Cumnock History Group is a constituted Voluntary Group of people who share an interest in the history and heritage of Cumnock and how the past has influenced the present.
Some of team CHG photographed 2020. L to R back Kay McMeekin Chair, the late Ian McGhee researcher, front Ailsa McInnes Membership Secretary, the late Sadie McNair Vice Chair, Roberta McGee researcher. Photo EALT
The group emerged as a result of the Memory Bank workshops for Raising the Bar – the archaeological dig focused on the site of the old Tup Inn on Lugar Street in 2013 and run by archaeologists from Northlight Heritage http://www.northlight-heritage.co.uk
It also came about through discussions with members of Cumnock Living Memory Group, which was founded in the mid-nineties but had more recently stopped meeting.
At a meeting in Cumnock Library at the end of October 2013, original members of CLMG felt the time had come to pass the torch on to a new generation of keen heritage enthusiasts, but the older Cumnock residents will still be on-board to share their experience and pass on their memories to a new audience. They also suggested the new name change and the group agreed to an organisational redevelopment.
Kay (left) was delighted to accept on behalf of Cumnock History Group the John Strawhorn Memorial Quaich awarded to us in 2022
in recognition of our outstanding contribution to Cumnock’s heritage. This annual award is from Ayrshire Federation of Historical
Societies and was presented to us at our June meeting by Professor Elaine McFarland.
It is a tribute to all who have contributed, done research, shared information and photos, worked on transcriptions and digitising old
material, adding names to the Cumnock Connections tree and adding to the website over the last 8 years.
The committee for 2026-7 is Kay McMeekin Chair, Kevan Aitken Vice Chair, Elaine Corbett Treasurer, Maureen Paterson, Minutes Secretary, Ailsa McInnes Memebrship Secretary and Scott Daily, Anne Lawrence who passed away suddenly on 24 May 2026, Alex Lennox, Steve Sloan, Robert Stevenson.
The inaugural meeting of the Cumnock History Group took place on Thursday 21st November that year at the Baird Institute in Cumnock. A steering group was formed and the constitution was formally adopted by the members at the meeting on the 16th January 2014.
If you would like a copy of our Constitution please email info@cumnockhistorygroup.org requesting a copy.
CHG Events
We meet monthly and usually have a guest presentation.
Cumnock People & Places
Simple School Gala days were organised in the early 20th century and the first Cumnock Carnival was staged in 1946 as part of the Victory celebrations in Cumnock and was so successful that it became an annual event in June or July every year.
Kay (left) was delighted to accept on behalf of Cumnock History Group the John Strawhorn Memorial Quaich awarded to us in 2022
