The Cunninghame Graham Society
celebrating the life and work of Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham
~ politician, writer, traveller, horseman, visionary and humanitarian ~
Events
Coming up:
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We're delighted to open our 2026 online programme for members with a talk by Dr Lachlan Munro on RBCG's Complete Scottish Sketches, which he co-edited with Robin Cunninghame Graham, published by Edinburgh University Press in 2024.
Lachie explored the hills, woods and boglands of Gartmore and its surrounds to pinpoint the location of many of the stories and sketches. Working from the original texts he has set them not only in their physical but also their cultural context.
This will be a fascinating illustrated hour, offering an overview of RBCG's literary, political and personal development, as seen through his writing about Scotland.​
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Thursday 29 January 2026, 7.00 to 8.30 pm on Zoom. Society members only. Register here and you will be sent an invititation in the week of the event.​
2025
In November 2025 we held an afternoon symposium at the Advanced Research Centre, Glasgow University: RB and Gabriela Cunninghame Graham - International Travel, Domestic Reality. Speaking were historian Jad Adams, novelist Dr Lesley McDowell, biographer Jamie Jauncey, Professor Alan Riach and Dr Lachie Munro. ​
In October 2025, we partnered Gartmore 300 for an afternoon of talks and readings in Gartmore Village Hall. Entitled Reading Between The Lines the afternoon focused on RBCG, his world and his Scottish stories. Speakers were broadcaster Billy Kay, Professor Alan Riach, Dr Lachie Munro and biographer Jamie Jauncey.
In 2025 RBCG's cousin, Susan Henn (1853-1911), was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame. She was the first woman ever to compete in the America's Cup, having commissioned, funded and, due to her husband's indisposition, skippered the yacht Galatea in the race of 1886. She is pictured here with what appears to be a sea-going raccoon. (Her mother, Susan Cunninghame Graham, was the half-sister of RBCG's grandfather.)
2025 is the centenary of the installation in Hyde Park of the WH Hudson memorial, by Jacob Epstein. RBCG admired Hudson above all other writers and shared a love of South America with the naturalist and novelist who had grown up in Argentina. Hudson died in 1922 and RBCG initiated the commission of the sculpture and chaired the committee that saw it through to completion. Conor Mark Jameson, author of Finding WH Hudson explains.
In 1725, Nicol Graham, RBCG's ancestor, laid out the boundaries of Gartmore Village - a planned 'estate village', centred on the Graham family seat, Gartmore House, where RBCG spent part of his childhood. To mark the tercentenary, Gartmore Heritage Society have programmed a year of events under the banner of Gartmore 300. Further details: https://www.facebook.com/gartmoreheritagesociety
2024
In November 2024 Glasgow University Dialectical Society hosted the second annual Cunninghame Graham Debates. The debates were sponsored by Scotland Street Press and the Cunninghame Graham Society. Motions featured topics relevant to the life and work of RBCG: legal enshrinement of animal rights, abolition of the House of Lords, and Scottish Independence.
Don Roberto and Scotland: International Perspectives
11-12 May 2024
Jamie Jauncey, James Robertson, Carla Sassi and Alan Riach
In May 2024 we ran a two-day symposium at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum, and Gartmore House. On Saturday we listened to a day of talks at the Smith by speakers on a range of topics related to RBCG's life and work. At dinner in the evening we were entertained by Alan Riach and Chris Dolan with a dialogue and readings. On Sunday we enjoyed a morning's visit to the former Graham family seat, Gartmore House, and an afternoon trip to the island of Inchmahome where Robert and Gabriela are buried. The sun shone all weekend.​
THE SPEAKERS
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James Robertson: RBCG – a personal reading
Conor Mark Jameson: RBCG and WH Hudson
Carla Sassi: RBCG and Empire
Laurence Davies: RBCG and Conrad
Chris Dolan: RBCG and new writing
Helen Smith: RBCG and Edward Garnett
Rob Gibson: RBCG and the Highlands
Jamie Jauncey & Alan Riach: RBCG and women
Lachlan Munro & Robin Cunninghame Graham: the Scottish sketches
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Moderators: Alan Riach & Gerry McGarvey
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Click on the name to read the paper
Click here for speaker biographies
Chris Dolan & Alan Riach entertain
The graves at Inchmahome Priory
View from Gartmore House
Robin Cunninghame Graham leads the tour of Gartmore
