Universities Retired Staff Association | Human Resources

Membership of URSA and how it works.

Aims

Membership of the Universities Retired Staff Association (URSA) is open to retired staff (and their partners) of the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University. The aims of the Association are to promote the fellowship and well-being of retired members of staff and to maintain their interest in University affairs.

Meetings

Meetings, with a speaker, are held monthly from October to April on Tuesday afternoons at 2.30pm in the Chaplaincy Centre, 1 Bristo Square (opposite McEwan Hall).

During the session there are also four visits to local places of interest and a Christmas lunch.

There are three newsletters sent out per year.

Membership

Membership Type	Single	Joint (with Partner)
Annual subscription	£10.00	£15.00

If you wish to apply for membership for the current session, please complete the application form available below and forward it with your cheque to the Treasurer at the address on the form.

URSA 2026-27 Application Form new members (50.31 KB / DOCX)

URSA 2026-27 Application Form new members (186.21 KB / PDF)

If you have any other queries, or wish to be sent a paper copy of the form, now or at some time in the future, please email the Chair, Nina MacKinnon : mackinnonjanina@gmail.com

Programme 2026/27

Date	Event
2026
13 Oct	Tom Wood, “The Bombing of Edinburgh and Leith, 1939 – 1942”
10 Nov	Angela Bartie & Eleanor Bell, “The 1962 International Writers Conference Revisited”
18 Nov	Visit to the Freemasons Hall, George Street
8 Dec	Julia Whytock, “Help for Ukraine”
15 Dec	Christmas Lunch – The Royal Scots Club

2027
12 Jan	Derek Alexander, “Pioneering Spirit: the archaeology and history of early whisky making in Scotland”
9 Feb	Kath Hay, “Scotland’s Hidden Treasure”
9 Mar	Hetty Lancaster, “William H. Playfair – beyond the ‘Athens of the North’”
16 Mar	Visit to St Cecilia’s Hall
20 Apr	AGM and Re-appraisal Meeting
4 May	Visit to the Incorporated Trades of Edinburgh, Ashfield, 61 Melville Street
18 May	Visit to St Cuthbert’s Church