DATES IN
HISTORY
6 April 1995
The Conservatives were all but eliminated from Scottish local government as
the Labour Party dominated council elections.
6 April 2006
The Scottish Executive confirmed that a dead swan found on the harbour
slipway at Cellardyke, Fife, on 29 March 2006 had the N5N1 strain of avian
bird flu. The 6-mile surveillance zone set around Cellardyke was extended to
cover 1,000 square miles east of the M90/A90 roads from Fife to Stonehaven.
7
April 1968
Jim Clark of Duns, Berwickshire, twice world motor racing champion, was
killed taking part in a Formula 2 race when his car slid off the rain-soaked
Hockenheim track in West Germany and hit a tree.
9 April 2006
Death of Brechin-born Robin Orr, aged 96, composer of operas and symphonies,
chairman of Scottish Opera and Professor of Music at Glasgow University. His
first opera ‘Full Circle’ was adapted from a radio play by Sydney Goodsir
Smith and was commissioned in 1967 by STV and produced by Scottish Opera.
10 April 1988
Sandy Lyle became the first Scottish golfer to win the US Masters
tournament.
10
April 2006
Cost-cutting plans to close museums and galleries in Glasgow one-day-a-week
(Mondays) were dropped after local property developer Steven Purcell donated
£270,000 to help keep them open.
11 April 1997
Scotland caused a cricket upset when they qualified for the 1999 World Cup
by finishing third in the ICC Trophy in Malaysia.
12 April 1832
William Clark, who remembered seeing Cumberland’s Hanoverian army cross the
Spey en route for Culloden, died, aged 108, at Newton of Cabrach.
12 April 2006
Glasgow Rangers were fined £9,000 by EUFA following a charge of hooliganism
at the second-leg of their European Championship match when a window of the
Real Villarreal team bus was smashed. They were cleared on a charge of
sectarian chanting by their fans.
See Dates in History in our
Features Section
SCOTTISH QUOTATIONS
I like to have quotations ready for every occasions - they
give one's ideas so pat and save one the trouble of finding
expression adequate to one's feeling.
Robert Burns
Statements in prose and verse which reflect
all aspects of Scottish life and outlook from the 1st century to the present day.
New
quotes added every week. The
quotations are not restricted to native Scots but include observations
from abroad which help us, in the words of our National Bard, Robert
Burns, "To see oursels as others see us"
|
Apart
from one, this week’s quotations are inspired by ‘The Scots
Week-End’ (1936) which was edited by Donald and Catherine Carswell
and come from a chapter entitled ‘Wha’s Like Us? Or In Dispraise of
Scotland.’ It is always interesting to see how outsiders have viewed
our Native land! The one exception is the splendid repost by the
excellent Scottish actress Elaine C Smith to the gaffe by
Westminster Health Minister who mistakenly referred to outgoing
First Minister of Scotland as Jack McDonald. The fact that one of
his fellow English British Labour Party doesn’t know his name is,
indeed, worthy of the scorn poured on the gaffe by Elaine. A
quotation that just had to be shared with Flag visitors. |
Edmund Burt
(?–1755)
The common
habit of the ordinary Highlander is far from being acceptable to the
eye….. this dress is called the quelt: and for the most part,
they wear the petticoat so very short, that in a windy day, going up a
hill, or stooping, the indecency of it is plainly discovered.
(Letters from
A Gentleman in the North of Scotland To His Friend in London – Letter XXII –
published 1754)
John Cleveland
(1613-1658)
Had Cain
been Scot, God would have chang’d his doom,
Not forced him wander but confined him home.
Daniel Defoe
(born Daniel Foe) (1660-1731)
Scotland
has had many an ill picture drawn for her in the world; and as she has
been represented in False Draughts, no wonder the Injurys she has
suffered are intolerable. All the Spies sent hither have carry’d back an
ill Report of the Land, and fill’d the World with weak Banters and
Clamour as they know not what.
