Past events
Tuesday 25th November Scottish History Month
Before Carnoustie; Panbride and Barry 8th to 17th Centuries
This lecture looks at the early history of the two parishes, Barry and Panbride, in which now the 18th century town of Carnoustie is situated.
Pictish and Gaelic place-names, medieval charters from the 12th – 16th century cartulary of Arbroath Abbey and early written accounts of the area are examined in order to throw light on this ancient and historically important part of Angus. This account covers the period from the 8th to the 17th century before the settlement of Carnoustie was founded and became a burgh in the 19th century.”
Our speaker, Norman Atkinson, was born and bred in Arbroath. He was educated at Inverbrothock Primary School and Arbroath High School, where he was Geography Dux, Dundee College of Education and Leicester University.
After graduating in 1972, he taught at Hayshead School in Arbroath before joining Dundee Museum as an Education Officer in 1975. He moved to Angus District Council in 1977 as District Curator, a post which he held until Local Government reorganisation in 1996. He refurbished all five museums in Angus, and established Kirriemuir Museum, winning the Scottish Museum of the Year Award.
In 1996 he became Head of Cultural Services with Angus Council. He established Angus Archives at Restenneth, and redeveloped the Webster Memorial Theatre in Arbroath.
He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and a Fellow of the Museums Association.
Norman retired in September 2013 after 41 years of service with local government. He was awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2014 for services to the community in Angus. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Angus in 2016 and served until 2025.
Norman’s interests include Scottish, local and natural history, on which he has lectured and written extensively. He is a past President of the Montrose Natural History and Antiquarian Society, the Scottish Museums Federation, and the Pictish Arts Society.
He is currently Chair of the Friends of the William Lamb Studio, Vice President of the Forfar and District Historical Society, and a trustee of the Graham Hunter Foundation, which owns Restenneth.
Tuesday 18th November
Don Roberto: the Adventure of Being Cunninghame Graham
Who was Don Roberto? Co-founder with Keir Hardie of the Scottish Labour Party, founding president of the Scottish National Party, horseman, traveller, writer, radical politician, descendant of Scottish kings, visionary and humanitarian. So why does practically no one in Scotland know anything about him?
Come and hear writer Jamie Jauncey talk about the life of his extraordinary great-great-uncle, and offer some answers to the question of why this hugely influential figure is so overlooked today.
Jamie Jauncey is a Birnam-based writer who has published fiction for adults and children. Don Roberto: the Adventure of Being Cunninghame Graham is his first biography. For many years Jamie sat on the board of the Edinburgh International Book Festival and still chairs events there every year. He is also a musician.
Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be available for donation.
Entry is free but seats are limited so please book a place via Eventbrite: Don Roberto: the Adventure of Being Cunninghame Graham
Tuesday 11th November Scottish History Month
“Who are the Picts and are they still here?” Pictish history, art and relevance in 21st century Scotland.
Our speaker, David McGovern is a heritage stone carver, based in Monikie, Angus, next door to the sandstone quarry at Denfind Stone, which has resurrected the Angus stone industry- an industry that sent Angus sandstone all over the world.
David carves both replica monuments and new monuments influenced heavily by the work of medieval stone carvers. He’s been fascinated by the Picts since his early teenage years, and will share his knowledge and love of that mysterious people, and their art, with us.
Tuesday 4th November Scottish History Month
Carnoustie’s Neolithic Halls
The longest and largest earliest Neolithic timber hall, to date in Scotland, was discovered on the raised beach at Carnoustie together with another large hall and a smaller one. It seems to have been constructed close to the end of the 4th millennium BC and was the first permanent structure to be built in the landscape. The talk will attempt to trace the origins, design and to the extent we can, the architecture of this monumental building. We can also ask questions about why it was built, why there, who built it and what it was used for. A modern day parallel provides us with some stimulating insights.
This building was joined by another, with possibly a different function and later both were replaced by a small hall built within the footprint of the long hall. Was the earlier hall burnt down at the end of its use, as happened to others in Scotland, or did different beliefs and systems come into play in its resurrection as a new building? Did the small hall reflect changes in society, the landscape and woodland cover, and what happened in areas around the buildings?
These themes will be explored while also considering the environmental and cultural evidence that survived from these buildings and their surroundings.
Our speaker, Beverley Ballin Smith, is the Publications Manager for GUARD Archaeology and editor of ARO (Archaeology Reports Online). She also specialises in the analysis of prehistoric pottery and coarse stone tools. She has published widely: the Howe Broch and the Crantit Tomb both on Orkney, the Neolithic and Bronze Age aspects of Iain Crawford’s work on the Udal, North Uist (Archaeopress publication), and with Dr Barbara Crawford on the Norse site of the Biggings at Papa Stour, Shetland. Most recently she brought the Carnoustie excavation to publication with Alan Hunter Blair and Warren Bailie.
Tuesday 28th October
The Highland Wind Farm Revolt
Young filmmaker (and mum of three boys under 9 (!)) Katy Kilgour has made a film with renowned journalist and activist, Lesley Riddoch, about the wind farm overload developing in the Highlands. A whopping 1,300 wind farm proposals are active or already built. One glen – 22 miles in length – has enough separate projects to power 70% of Scotland’s housing. Isn’t that enough?
