HibbyRod
05-02-2015, 04:46 PM
Hibernian Shareholders Association
I have posted this on the Private Members Board too.
I was the first Secretary of the Edinburgh Hibernian Shareholders Association which was constituted on 1st May 1990. (It latterly seemed to drop the "Edinburgh" bit and became known just as the Hibernian Shareholders Association.
The Directors were:
Ewen Stewart, - Chairman (a Fund Manager)
Ramsay Dalgetty, - Deputy-Chairman (a QC, and latterly a Judge after moving to the Southern hemisphere - Tonga I think)
Ron Herkes, - Treasurer (I think he was a CA)
Rod Cranston, - Secretary (Working in Sales in the Print Industry) (That's me by the way.)
As some of the directors moved on, etc., others took up the vacancies. These included Paul Herring, as Deputy Chairman - and Brian Monteith as Chairman.
The Association was constituted to help the club to stave off the Mercer takeover bid.
I'll never forget that day. An abiding memory was going to Easter Road that evening trying to find out what was happening, and seeing Ewen there standing on the steps shouting out what information was available through a hand-held megaphone. He had been in the meetings with the Board giving his input with the finances, etc.
There were meetings in the 50 Club, and the Shareholders Association was formed out of the original discussions with Club Directors during the coming weeks.
Out of all the trials and tribulations we ended up with about 230/250 active Members of the H.S.A.
A Constitution was formed, of which I still have a copy - I'll come back to this later in this message.
Once the take-over was thwarted, Sir Tom gained control of the Club.
These were very worrying and stressful times, and The Association was well attended at the meetings and some events that were organised through time.
Initially it was £3 a year to join. :-) Latterly this went up to a fiver. :-(
There were various events organised and had nights attended by Sir Tom Farmer, Dougie Cromb, Kenny McLean, Alex Miller, etc.
After 5 years or so I had to step down from my secretarial duties from the Association due to changes in my circumstances, having to travel to Leeds, London and Manchester, etc. for my job.
At some point, after about 1995 or so, the membership started to decline in numbers. I believe this was a natural consequence of people then feeling that the threat to Hibs was diminished, and the ship was sailing smoother after the horrible period of Mercer's attack.
The membership dwindled and, as I understand, the Association drifted and has become dormant.
Brain was the last Chairman as far as I know. At this stage I cannot confirm if the Association was officially wound-up, or is lying dormant. Brian does have the paperwork and will be able to confirm.
I have tried to contact Brian to determine exactly how things stand at this moment. I think he is on holiday at present, and I have left him messages to contact me.
Given the current situation re. Hands on Hibs, I can say with certainty that no-one can speak for the membership of the Hibernian Shareholders Association given that it is either dormant or wound-up. Also, events today may change things for the better going forward together in supporting our Club.
In any event, as I mentioned earlier, I have a copy of the original Constitution. If there is a wish to resurrect the Association by the previous members, and with the potential additional shareholders being created this might be a helpful starting point?
I also think that the Club would assist in getting things sorted out if there was a wish to start up a new and growing Hibernian Shareholders Association.
Hope this has been helpful in some way in putting a short resume of how things developed and subsequently drifted away.
Regards, Rod.
I have posted this on the Private Members Board too.
I was the first Secretary of the Edinburgh Hibernian Shareholders Association which was constituted on 1st May 1990. (It latterly seemed to drop the "Edinburgh" bit and became known just as the Hibernian Shareholders Association.
The Directors were:
Ewen Stewart, - Chairman (a Fund Manager)
Ramsay Dalgetty, - Deputy-Chairman (a QC, and latterly a Judge after moving to the Southern hemisphere - Tonga I think)
Ron Herkes, - Treasurer (I think he was a CA)
Rod Cranston, - Secretary (Working in Sales in the Print Industry) (That's me by the way.)
As some of the directors moved on, etc., others took up the vacancies. These included Paul Herring, as Deputy Chairman - and Brian Monteith as Chairman.
The Association was constituted to help the club to stave off the Mercer takeover bid.
I'll never forget that day. An abiding memory was going to Easter Road that evening trying to find out what was happening, and seeing Ewen there standing on the steps shouting out what information was available through a hand-held megaphone. He had been in the meetings with the Board giving his input with the finances, etc.
There were meetings in the 50 Club, and the Shareholders Association was formed out of the original discussions with Club Directors during the coming weeks.
Out of all the trials and tribulations we ended up with about 230/250 active Members of the H.S.A.
A Constitution was formed, of which I still have a copy - I'll come back to this later in this message.
Once the take-over was thwarted, Sir Tom gained control of the Club.
These were very worrying and stressful times, and The Association was well attended at the meetings and some events that were organised through time.
Initially it was £3 a year to join. :-) Latterly this went up to a fiver. :-(
There were various events organised and had nights attended by Sir Tom Farmer, Dougie Cromb, Kenny McLean, Alex Miller, etc.
After 5 years or so I had to step down from my secretarial duties from the Association due to changes in my circumstances, having to travel to Leeds, London and Manchester, etc. for my job.
At some point, after about 1995 or so, the membership started to decline in numbers. I believe this was a natural consequence of people then feeling that the threat to Hibs was diminished, and the ship was sailing smoother after the horrible period of Mercer's attack.
The membership dwindled and, as I understand, the Association drifted and has become dormant.
Brain was the last Chairman as far as I know. At this stage I cannot confirm if the Association was officially wound-up, or is lying dormant. Brian does have the paperwork and will be able to confirm.
I have tried to contact Brian to determine exactly how things stand at this moment. I think he is on holiday at present, and I have left him messages to contact me.
Given the current situation re. Hands on Hibs, I can say with certainty that no-one can speak for the membership of the Hibernian Shareholders Association given that it is either dormant or wound-up. Also, events today may change things for the better going forward together in supporting our Club.
In any event, as I mentioned earlier, I have a copy of the original Constitution. If there is a wish to resurrect the Association by the previous members, and with the potential additional shareholders being created this might be a helpful starting point?
I also think that the Club would assist in getting things sorted out if there was a wish to start up a new and growing Hibernian Shareholders Association.
Hope this has been helpful in some way in putting a short resume of how things developed and subsequently drifted away.
Regards, Rod.