THE WIDOWS SONS IN SCOTLAND
Widows Sons Scotland Organisation Chart
A Potted History
The first ever meeting was held on a chilly night in March 2004, at the Thistle Hotel at Aberdeen airport. This meeting would be the birth of the Widows Sons Motocycle Association in Scotland, Andy Rankin had an idea taken from the Widows Sons in the USA to form a chapter in Scotland, joining freemasons who rode motorcycles. At the same time other motorcycle riding Brothers throughout Scotland were thinking along similar lines.
The first ever ride out and official meeting took place in June 2005 at Isle of Skye Hotel Perth.
In 2019, Widows Sons Scotland formally joined The International Alliance.
Our club badge formed of a picture of the Square and Compass, which is unique to Freemasons, denotes our personal fraternal affiliation to the craft, it also has the picture of a motorcycle and Scottish thistle. We also wear the Internationally trademarked ‘Widows Sons’ Logo as a proud member of the International Widows Sons Alliance.
Rise of the Chapters
Up until 2019, Widows Sons Scotland existed as a single unified body governing the whole of Scotland. Due to the continued growth and expansion of the membership it was necessary to restructure the association to allow for further evolution. Scotland was henceforth divided into 3 geographical chapters, North, East & West.
Scotland and Beyond
Additionally in 2019 Widows Sons Scotland embarked on an exciting new phase of our evolution and began issuing Charters Internationally after being approached by our brothers abroad. We now have Chapters established in Sweden, Norway, Cyprus, Lebanon, Thailand, and the Philippines, with Singapore waiting in the wings for approval of their charter. Giving Widows Sons Scotland a truly global presence.
Currently WSS have 231 members in Scotland and 42 members in our worldwide chapters
Scotland and Beyond
Widows Sons Scotland are unique in that we are currently the only WS organisation to offer a “Branding” outside of the United States.
We hold the branding ceremony over a full weekend at Duncharron Medieval Fort normally in mid-March each year. The event was originally for WSS members only, but soon our Brothers from south of the border wanted in on the action to, so the event expanded to accommodate them. Now we regularly have many of our European Brothers attending too. In fact, the 2024 event will be the largest yet. So large that we have had to change the format slightly to accommodate the number of brandees attending. Beyond this I won’t make further comment as I would not wish to spoil a very special and unique ceremony for those being branded.
BREXIT! what BREXIT?
(Or to paraphrase “Evita” don’t cry for us, Europeans. The truth is we never left you.)
The WSS participated in the 2022 event, organised by the Free Salamander’s to visit Aubigny for their Fetes Franco-Ecossaises. This proved such a success that we invited our European Brothers and Sisters to a return match in Scotland in 2023. Another great success. WSS have subsequently been represented at other European events. So, the Executive committee decided to take up the offer of joining our brothers and accept a place on the European Council to further enhance the already burgeoning “entant cordiale”. We look forward to meeting our Brothers, Sisters, Friends very soon.