An unprecedented meeting of 53 Highland community councils took place in June and August, demanding a planning pause and a strategy from the Scottish Government. Katy and Lesley were there at the meetings, visiting the glens and hearing the stories behind one of the biggest civic Highland protests in decades. Are they just NIMBYs or have the Highlands become a ‘sacrifice zone’ for UK green energy? Is it true the energy will either be exported south of the border OR stuck because of grid constraints with consumers paying developers NOT to produce? It’s a mad situation and the recent announcement that Ed Miliband has rejected zonal pricing means its won’t get any better.
Is this OK? How do politicians of EVERY party explain why Highlanders are paying some of the highest energy bills in Europe AND coping with turbines, pylons, battery plants, convertor stations, cables, construction traffic and hardware in every glen?
Our speaker, Lesley Riddoch, really needs no introduction. She is probably one of the best known and respected journalists and broadcasters in Scotland. She is one of Scottish independence’s strongest and most articulate advocates.
Tuesday 14th October
“Direction” A Strategy for Independence
In the aftermath of the SNP Annual National Conference, we are delighted to welcome Robin McAlpine to share his views on the proceedings and the way forward for the independence movement.
Our speaker, Robin McAlpine, is Founder of Common Weal and is now its Head of Strategic Development. For 25 years, Robin has worked in journalism, public affairs, political strategy and policy. He is writes on Scottish politics for a number of publications and has authored several books. He is probably one of the most recognisable and respected figures in the wider pro-Independence movement.
Saturday, 20th September, 11am – 1pm
i-Switch Campaign Launch
Tuesday 23rd September
Scotland’s Energy Future
Renewable energy is set to be one of the defining features of our future. How can we make a success of the just transition and make the most of renewable energy’s benefits, for Scotland and our case for Scottish independence?
Our speaker, George Bruce is a renewable energy lawyer. Join us to talk through all things renewable energy and Scottish independence.
Carnoustie Gala Day Saturday 5th July
We want Yes Carnoustie and the Càrn Ùstaidh hub to be part of the biggest event in the Carnoustie calendar. So we opened the hub all day on Gala Day, the 5th July!
Face-painting for the bairns (and grown-ups, if they want it, because we’re not age-ist); Free wee paper Saltires; and a bake / book / plant / craft sale, to raise funds for the hub and for campaigning.
Can you help? Are you a baker, gardener, crafter who’s willing to contribute? Look out for the 2026 event here later on.
Please let us know here or pop into the hub, open Monday 11am – 1pm. We need YOUR support to make this work.
Tuesday 24th June
Scotland’s “Housing Emergency”: How Did We Get Here – and Can We Fix It?
In May 2024, the Scottish Government declared a housing emergency, citing a sharp rise in homelessness, a shortage of affordable homes, and growing pressure on temporary accommodation.
Yet Scotland builds more social homes per capita than anywhere else in the UK. Average rents are lower, and population growth is relatively modest—especially compared to regions like the South East of England. So, do we really have a crisis, or is this political mischief-making?
In this talk, Ahsan Khan explores how successive Westminster governments broke the UK’s housing system, what Scotland has done with devolved powers to repair it, and what more could be achieved with the full powers of independence.
Topics Ahsan will explore include:
- What is social housing, who provides it, and who decides where it should be built?
- Do we really need more homes?
- Why are so many people homeless?
- Are the new homes we build fit for purpose?
This will be an informal and accessible session – no jargon, no lectures – with plenty of time for questions and discussion.
Speaker Bio – Ahsan Khan
Ahsan Khan has over 30 years of experience in housing associations and local government, having managed and delivered thousands of homes across Scotland. As Chief Executive of a housing association, he doubled the organisation’s housing stock and led it to national recognition as one of the UK’s top employers. He later joined a local authority as a senior officer, overseeing four departments – including Housing and the Direct Labour Organisation – achieving some of Scotland’s highest tenant satisfaction rates and resettling more Syrian refugees per capita than any other council in the UK.
Ahsan now serves as a Judicial Member of the Scottish Tribunals Service, lectures in housing law, finance, and strategy, and runs a consultancy providing strategic and governance support to housing organisations. A committed public servant and long-standing SNP activist, Ahsan brings strategic insight, practical experience, and a deep commitment to social justice to everything he does.
Tea, coffee, cake available for donation.
Thursday 12th June Screening of “Guttin’ Quines”
“Guttin’ Quines” is a new short film, conceived, written, produced, directed and made by graduates of Edinburgh Napier University. Filmed on location on Scotland’s East coast, it tells the story of the women of the fishing communities of the area. Supported by The Doric Board and through crowdfunding, the film-makers have striven to made the film as authentic as possible – through language, costume and settings.
We’re very excited to be able to show this film, before it heads of to The Doric Film Festival. We’re also excited to have Duncan and Alana, who are the director and producer, and who will talk us through the process for film making.
As well as appealing to folk with an interest in the culture of the Scottish fishing communities, the event will appeal to students who are, or who may be considering, studying film.
