MES Former Pupils' Guild

The Future of the Mary Erskine Former Pupils' Guild

Our History

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In December 1884, a small group of young women met at 57 Albany Street to form an association for former pupils of The Mary Erskine School. Their mission was simple yet meaningful: to foster friendship, encourage members to pursue their ambitions, and find ways to support others.

Now, over 140 years later, the Guild has continued to uphold these values through the efforts of its dedicated volunteers. Over the years, we’ve hosted coffee mornings, lunches, networking evenings, jazz and fizz nights, afternoon teas, and annual reunions. We also ran a Christmas Fair for seven years, raising over £18,000 for charity.

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These achievements were only possible thanks to our volunteers, our Archivist, and the support of a part-time administrator.

 

Where We Are Now

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The upcoming merger of The Mary Erskine and Stewart’s Melville Senior Schools, due to take effect in Autumn 2026, marks a significant shift in the identity and future of both school communities.

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In recent years, the School has stopped including Guild contributions within school fees (a practice that had been in place for more than 20 years), and the new ESMS Alumni Association (managed by the Development Office) is now the primary point of contact for former pupils.

While the Development Office now supports all alumni, the Guild has remained an independent group, focused on maintaining our own traditions and events. However, it has become increasingly difficult to sustain this model.

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The Future of the Guild

The Guild Committee has given this much thought and some of the Committee now believe that, with the merger ahead and the ESMS alumni structure in place, the time has come to bring the Guild to a close in 2026.

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This is not a decision we take lightly. The Guild has been part of Mary Erskine’s story for over 140 years, and we are incredibly proud of its legacy. But we also believe in ending well—gracefully, with gratitude, and in a way that reflects the changing landscape of our wider school community.

If the Guild does formally close, any remaining funds will be passed to The Melville College Trust, which already supports bursaries and charitable projects within the ESMS family of schools. We believe this is a respectful and meaningful way to honour the Guild’s values of support, education, and community.

 

Have Your Say

Before any formal steps are taken, we would like to hear from you. We have created a short survey to gather your thoughts on how best to bring the Guild’s work to a close and how its spirit might continue within the wider ESMS alumni community.

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SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED

 

FP Guild Committee