William
Hazlitt (1778-1830)
The Scotch
are proverbially poor and proud, we know they can remedy their poverty
when they set about it. No one is sorry for them.
John Ray
(1627-1705)
The Scots
cannot endure to have their country or Countrymen spoken against.
Elaine C Smith
I don’t
know how Jack McConnell felt about [Westminster] Health Secretary
Patricia Hewitt calling him Jack McDonald but I was furious. What an
ignorant thing to do. You can guarantee that she wouldn’t have got the
name of the Irish or the French PM wrong but it shows the low regard the
office of First Minister has in the Westminster village. Regardless of
your political persuasion or feelings about Jack, this was an insult to
our country.
(April 2007)
Dean Jonathan
Swift (1667-1745)
There are
some people who think they sufficiently acquit themselves, and entertain
their company, with relating facts of no consequence, but all out of the
road of such common incidents as happen every day; and this I have
observed more frequently among the Scots than any other nation, who are
very careful not to omit the minutest circumstance of time or place;
which kind of discourse, if it were not a little relieved by the uncouth
terms and phrases, as well as accent and gesture peculiar to that
country, would be hardly tolerable.
See
Scottish Quotations in our Features Section
THE BLUE
TOON SONG BOOK
A selection of popular Scottish songs compiled by Anne Fowler and
published by Peterhead branch of the Scottish National Party in
September 2000.
BONNIE
LASS O FYVIE
Traditional
Tiffany window in Fyvie church
There was a troop o' Irish
Dragoons cam marchin’ up through Fyvie O’.
And the Captain's fa’en in
love wi a verra bonnie lass,
And her name it is ca’d pretty Peggy O’.
Now there’s mony a bonnie
lass in the Howe O’ Auchterlass,
There’s mony a bonnie
lass in the Garrioch O.
There’s mony a bonnie
Jean in the toon o’ Alberdeen,
Bit the floor o’ them a’
is in Fyvie O !
Come doon the stair, pretty
Peggy my dear,
Come doon the stair, pretty
Peggy O,
Come doon the stair, bind
up yer yellow hair,
Tak a last fareweel o’
your Mammy O !
It’s braw, oh it’s
braw, a Captain’s lady tae be,
It’s braw tie be a
Captain’s lady O.
It’s braw tae rant and
rove, and tie follow at his word,
And tae march when your
Captain he is ready O !
Up cries the Colonel,
"Mount boys, mount"
"Oh I tarry" says our
Captain, "Oh tarry O".
" Oh I tarry yet anither day or twa,
Till we see if this bonnie
lass will marry O."
Now it was the early mornin’
we marched awa,
And oh! but our Captain was
sorry O.
And the drums they did beat
ower the bonnie Braes o’ Gight,
And the pipes played the
Lawlands o’ Fyvie O !
Now long ore we wan tae
Auld Meldrum toon,
Our Captain we had tie
carry O !
But when we wan tie bonnie Aiberdeen,
Our Captain we had tae bury O !
Green grows the birch upon
bonnie Ythan Side.
And low lies the Lawlands o’
Fyvie O !
Our Captain’s name was Ned, he died for a maid,
He died for the bonnie lass
a’ Fyvle O !
Flagnote: A popular song during the Scottish Folk Revival,
it is one of my favourites which I first learned as a bairn. Always thought
that Captain Ned was a wimp and Peggy very wise not to take the soldier's
road! But where would traditional song be without unrequited love?
See the
THE BLUE TOON SONG BOOK in our
Features section
SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS
AND CUSTOMS
Today
(Friday 6 April 2007) there will be Saltires flying and
commemoration events throughout Scotland to mark The Declaration of
Scottish Independence made on 6 April 1320 at Arbroath Abbey in the
presence of Robert I, King of Scots. In the past that was not the
case but fortunately over the past few years an increasing number of
events have been made to mark Freedom Day. One body which deserves
great praise in keeping the Arbroath message alive has been the
Arbroath Abbey Pageant Society. The Society founded in 1947 has
staged a full pageant re-enactment every few years in August with a
tribute on the anniversary of the 1320 letter to the Pope asking him
to recognise Scottish Freedom each April. The next full Arbroath
Pageant will be staged in August 2009 but you can catch their annual
tribute today at 1pm at Arbroath Abbey. The message to celebrate
this important date is growing and if you visit
www.ScotlandsTartanDay.com you will find a variety of events.
