Talks And Interviews

Welcome to my Web site!

Donald L Reid

The speaker for occasions large and small. Always interesting, topical and light-hearted.

Are you looking for an entertaining after dinner speaker? Perhaps you are looking for  someone to entertain your group or organisation after a special function or presentation of prizes or awards. Donald Reid is an entertaining speaker who speaks with authority and entertains on various subjects/events including:

 After dinner events;

Burns Suppers

St Andrew’s Dinners

Corporate events

Sportsman’s Dinners

Presentation of Prizes at Golf/Bowling Clubs/Curling Clubs/Round Table/Rugby Clubs etc

Donald L Reid also speaks to a large variety of groups such as Rotary Clubs; Lions; Rural (WRI); Church Guilds/Fellowships, Historical Societies, Townswomans Guild, Family History Groups, Ex Serviceman Clubs, Disability Groups. Donald is also able to chair events for any organisation and lead fundraising auctions. The following are among his popular topics:

BURNS SUPPERS

Donald L Reid has spoken at Burns Suppers from Inverness to Stafford over the past 35 years and is one of the popular and well known speakers on the Burns Circuit, particularly in Ayrshire. He regularly gives the toast to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns and the Toast to the Lasses or reply to the Toast to the Lasses.

ST ANDREW’S DINNER

Local Historian Donald L Reid talks at St Andrew celebrations on Scotland and the people and events that moulded the character of the country. His talks are illuminating, educational and still light-hearted and entertaining.

ROBERT W SERVICE – POET OF THE PEOPLE

Donald L Reid  talks about the life and works of Robert W Service (1874 - 1958) and is normally accompanied by his very good friend, Iain D Shaw FSA Scot, a  fellow Service and Burns enthusiast, in this illustrated lecture. It is doubtful if any poet, except perhaps Robert Burns, has commanded such world-wide affection as Robert Service. Arguably no other verse has been more recited than The Shooting of Dan McGrew and The Cremation of Sam McGee. Many associate RWS with the Klondike. Others regard his Rhymes of a Red Cross Man to be the outstanding book to come from the First World War. Too few know the story of the man. His early years in Kilwinning; his revolt against convention; his wandering vagabond years in the States and Canada; his struggle to find his special niche in life; his war years and his happy life in France. Service captivated the imagination of generations or ordinary people and introduced many to the pleasure and beauty of verse. This is a compelling story which is illustrated with some quite spellbinding scenes of the Canadian North. The talk lasts from 45 minutes to just over 1 hour depending on the wishes of the audience.

DOON VALLEY MEMORIES

Author, Donald L Reid, published the book by this name in 2002 and this captured the sights and scenes of Ayrshire’s historic Doon Valley, immortalised by Scotland’s poet, Robert Burns. In this fully illustrated lecture the writer talks about his upbringing in Dalmellington; the coal mining industry; the Dalmellington Iron Works which brought a mini-industrial revolution to the valley in 1845; Loch Doon and the infamous School of Ariel Gunnery; Craigengillan Estate and its sad history and association with the famous and powerful including Prince Rainier 111, Lord Halifax; Neville Chamberlaine (PM 1937-1940), Sir William Beardmore, Stanley Baldwin and Tom Walls; local poets of fame such as Robert Hettrick (1769-1849) who wrote with such feeling about the area and Matthew Anderson (1864-1948), known as the policeman-poet of the Ayrshire Constabulary. These two poets and the Ayrshire genius, Robert Burns, continue to touch the heart of each new generation, their poems giving voice to the enduring sentiments of the human heart – love of home, parents and family; love of childhood days; and love of our friends.

THE LOST VILLAGES OF AYRSHIRE’S DOON VALLEY

Donald L Reid wrote the book, Yesterday’s Patna & The Lost Villages of Doon Valley in 2005 and he reflects on the life and people who inhabitated the former mining villages such as Lethanhill, Burnfoothill, Benwhat, Corbie Craigs, Craigmark, Beoch, Kerse, Tongue Row and Cairntable. These were vibrant albeit small mining communities, no longer extant. But they were inhabited by real people who lived life at the sharp end. The last villages to be occupied were Cairntable and Lethanhill, yet today you still find people visiting the scene of their boyhood days and remembering. Recalling all our yesterdays is very important and only really appreciate fully as one gets older.

DR HENRY FAULDS OF BEITH – FINGERPRINTS ON TRIAL

Donald L Reid tells the story of the forgotten Scottish fingerprint pioneer, Dr Henry Faulds (1843 – 1930). Born and raised in Beith he made his indelible mark on the history of fingerprints when he published an article in the Scientific Journal Nature in 1880 highlighting how fingerprints could be used for criminal detection. Unfortunately, he was never given the footnote in history for his pioneering work, whilst others were giving full credit. He also enters the debate about fingerprint scandals including the famous case of Shirley McKie, the Kilmarnock Detective wrongly accused of leaving her fingerprint at a murder scene in Kilmarnock. This talks is illustrated and has proven to be highly popular with all groups.

WRITING - EMBARKING ON YOUR LOCAL HISTORY PROJECT

Donald L Reid has written 13 local history books relating mainly to Ayrshire’s Doon and Garnock Valley and also wrote a booklet, Burns and Barrmill, to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club. He is willing to come along and speak to small groups about their local history project and give them sound advice about how to approach recording their local history. This can be a ‘one off’ session or over a number of sessions depending on the wishes of the group.

IN THE NEWS – WITH THE ARDROSSAN & SALTCOATS HERALD

Donald L Reid has been the Beith correspondent for the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald for over six years, producing two full newspaper pages of local news each week with occasional features. In this illustrated talk he remembers some of the stories and the people who make the local news.

BONNY GALLOWA’ – A PICTORIAL TOUR

Donald L Reid also has a large collection of photos relating to Galloway and can give talks on his many sojourns in what is his favourite area - Bonny Gallowa’.