Visit by His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent to the Leighton Library
Added at 11:07 on 06 June 2025
The Trustees of Dunblane’s historic Leighton Library, Scotland’s oldest purpose-built independent library, were delighted to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent to the Leighton Library on the morning of Friday 30 May.
Accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk, Colonel Charles Wallace (recently appointed by His Majesty King Charles III), The Duke of Kent was greeted at the foot of the Leighton Library’s distinctive external stair by Rev. Colin C Renwick, Chair of the Leighton Library Trustees.
Introductions followed to fellow Trustees Sir James Campbell (a descendant of one of the original hereditary Trustees), Gordon Willis (who catalogued the Leighton Library), Dan Gunn OBE (who is also a member of the Executive Group and manages the extensive group of volunteers), and Chris Onslow (Honorary Treasurer, and Honorary Secretary to the Trustees and members of the Executive Group).
Within the Leighton Library itself, His Royal Highness met Alastair MacDonald (member of the Executive Group who had lead role in the recent £400,000 restoration of the Leighton Library building), Dr Celia Aitken (member of the Executive Group with responsibility for sales, events fund-raising and online store), and Malcolm Wilson (who leads the Leighton Library Undercroft subgroup, and Education Subgroup, and manages the Leighton Library website and social media).
Alastair MacDonald provided The Duke of Kent with an engaging introduction to the life of Robert Leighton and to the history of the Leighton Library, built from the bequest of Robert Leighton, who had been Principal of Edinburgh University, Bishop of Dunblane, and then Archbishop of Glasgow, in the turbulent times of seventeenth century Scotland.
Gordon Willis shared about some specific books from the collection, from the Leighton Library’s smallest book (The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis), to the most expensive purchase by Robert Leighton, the multi-volume Polyglot Bible, in which the Duke of Kent showed great interest.
Celia Aitken presented His Royal Highness with a gift from the Leighton Library of coasters featuring images of maps from the Leighton Library’s 1776 First Edition of The American Atlas, along with a card featuring a painting by Trustee Gordon Willis. His Royal Highness then signed the visitor book, adding the words “Deeply fascinating!”
As he departed, The Duke of Kent remarked on the impressive efforts to maintain and restore such a historic treasure. The Trustees expressed their gratitude for The Duke's visit, which they believe will help raise awareness and support for the library's ongoing preservation efforts, and inspire more visitors to explore the library's unique offerings. The Duke's visit was a memorable occasion, celebrating the library's enduring legacy and its contributions to the community.