Historic Paisley institution is at risk of being "lost forever"
dailyrecord.co.ukA desperate call for new members to join one of Paisley’s oldest organisations is being made to prevent it slipping into oblivion.The Paisley Philosophical Institution, founded in 1808, has been badly hit by Covid-19, and the lack of a permanent venue for its lectures.For more than two centuries it has been at the forefront of cultural and scientific developments in the town.Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire.
Sign up to our newsletters here.Founded to entertain and educate the people of Paisley, it played a vital role in the building and stocking of the Museum and Library, the School of Art, the Coats Observatory, the Photographic Society, and the Technical College, now the University of the West of Scotland.However, this group, which has done so much for the town is at risk of becoming a footnote in the town’s history, as a lack of people showing an interest in their output, and of those willing to get involved leave it facing an uncertain future.President Iain Skene told the Express: “It would be inexcusable if an organisation that has been such a force for good in the town over two centuries was lost forever.“We still attract great speakers, and have a terrific line up arranged for our next session, in a mixture of online and in-person formats.“However, it is soul-destroying and embarrassing when a high-quality talk is arranged, and only a handful of people appear on the night to hear it.“We urgently need new, younger members, as well as members willing to serve on the Council of this, one of the most prestigious Institutions of its kind in Scotland.”Over the years, the PPI lectures have been prestigious and well attended, sometimes with audiences running into the thousands, with leading
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