The Cockburn Association, Edinburgh’s oldest conservation body, yesterday celebrated its 150th anniversary in Edinburgh’s City Chambers.
In celebratory mood, a diverse mix of the charity’s members and supporters from civic society, academia and business gathered to champion its achievements over a long history of campaigning.
Edinburgh could well have been criss-crossed by inner city motorways, had it not been for the efforts of the Cockburn Association, according to the opening address by the The Rt. Honourable Lord Provost, and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Councillor Robert Aldridge.
Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, said: “Over the last 15 decades, the Cockburn Association has played an important role in shaping public policy and in protecting and enhancing our ancient built and natural heritage.
“On behalf of the city I would like to congratulate and thank the Cockburn Association for 150 years of achievements, a milestone that stands is testament to the continuing commitment, enthusiasm, and talent of all of those involved at all levels of the organisation. As we celebrate this anniversary, we can also look forward with confidence, knowing the Association will continue its work.”
The Association’s Chair, Dr Lesley Martin, compering the event, revealed how the Association’s namesake, Lord Henry Cockburn, had written a famous – or infamous – letter to the then Lord Provost in 1849.
It expressed concern about the planned “monstrosities” that would irreparably damage the city’s “beauty and amenity”. Dr Martin went on to emphasise that the role of the modern Association was to fulfil the charity’s civic function, bringing together diverse interests in productive conversations.
Chair, Lesley Martin, elected in May this year said: “In fulfilling our role as Edinburgh’s civic trust, the Cockburn Association must aim to include as wide a range of voices as possible and to try to ensure that the quieter, less powerful voices are heard, and listened to”.
The Association’s long history has seen successive waves of modernisation, most recently its wooing of younger trustees and volunteers and the appointment of the current all-female leadership team for the first time in its history.
The Association’s Director Rowan Brown, lauded the role of volunteers and their role in the Association’s success. She said: “Edinburgh has been shaped by ordinary citizens willing to stand up for its built and natural heritage, access to green spaces, dramatic beauty and unique identity.
“As we celebrate our 150th year, our book Campaigning for Edinburgh honours that legacy, illustrates the Edinburgh that might have been and challenges us to think boldly about the city we want to create for future generations.”
“The Cockburn has been built on civic action for civic good, and there are few better examples than the monumental collective seventy year contribution of the Association’s Archival Volunteer Team – Ann Stark, Ruby Dickson, Alan, Margaret Jessop, Lexi Christian and Doreen Parker – who have protected, catalogued, researched and shared the contents of the Cockburn Association’s vast archive.”
Dr Martin ended by putting the charity’s success down to its unique breadth of interests, its focus on “pragmatic solutions” its people, and its streadfast devotion to campaigning for a better future for Edinburgh.