Paisley Snail Triumphs At Last
28th May 2012
At last over two years of planning came to fruition with great success as the Major International Conference, ‘Who Then In Law Is My Neighbour’, took place in Paisley on 24, 25 and 26 May 2012, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the judgment in the famous legal case, Donoghue —v— Stevenson, which originated in Paisley and changed the law throughout the world.
The Conference was the brainchild of RLC Principal Solicitor, Jon Kiddie, hatched while sharing a hipflask on a Christmas country ramble with aider and abettor, Joe Bryce, Advocate, back in December 2009. Their idea could only have been made possible thanks to the guidance, administration and financial backing provided by UWS, principally their Dale McFadzean and Briony Cullin, who are also RLC Directors. Together these four individuals formed the Steering Committee that eventually brought the event into reality.
Of course, many thanks are also due to a large army of other contributors, including speakers, chairs, delegates, university staff and students, catering staff, and sponsors. Many delegates had travelled from far-flung corners of the world for the event.
Thanks also go to Renfrewshire Council, Cooperative Funeral Parlour and Reid Kerr College for their work in helping the Steering Committe realise their dream of renovating the site of the old Wellmeadow Café.
Lord Kinclaven of the Court of Session and Professor Seamus McDaid, UWS Principal and RLC Patron, joined Jon Kiddie in welcoming delegates to the Conference at the official reception evening on 24 May, while Sheriff Principal Kerr attended throughout, and Lord President Hamilton joined the proceedings on 26 May. Austin Lafferty, President of the Law Society of Scotland, spoke at the Conference Dinner, as did Martin Taylor QC, the Canadian lawyer who took a prominent role in organising the Paisley Pilgrimage of 1990, which had also celebrated the famous case of DvS. This time around, Martin Taylor also led the Parade to the site of the old Wellmeadow Café, where he and Ellen Farmer MBE, from the Old Paisley Society, unveiled the old and new markers for this historic location. Thanks also to the local police for helping guide the Parade.
(From Left to Right, Jon Kiddie, Lord Kinclaven & Professor McDaid)
Proceeds from the Conference will be reinvested in the charitable work of RLC and UWS.
Steering Committee members intend to rest for a while before beginning their preparations for the Centenary Celebration.
Dale & Joe stand proudly by the official conference banner with some of our sponsors.