The Glasgow Shipowners’
and Shipbrokers’ Benevolent Association was constituted following a
meeting held within the Christian Institute Glasgow on 10th. February
1899. The original gathering was attended by many local shipowners and
brokers, some of the names of which would be recognisable by shipping
people today. This was followed by the first General Meeting of
members held on 9th. May 1899 at which Mr. Nathaniel Dunlop was
appointed President. To capture the spirit behind the Association’s
birth one can do no better than to quote Mr. Dunlop’s first Director’s
Report, “ for many it has been considered something of an anomaly that
the shipping trade of the City of Glasgow - should have no Benevolent
Association to identify with it.” The anomaly had been righted.
It was almost natural in its
development that the Directors in 1998 decided that the Association
should broaden its geographical limits to embrace Scotland as a whole.
This recognising that unlike earlier times many in the shipping
community are now based in east coast ports. If the need exists for a
Benevolent Association such as ours the need should be addressed not
necessarily confining our response to one particular part of the
country. In consequence on 15th. April 1999 a Special Meeting was held
at which members unanimously approved new Rules and Regulations
extending the Associations sphere of influence. Thus the Scottish
Shipping Benevolent Association came into being.
