The Master and Lord Dean of Guild were pleased to represent the Royal Company of Merchants at the Kirking Service for the Convenery of the Trades of Edinburgh at Greyfriars Kirk on Saturday 29th April. There was special interest this year as the Deacon Convener, Jock Miller, is also a member and former Assistant of the Merchant Company.
The Kirking was followed by a procession and short commemoration at the grave of Mary Erskine who, in 1704, gifted funds for the establishment of the Trades Maiden Hospital, following similar lines to her earlier gift of 1694 which led to the establishment of the Merchant Maiden Hospital (now The Mary Erskine School). Now known as the Edinburgh Trades Fund, the Trades’ charity helps young people in Edinburgh through the provision of grants.
