3 0 p.m.

Present: Deacon George F Brown, Messers J A Bruce, R S May, A H Scott, Ex-Deacon J A Davidson and the Clerk

The Deacon occupied the Chair

Apologies for absence were intimated from Boxmaster John M Robb and Mr William Blain
I. Minutes

The Minute of Meeting held on 22^nd February 1955 was read and approved.

The Deacon intimated that the reason for calling this Meeting was that comparatively few Tickets for the Initiation Meeting to be held on 22^nd inst had been sold. Certain Members undertook to approach Members to see if they could increase the sale of Tickets. Final arrangements for the Making were then discussed and Mr Scott undertook to propose the necessary Vote of Thanks.

He Committee felt that a List of Members should be prepared in order that Copies could be handed to the Members of the Committee. It was decided that before this was done that a Meeting of the Deacon, Boxmaster and Clerk should be held to go over the Register of Members and Mailing List and to bring them up to date.

George F Brown Deacon

At a Special General Meeting of the Bonnetmaker Craft of Dundee held within the Queen’s Hotel Dundee at 6.30 p.m.

Present: Deacon George F Brown, Boxmaster John M Robb also attending

Forty five Members of the Craft and Frank Hay Clerk

John Mitchell Boath Solicitor 12 Victoria Chambers Dundee

Alexander Moir Easson Chartered Accountant Cowgate Dundee.

Alexander John Mackenzie Doctor 2 Kelso Street Dundee

Ian Middleton Strachan Robertson Solicitor 7 Camphill Road Broughty Ferry

David Arnot Shepherd Chartered Surveyor 59/64 Gellatly Street Dundee.

Robert Thomson Fimister Wilson Master Bake 22 Lawside Road Dundee

These gentle having severally emitted the customary declaration were accordingly admitted Members with all the rights, privileges and immunities appertaining to Membership conform to Minute of Admission in the Lockit Book. The Clerk was instructed to have Certificates of Membership issued on payment of entry money and dues.

George F Brown Deacon
At Dundee the Twentieth day of September 1955

At a Meeting of the Committee of the Bonnetmaker Craft of Dundee held within the Office of the Clerk at 148 Nethergate Dundee at 3.3 0 p.m.

Present: Deacon George F Brown, Boxmaster John M Robb, Ex-Deacon J A Davidson Messers William Blain W R Jackson. R S May, Andrew Scott, W L Weir and the Clerk

The Deacon occupied the Chair

An Apology for absence were intimated from and Mr George Muir
I. Minutes

The Minute of Meeting held on 18^th March 1955 was read and approved.

The Boxmaster’s Cash Account for the year ended 15^th September 1955 was submitted along with the relative Vouchers and Securities and the same being examined and approved the Cash Book was docqueted as correct.

In view of the position of the balance in the Bank and to meet current expenses after a full discussion it was decided to realise the Holding of £50 3% Savings Bonds.
IV. Clerk’s Salary

The Committee fixed the Clerk’s salary for the year ended 15^th September 1955 at £31.10/-.

After a full discussion it was agreed to hold a Making and the Annual General Meeting on the same evening and if possible this should be held on 21^st October in the Queen’s Hotel and if that evening was not available it was agreed to hold it on Tuesday 18^th October. The Clerk telephoned the Queen’s Hotel and was informed that a provisional booking had already been received for the 21^st but that the 18^th October was free. On the motion of Mr Jackson seconded by Ex-Deacon J A Davidson it was agreed that his year the Annual General Meeting should be held prior to the Making. The Toast List was then considered and it was suggested that the Nine Incorporated Trades should be proposed by Mr Andrew Scott and that the Toast of The Deacon, Boxmaster and Clerk should be proposed by Mr David Duncan and if he was not available the Clerk was instructed to approach Mr D S Dryden.

The Clerk intimated that he had received the following Applications for Membership:

1. James Calder Baird Chartered Accountant 11 Reform Street Dundee

2. James Nicoll Phillips Junior Charge-hand 21 Sutherland Street Dundee

The Boxmaster reported on the arrangements he had made for the Annual Dinner and informed the Meeting that he had booked the Queen’s Hotel for Friday 18^th November and that the Toast List so far arranged subject to the approval of the Committee was as follows:

“Imperial Forces” to be proposed by Professor Baxter

“Reply” Brigadier Oliver

£The City and Trade of Dundee” to be proposed by Major General Wimberly

“Reply” Lord Provost William Hughes LL, OBE, JP

“Nine incorporated Trades” to be proposed by The Earl of Airlie

“Reply” Convener Andrew Wallace JP