Tuesday 27th May The Road to the Scottish Currency and The Currency Game
In our third Tuesday political discussion about Scotland’s future, we are delighted to welcome esteemed economist, Dr Tim Rideout, to Carnoustie to explain to us how Scotland can have its own currency and why it MUST have its own currency as soon as possible after independence.
We’ll also be playing The Currency Game, so please bring £5 if you want to play.
Entry to the event is free but please book a space via Eventbrite or email us on hello@yescarnoustie.scot. Light refreshments available for donation.
Tim Rideout was born in the Isle of Man, but the family moved to Cape Town when he was 12. He graduated in Economics and Geography from the University of Cape Town, before moving to Edinburgh in 1985 to do a doctorate in Economic Geography. The transition from Manx nationalism to Scottish nationalism was a small one, and he joined the SNP in 1988.
In 2014, he was concerned about the Yes movement’s currency proposal, but assumed Alex Salmond knew what he was doing. However, rumours in 2017 about the Growth Commission proposing using the GB£ for ‘decades’ led to him developing a Currency Plan. In April 2019, members at the SNP Conference threw out the Growth Commission proposal and replaced by ‘our own currency ASAP after Independence Day’. In May 2019, Tim established the Scottish Currency Group to inform the Scottish independence movement and ensure that the Currency Plan would have to be to have our own currency right after independence.
The Scottish Currency Group has grown to over 3600 members, has produced numerous reports and now holds a major annual Conference.
Tuesday 22nd April:
Reinventing Scotland through the Wellbeing Economy approach, Gordon McIntyre-Kemp, 7pm
The second in our series of Tuesday night discussions on independence and what it can bring to Scotland and Scots welcomes a big hitter of the independence movement. We’re delighted to welcome Gordon McIntyre-Kemp, CEO of Business for Scotland and Believe in Scotland, who will be explaining why a wellbeing approach to the economy can transform Scotland and increase support for independence
Thursday 10th April:
‘Hairy, horny, feathery and fleecy’, 7pm
Aberdeen Angus, Highland, Galloway, Ayrshire – Scottish breeds of farm livestock that have changed agriculture across the globe. But there are many other Scottish breeds that are every bit as important to our agricultural, cultural and social history that you may be less familiar with.
In the third of our series, ‘Our Scotland’, join Alice Lennox, RBST Scottish Co-ordinator and Grant Reid, Secretary of RBST Scotland to find out more about these breeds and why they aren’t just important to our past but also of vital importance to our agricultural future, here in Scotland.
RBST is the charity that exists to conserve and promote our native livestock and equine breeds, whether sheep, cattle, pigs or poultry, as sustainable alternatives to the intensively farmed breeds that have come to dominate our countryside in recent decades. https://www.rbst.org.uk/
Wednesday 26th March, 6pm for 6.30pm:
Believe in Scotland Scottish Independence Mini-Congress for Yes Groups
This is an event for Yes Carnoustie members only.
Believe in Scotland (BiS) https://www.believeinscotland.org/ is the independence movement’s foremost non-political campaigning organisation. On Wednesday 26th March, BiS is holding a Zoom meeting for Yes group delegates; Yes Carnoustie is affiliated to BiS and can send up to four delegates. However, we thought it might be good to open the event up to all Yes Carnoustie members to view at the hub – although only our four delegates will be able to officially join – and we can have our own discussion about our thoughts and next actions.
Tuesday 25th March, 7pm – CANCELLED
‘Energy is Power: why Scotland’s energy resources are key to independence and why we’re not getting our strategy right’.
Robin McAlpine, Common Weal
Sadly, due to circumstances beyond his control, Robin has had to withdraw from the talk.
We will be rescheduling for later in the year and will contact you shortly with details if you booked a ticket with Eventbrite.
Thursday 13th March: ‘The Clash of the Ash’ (with a nod to Runrig!)
The second in our series of ‘Our Scotland’ events is with Iain Stewart, local independence supporter and Yes Carnoustie member who works in sport & education in Angus.
Having grown up between Meigle and Inverness, Iain joins us to talk about shinty, our other national game, and the work that he’s been doing in local primary schools to encourage participation in the sport.
After Iain departs to take up his quizmaster role elsewhere, we will be screening ‘Giving it Stick’, a 2022 documentary following the fortunes of local rivals Kingussie and Newtonmore, examining the way that shinty is central to life in these Highland villages.
Thursday 13th February, 2025
Screening of ‘Scotland: The Big Picture’s’ documentary: ‘Why not Scotland?’
Followed by a Q&A with Sophie Ramsay, from Bamff Wildlands.
Why Not Scotland? is a feature-length documentary, which forms a central part of the Alliance’s Rewilding Nation campaign. The film accompanies Flo, a young Scot from Glasgow, on an intensely personal journey, as she seeks out examples of nature recovery around Europe. Like many of her generation, Flo is concerned by the state of nature and fearful about an uncertain future. However, during her travels, she discovers places where nature is making a spectacular comeback, breathing life back into the landscape and revitalising human communities. Encouraged by these stories of hope and renewal, she is prompted to wonder: Why Not Scotland?