In the spirit of inclusivity and fellowship with all those like-minded leaders who organised Wallace Day for over 100 years, The Society of William Wallace (to all intents and purposes) can claim a lineage from the unveiling of Elderslie’s Wallace Monument in 1912. Indeed, to such effect the Society held centenary events in 2012.

As part of this lineage, a project has started to recognise as many of the lead organisers, chairmen, chairwomen, presidents, convenors or whatever title was bestowed at different periods since 1912. The words that follow are intended to lay down a base for this project, in the hope that memories can be stimulated or documents can be uncovered that could eventually lead to these people be listed for posterity on The Society of William Wallace’s website. Your assistance is crucial in taking this project as far as possible. Can you help us? Could you provide further information? Could you check with family members, contacts, friends etc? There will be information out there.

The running of Wallace Day has evolved over the years, with many differing organisations, groups and committees taking responsibility for the annual honouring and remembrance of Wallace. Although the name did not exist until 1974, the umbrella term of “The Society of William Wallace” can be retrospectively applied to all those who ran Wallace Day over the years. There are common bonds and principles over the 100+ years with the current purposes of The Society of William Wallace, as contained within our constitution. From what I have so far, former convenor and long term committee member Archie Millar has been a massive help in naming leaders.

So, let me give you some context on the early years, and give you the names that are currently known. As well as seeking more information on leaders’ names, any corrections to unintentional inaccuracies in here would also be very welcome.

1912. The Wallace Monument in Elderslie was unveiled on 28th September 1912 by Sir Thomas Glen Coates, after £2,000 of public subscriptions were raised under the auspices of the The London Renfrewshire Society. It is believed that this was the start of the annual commemorations to the memory of Scotland’s greatest patriot and inspiration, Sir William Wallace. Wallace Day continues to take place in Elderslie every year, on the nearest Saturday to 25th August – the date of his brutal and savage judicial murder in Smithfield, London in 1305. The core of the commemoration still takes place at the monument.

1929. There is a fascinating one minute clip of Wallace Day 1929 on YouTube, where we can see a large crowd at the monument and see (but not hear) clips of two speakers - both women. Anybody’s ancestors? If you search youtube with “Scots Wha’ Hae 1929” you should find it.

1932. We have a name! Wallace Day Chairman was Roland Muirhead. As an aside, there is a direct link between 1932’s Wallace Day and 2016’s. Roland Muirhead at that time was the leader of the National Party of Scotland and his principal guest at Wallace Day was the legendary RB Cunningham Grahame. In an article in Independence magazine in 2016 a photograph from the Johnstone Gazette of 22nd August 1932 is reproduced, reporting on Wallace Day two days previously. The photograph depicts RB Cunningham Grahame giving a badge and a sixpence to a three year old boy who had wandered over to the speakers’ chairs. That wee boy was Clarence Stevenson, who never missed a Wallace Day during the rest of his life. At Wallace Day 2016, the then 87 year old Clarence Stevenson was presented with a commemorative quaich by the Society of William Wallace in recognition of such dedication. No-one surely attended more Wallace Days. As a further aside, a future high profile speaker at Wallace Day 1932 (and a regular attendee at Wallace Days) was John McCormick who formed the National Covenant group in 1947.

1947. The BBC Alba documentary “Diomhair”, first broadcast in 2008, included a clip from Wallace Day in 1947 and showed a document in the UK National Archives in Kew which detailed that Special Branch officers were despatched to Wallace Day in 1947 to infiltrate and report back on the event and persons. Can it trigger anybody’s thoughts on who was the lead person running that year’s Wallace Day?

1949 (or perhaps earlier?). The Wallace Day lead at this time was the artistically gifted Wendy Wood – a high profile, imaginative and energetic activist. Wendy Wood and her Scottish Patriots group may have run Wallace Day for 10 years. Can anyone help with information? There is an undated photograph in the Stirling University political archives of Wendy Wood and Billy Wolfe standing together at the Elderslie Wallace Monument. With the decoration in the photograph, it appears to have been taken at a Wallace Day.

Between 1912 and 1959, as you can see, we have very few names of the lead person on Wallace Days. It is hoped that the contexts given above may be the catalyst for people who can provide us with some other names. We appeal for your help please. From 1960 onwards, we have most but not all of the Wallace Day leaders. Can you help us fill the 1974-78 gap? Can you help us fine tune some of the dates? Please let us know.

1960-1974. Wallace Day was led by Robert Stevenson (SNP councillor who switched to the Labour Party).

1974-1978. During these years Wallace Day was run by a SNP committee formed from East Renfrewshire, West Renfrewshire and Paisley groups, with an idea of raising funds for the SNP. At some point during this period Billy Wolfe may have been president of the Wallace Day committee.

1978. Convenor Bill Smart. This was a major year in the evolution the running of Wallace Day. It’s obvious that politicians and political groups and organisations had been integral to the running of many Wallace Days up until this point. Having said that, it wasn’t the sole preserve of any single political party or group over the years, with representations from the Labour and Liberal parties as well as the SNP, Home Rule groups, Independent Labour Party and others involved in Wallace Day at various junctures. After financial losses from 1978’s Wallace Day, the SNP withdrew and a major re-think of the running of the event took place. Bill Smart had the foresight to rename and makeover the Wallace Day committee into a broader membership organisation called the Society of William Wallace and he became the first convenor of this new apolitical, historical group that would have Wallace Day ownership and the memory of Sir William Wallace at its core.

1978-1982. Bill Smart.

1982-1984. Stewart Farquharson.

1984-1990. Archie Millar. Modestly, Archie is keen to pay tribute to Willie Douglas saying that Willie Douglas as Secretary "took on most of the work. I was working three shifts at the time". As I write this in 2024 Archie remains active in supporting the committee, including maintaining throughout the years the role of "Elderslie Custodian", ensuring the monument and surrounding area is maintained and fully "dressed" for Wallace Day. He was presented with the David R Ross Memorial Quaich in 2024 for his 40 years of work in aid of the Society

1990–1992. Mae Brown

1992-1994/5. Brian Brogan

1994/5-1996/7. Willie Douglas

1996/7–2010. David R. Ross

2010-2014. Duncan Fenton

2014-2024. Gary Stewart

2024 onward. David Reid

Our grateful thanks are due to Neil Lochiel, who has undertaken this research in order that the Society can present a fully comprehensive view of the development of the Society over the past decades since 1912.