The Lord Provost’s Guard of Honour
The Lord Provost’s Guard of Honour
Our Core Purpose
Our core purpose is to be the Guard of Honour to the Lord Provost and Council of the City of Edinburgh at civic duties.
This requires the Society to provide Office Bearers supported by a number of Constables at around 14 public events each year. This is done on a rotating basis where members of Wards volunteer to attend.
In practice this means that active individual members of the Society participate in a civic duty roughly every three years.
Practice
The Society has a long-standing tradition of use of drill going back at least two centuries. We use drill to be able to form up and manoeuvre smartly as a body for Civic Duties.
Historically, most members of the Society had experience of drill through prior service in the armed forces, police or similar organisations. Today new members have to be trained to perform Society drill. New and existing members are strongly encouraged to attend drill practice sessions.
In addition to civic duties, we perform drill at two combined Drill and Inspection meetings in May and October. This involves parading and marching past a review party. This is a long-standing tradition.
Some members of the Society volunteer to take part in special events. They form the Lord Provost’s platoon, which evolved from the Society members who performed at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2011 and is open to all Society members. The Lord Provost’s platoon are trained by Armed Forces NCOs. The standard of their drill is of a consistently high standard.
Helping Others
The Society has been involved in charitable activity since 1815 when it raised funds for widows and dependents of soldiers killed at the Battle of Waterloo. The Society has a proud record of supporting specific causes in times of need or as a show of civic pride. The most recent example of this is the donation of some £30,000 to support City foodbanks and community support groups during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Many members of the Society make voluntary annual contributions to the Society Charitable Trust. The trust uses these contributions to fund a Christmas parcel scheme and make targeted donations to small local charities that support our City.
The Christmas parcel scheme involves the bulk purchase and packing of large standardised bags of food and household supplies for distribution to the lonely and less fortunate in the community across the City. Each year the Society provides around 250 of these parcels.
The targeted donations have supported charities such as the Grassmarket Community Trust, the Edinburgh Street Pastors, Street Assist and Blood Bikes Scotland. The Society also supports the One City Trust, reflecting our link to the Lord Provost.
Various Wards do significant additional charitable activity directly with organisations in the City, following their own Ward traditions.
The Charitable Trust of the Society of High Constables of Edinburgh (SC031810) was set up in 2001. This formalised our charitable activity, funds the Christmas parcel scheme and allows tax-efficient coordinated giving to local charities.
1903 Annual Dinner Menu
1937 Annual Dinner attendees
2003 Annual Dinner Menu
2021 Moderator’s Reception
2023 Annual Dinner attendees
Social
The main social event of the year is the Society Annual Dinner held on the first Wednesday in December. This is currently held at Prestonfield House Hotel. Around 200 Society members and their guests attend this formal event. Distinguished guests include the Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, the representatives of each branch of His Majesty’s Forces in Scotland, representatives from our kindred societies and a senior officer from Police Scotland. The main toasts of the evening are: His Majesty’s Forces; The City of Edinburgh; The Society of High Constables of Edinburgh; and Kindred Societies and Guests.
The Society holds other social events throughout the year including a Ten Pin bowling competition, a quiz night and the Moderator’s summer reception.
Wards organise their own calendar of events through the year, following their Ward traditions. Most Wards have their own annual Ward dinners.
Sport
The Society has five sporting clubs that were established over the last 100 years.
While not formally part of the Society, these clubs provide an opportunity to get to know other members of the Society in an informal setting and form an important part of Society life for their members.
Instituted 1895
The club are active and organise competitions, matches and outings at various courses throughout the year.
The club encourage all non-member golfers, regardless of ability, to join their friendly club.
Instituted 1919
The club plays against the High Constables of Perth, Glasgow City Corporation and other bowling clubs when possible.
All club games are played in afternoons in July and August, and any Society member interested in joining the Club are most welcome.
Instituted before 1922
The club organises outings during the season and holds a joint Annual General Meeting and Dinner at the Murrayfield Hotel.
Any member wishing to join the club can be assured of a warm welcome
Instituted 1922
The club play 12 league games during the season plus matches against the New Club and other organisations. Games are played in the evenings, Mondays-Thursdays at social times.
Any Society member interested in joining will be made most welcome.
Reinstituted 2008
The club organise monthly clay pigeon sessions at Cluny Clays at a reasonable price. Matches are organised with the New Club and other organisations.
New members are very welcome.