Our weekly Meeting with Alex Fleming - Scotland & the Flemish People

When Alex Fleming, (pictured above) in conversation with a Scottish aunt back in the late 1960's, discovered that his ancestors -- evidently weavers by occupation --  may have migrated to Scotland from Flanders in medieval times to ply their trade, it piqued his interest.  Why on earth did they come to Scotland and did they come alone?  These were some of the questions that gnawed away at his mind.  However, because of the pressures of study, work and family he couldn't set out immediately on a serious quest to find answers. This had to wait 40 years until his retirement in 2009!  He was astounded by what he and a dedicated group of researchers then discovered.  His family was not alone.  The Flemish people, or Flemings as they were called, were in fact a large immigrant group to Scotland in the medieval period.  What is more, and this is little told in Scottish history books, they had a quite significant impact on Scotland's economic, social and political development.  Indeed, some 20% of today's Scottish population may have Flemish roots. On 18th August Alex Fleming will join us from Washington DC via zoom to explain.

It is hoped that members of Ayr Rotary Club will join us for this meeting.