THE TRUSTEES

The Founding Trustees of the City of Dundee Burgess Charity (Scottish Charity Number SC 042252) have come together from organisations across the city. See below for details of the individuals and the groups they represent.

Lord Provost Bob Duncan was born in Dundee and has lived all his life in the city.

After attending two local primary schools and Rockwell secondary school he gained an apprenticeship with the local greeting card and postcard printers and manufacturers, Valentines. During his time there he gained a number of academic qualifications and worked in many capacities, ending up as print and graphics manager when the company ceased to trade. In 2003 he became councillor for the Balgay ward and was made Lord Provost in 2012.

He said: "Dundee is a vibrant and modern city, proud of its tradition and history. With a revitalised city centre and retail scene, the thriving Dundee Contemporary Arts centre, the impressive Ice Arena and a huge choice of leisure options, with even more exciting developments to come, we are a confident and optimistic 21st century city.

"Much of which derives from our knowledge and respect of the traditions and history of Dundee, and the Burgesses' Charity gives us a direct line into that bygone age."

Bob Duncan,
Dundee's Lord Provost

William A Spence QPM served in the police for 40 years – first in the Strathclyde Area and then in Tayside where he was Chief Constable until retirement. He is the holder of the Queens Police Medal.
Bill is Chairman of St John for the Angus and Dundee Area, a Registered Scottish Charity whose aims include the promotion of all work of humanity for the relief of those who are ill, in distress, suffering or in danger.

St John volunteers assist oncology patients attend daily at the Princess Alexandria treatment centre, Ninewells. Renal patients are also taken for dialysis sessions throughout the week. The Charity is collaborating with the Scottish Ambulance Service to establish First Responder Schemes. Volunteers are trained to provide CPR, Oxygen therapy and use an Automatic Defibrillator where someone has suffered cardiac arrest. When an ambulance is despatched to such an incident the First Responder based locally, attends and assists the patient until an ambulance crew arrives and takes charge of the incident.

Alison Henderson is proud to represent Women Ahead and be a founding member of the Dundee Burgess Charity. She is a past Chairwoman of the group: an organisation aiming to encourage, support and bring together women in business and the professions in Dundee and Angus.

Alison is also a Director of the Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce.
 
The objectives of Women Ahead are to:

Provide a forum for discussion, development and networking
Enable businesswomen to share knowledge, skills and experience
Encourage members’ advancement in business through personal development
Exert influence in a professional manner in business circles and thereby promote the advancement of women.

Charles Scott is Past Deacon of the Hammerman Craft 1993/95 and was then Deacon Convenor of The Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee 2007/09.

The Trades came together, over 400 years ago, to give support and protection to their members and give charity where needed. To this day it is a charitable organisation mainly supporting youth and education projects and also the Trades Kirk, St Andrews Parish Church, Dundee.
Charles is proud to have been a working Hammerman, as a locksmith in the city for nearly half a century, and to be a founding member of the Dundee Burgess Charity. http://www.ninetradesofdundee.co.uk/

Margaret Hutton is a Past President of the Inner Wheel Club of Dundee and Past President of the local cancer committee fundraising for Cancer Research UK (Scotland). She is currently a member of the Discovery Award Association (Scotland) Council (an award for the over 50s) and President of Dundee Ladies Probus Club, which she represents. The object of the Club is to promote fellowship among retired professional and business ladies. Meetings are held monthly and a varied programme of speakers is organised for retired ladies from all walks of life.
 
Margaret is honoured to be one of the founder members of the City of Dundee Burgess Charity.

Robert Burns is delighted to represent The Guildry Incorporation of Dundee an organisation formed over six hundred years ago,
The role of the Guildry is to uphold and follow the ancient and time honoured traditions of the Guildry and the City of Dundee, and to support The Lord Provost, The Civic Authorities and other Institutions in the pursuit of this objective.

As the fourth generation of a family business established in 1886 his roots in the business community go back a long way. As Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Dundee, an organisation that has been serving the community for over 90 years, and last year distributed over £75000 to the local community as well as overseas charities, Robert has accumulated a lot of knowledge with regard to our own community.

Prudence Watson, as a past president, is proud to represent Soroptimist International of Dundee as a founding member of Dundee Burgess Charity.
 
Soroptimist International is a worldwide organisation with over 90,000 members in 126 countries. Membership is open to women and is a global voice for women through Awareness, Advocacy and Action.
 
'Through international partnership and a global network of members, Soroptimists inspire action and create opportunities to transform the lives of women and girls by advocating for equity and equality, creating safe and healthy environments, increasing access to education and developing leadership and practical skills for a sustainable future.'
 
Members of Soroptimist International Dundee have been serving the local community of Dundee since 1932.
 
www.soroptimist-gbi.org

Scott Williamson assisted in obtaining charitable status for the Dundee Burgess Charity and has been appointed as its first Secretary.

He is a local solicitor and is involved with the administration of a number of charities. For a number of years he has acted as Clerk to another organisation in the City and hopes that this experience in this area will be of benefit to the new organisation.