THE SIR PATRICKGEDDES MEMORIAL TRUST

The Trust promotes the study of living society in its environment, according to the principles and practice of Professor Sir Patrick Geddes (1854-1932). He was one of the first biologists to stress the prime importance of habitat in what would now be called ecology, using a method of survey and synthesis developed in Scotland, France, the Near East and India, and based on the principle of “Place-Work-Folk”.

The Trust is a Registered Charity created in order to manage the Trust Funds and to apply the capital and income thereof for charitable and educational purposes and the promotion of Geddes’ interests with like-minded groups.

The Trustees in their profession and leisure activities, pursue the objectives both formally and informally, and consider how they can raise awareness of Geddes and his work in many fields of activity.

OUR ORIGINS

Geddes founded the Outlook Tower Association at the end of the nineteenth century for the study of living society in its environment and the furthering of social aims and ideals through research, discussion, team projects, making use of the Tower as an exhibition and learning space. By 1973, with the Tower now given over to other uses, the name was no longer felt to be appropriate, so the Association transformed itself into the Geddes Memorial Trust. So apart from the name change, it is now the only Geddes-inspired organisation which retains unbroken continuity from Geddes himself.

OUR MISSION

The Trust’s objects are the advancement of education, by promoting by means of the provision of lectures, scholarships, conferences, exhibitions, publications or otherwise, the study of living society in its environment and the principles of regional surveys, town and country planning, environmental conservation and the preservation of open spaces; and joining with other persons or bodies having similar objects in promoting or contributing financially to the promotion of the said objects by said means.