Club Meeting "” Bruce Jamieson
Tue, Dec 20th 2016 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Bill Deans arranged for Bruce Jamieson from Puregreenspace Architects of Helensburgh to speak on the Charles Rennie Mackintosh connection with the old Conservative Club in Sinclair Street, and John McCormick gave the vote of thanks.
President Bill Jones welcomed guest speaker Bruce Jamieson, his wife Nicola, and 14 other rotarians to the Christmas lunch and final meeting of 2016.
Bruce, a busy and successful architect, and Nicola bought the former Conservative Club upper storey in Sinclair Street in the summer, a Category A Listed Building, and have plans to transform it in time for the 150th anniversary of Mackintosh's birth in the summer of 2018.
They intend to replace the roof in a way which will provide space for artists and architects, create a museum, and to use the original billiard room space for private dining and other events. The couple are also working closely with Hill House to make the most of both Mackintosh creations.
Bruce said: "When we bought the third floor there were broken roof lights and it was inhabited by pigeons. This is the first building Mackintosh designed and it was sitting here in Helensburgh undiscovered.
"We plan to bring it back to life, which will be a fantastic thing for Helensburgh. We want people to come and see it, and you are always welcome to knock on the front door and ask to see it."
John McCormick proposed the vote of thanks, and the weekly raffle for a whisky miniature was won by Bill Deans.
- More details of the Conservative Club project can be found here.