Notice of Dissolution

Due to a steady and apparently irreversible decrease of membership in recent years, the Aberdeen Mechanical Society has ceased to fulfil its constitutional object, namely “to promote and further the practice and vocation of Engineering, Science and Technology by encouraging education, training and the interchange of ideas”.

With considerable regret, such remaining members as could be contacted unanimously agreed that the Aberdeen Mechanical Society be dissolved.

The Society had accumulated funds from various bequests, amounting in total to £4411.03. This has been disbursed as follows:

£4000 to the RGU Foundation for the maintenance of an annual prize for the best 2nd year student of Mechanical Engineering at the Robert Gordon University.

£241.60 to the Friends of Roxburghe House Grampian

£158.40 to advertise dissolution of the Society in The Press & Journal

The balance of £11.03 remains in a current account with Bank of Scotland who have so far failed to respond to any communication regarding closure of the account. This amount has been written off since the cost of unanswered calls to the BoS call centre already exceeds the amount at stake.

The Reginald V Jones trophy, an object created in memory of the former Honorary President of the Society and Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen, was donated to the University. It is awarded each year for the most innovative project work by a 4th year Honours student of Engineering.

Various records and artefacts accumulated over the years have been placed in the custody of the Aberdeen Public Library, Local Collection. These records demonstrate the huge range of interests of Society members through the years and show many scenes that can never be revisited.

As Dr John Reid wrote in December 2020, “the Aberdeen Mechanical Society has gracefully reached the end of its natural life after over 130 years of activities that we and our predecessors can be very proud of.”

David Moore
AMSTreasurer@btinternet.com