Kate Kennedy Club

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The arms of Bishop Kennedy, used by the Kate Kennedy Club

The Kate Kennedy Club is a historical Club from the University of St Andrews. In its present form it was founded in 1926 but some claim it has origins in the early fifteenth century.

In 1926 two students of University of St Andrews, Donald Kennedy and James Doak, inspired by J. M. Barrie's Rectorial address on "Courage" and with the assistance of Principal Sir James Irvine revived The Kate Kennedy Annual Procession. The Procession was to be organised solely by the Kate Kennedy Club, a stipulation by the University Court and the Principal.

Members claim the procession has its roots in the middle of the 15th century when Kate Kennedy, 'niece' (or illegitimate daughter, or the name of a bell on St Salvator's Tower), of Bishop James Kennedy was celebrated in the streets by townspeople and students for her beauty and her arrival as a sign of spring.

By the time of the first extant records, the Procession was no longer entirely respectable or desirable; it had got into the wrong hands and onto the wrong lines. As a result the university authorities banned it in 1881.

1 Revival
2 Aims
3 Members
4 The Kate Kennedy Club in the Press
5 External links
6 References

[edit] Revival

In February 1926 one or two enthusiasts who had long hankered after a revival, outlined their proposals to the principal and made promises in return for permission to restart the festival of Kate. It was run as a historical progression, though far from completely illustrative of St. Andrews history by reason of lack of funds. Yet it was a beginning and with every year was considerably extended. In 1926, the great problem was to ensure that Kate should never again be liable to banishment, that rules and regulations should clearly define future activities of the Procession.

Currently the most visible highlights of the Club's calendar include the Kate Kennedy Procession, the Kate Kennedy Charity May Ball (the largest student balls in Scotland), and the Kate Kennedy Charity Opening Ball. The Club also organises less well-known evenings such as a commemoration of the martyrdom of Patrick Hamilton, a torch-tit procession in honour of John Honey and the Silver Arrow Archery Competition, oldest Archery Competition in Scotland.

[edit] Aims

The Kate Kennedy Club exists to preserve the Kate Kennedy Annual Procession and has three aims:

Maintaining the traditions of the University and town of St Andrews.
Upholding and improving Town and Gown relations.
Raising money for local Fife charities.

[edit] Members

The number of undergraduate members cannot exceed sixty and only male matriculated students of the University of St Andrews are eligible to apply for membership. The Club admits nine bejants each year, after a series of hecklings. It also invites male tertians and magistrands whom the Club deems to have been outstanding contributors to the University, Town and Kate Kennedy Club to join. A committee is elected to oversee the running of the Club, which presently consists of Ron Murdo Findlay (President), Thomas Kadri (Vice President), Paul-Alexandre Hokfelt (Treasurer) and David Borowsky (Secretary).

Although membership cannot exceed sixty, The Kate Kennedy Club's roster usually contains only around thirty names. The Club remains socially exclusive and out with the bejant application process, membership is by invitation only.

Alumni of the Kate Kennedy Club remain members for life.