Much
of this revival of interest is due to the decision of our cousins in
America and Canada to centre Tartan Day on 6 April 1320 and the
Declaration of Scottish Independence and the eternal verities which
it contains, both in terms of nationhood and fledgling democracy.
Indeed the Letter from Arbroath was an inspiration to the Americans
in drawing up their own Declaration of Independence. The decision to
hold Tartan Day has given thousands out-with Scotland the
opportunity to remember their Scottish roots and to revel in the
internationalist outlook of the Scots. Tartan Day events are already
being held in America. Last Friday the Scottish Parliament’s
outgoing Presiding Officer George Reid opened the Tartan Village in
New York which will be visited by thousands. He has a full programme
of events to attend over the next fortnight and will conclude by
taking the position of Grand Marshal as thousands of pipers and
drummers make their way down New York’s 6th Avenue on
Saturday 14 April 2007. He is well worthy of the position of Grand
Marshall for George Reid as Scotland’s Presiding Officer has brought
a quiet dignity to the role and done much to enhance the national
and international standing of the fledgling Scottish Parliament over
his four year tenure. He told his American audience –
“Our programme of activities has a strong cultural theme this
year. Scots have played an influential role in the development
of society in North America – something the Scots in Quebec
exhibition currently at Holyrood illustrates all too well.
The role of Grand Marshal for the parade is one I am pleased to
accept. To experience the streets of New York lined with people
from across North America who are so proud of their Scottish
heritage will no doubt once again be an emotional experience.”
Visit
www.tartanweek,com for more details.
In
honour of the help from North America in reminding us of our rich
heritage, especially the Freedom Day instituted at Arbroath, we have
a very tasty Scottish recipe for American Brownies to delight your
palate on this special day.
American Brownies
Ingredients: 12 oz (350 g) butter or margarine; 12 oz (350 g)
soft brown sugar; 4 eggs, large; 4 oz (125 g) plain or wholemeal
flour; 3 oz (75 g) cocoa powder; 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
7 x
11” (17-27 cm) Swiss roll tin, greased, or 2 x 9” (22 cm) round
sandwich cake tins
Method: Pre-heat the oven to 350F/180C/Gas mark 4. Cream the
butter and sugar together till light and creamy, beat in the eggs
gradually. Add the vanilla. Mix in and then sift in the flour and
cocoa powder. Mix in well but do not beat. It should have a fairly
thick consistency. Spread into the tin and bake for ¾ - 1 hour or
until risen and firm on top. Remove from the oven. Leave to cool for
about five minutes then cut into squares and take out, cool on rack.
Can be iced with chocolate icing and decorated with nuts. May be
served with vanilla ice cream for pudding.
See our
Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs in our Features section
A KIST O
FERLIES
A Keek at the Guid Scots
Tung
By Peter & Marilyn Wright
(Note: All words underlined in
this section are RealAudio links)
coronach: dirge; lament
dicht: clean; wipe; wash superficially
peenge: whine; complain; whimper
ramstam: rush headlong; headstrong person; headstrong; rash
teuch: tough
wersh: ( of food and drink ) tasteless; insipid; unpalatable
We nivver dee'd o winter yit: We'll survive
We hae nae need tae pruive anew
the honour sung in Scotland's story,
we pit nae trust in treach'rous pelf,
nor dae we seek the fause vainglory,
but ilk ane here will aye bide free
tho we be left alane a hundert -
be shair, that life itsel we'll gie,
mang slaves, we never sall be numbert.
frae 'Scrieve fae Aberbrothock Aprile
1320' - James S Adam
Gordon
Wright’s Scottish Photo
Library