DATES IN
HISTORY
11 May 1685
Two female Covenanters, Margaret MacLauchlan and Margaret Wilson, were
executed by drowning in the narrow channel of the Bladenoch a mile from
Wigtown.
11
May 1994
The late Marquis of Bute left an estate valued at £144 million, the bulk of
it in trust to his son and heir, the racing driver Johnny Dumfries.
11 May 2006
Scotland defeated Bulgaria 5-1 in front of a crowd of 5,780 in the Kobe
Wing Stadium to become favourites to lift the Kirin Cup in a tournament in
Japan. It was the first time Scotland had scored 5 goals in an away
international since 1982. Glasgow Ranger’s duo Kris Boyd and Chris Burt both
scored a double on their international debuts with the other counter coming
from Everton’s James McFadden.
12 May 1919
A major hoard of Roman silver was uncovered by archaeologists working on
Taprain Law, East Lothian.
12 May 1969
The voting age in the UK was lowered to 18.
12 May 2006
Elgin builder Nat Fraser, convicted in 2003 for his wife Arlene’s murder,
was released from Shotts Prison, after judges freed him pending an appeal.
13
May 2006
A statue in memory of the late Pope John II, the only Pope to visit
Scotland, was unveiled at the Carfin Grotto shrine in Lanarkshire and
blessed by Archbishop Szczepan Wesoly, retired Archbishop for Polish
immigrants, in front of a crowd of 500. The 6-ft state was the work of
Glasgow sculptor Tom Allan.
14 May 1690
A fleet of ships departed Greenock for the Western Highlands to begin
construction of Fort William as a bastion against Jacobite clans.
15 May 1887
Birth of Edwin Muir, poet and translator, at Durness, Orkney.
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"
|
Only one quotation this week, but one which might well prove to be
historically important, as the British Labour Party were deposed
from poll position in Scottish politics for the first time in fifty
years. Not only did the Scottish National Party achieve more
Scottish Parliamentary seats than British Labour, but almost
unnoticed had the largest number of councillors (Scottish National
Party 324, Labour Party 279, Others 191, Liberal Democrats 140,
Conservatives 130, Scottish Socialist Party 1). |
Alexander
(Alex) Elliot Anderson Salmond
There
is a wind of change blowing through Scottish politics.
(Victory
speech after overturning a 4,000 Liberal Democrat majority to win the Gordon
seat in the Scottish Parliament for the Scottish national Party with a 2,000
winning margin 4 May 2007)
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.
THE ENGLISH ROYAL FAMILY
Jim McLean
Chorus:
Oh it is the greatest mix up that I have ever seen
His father is a German and his mother is a queen.
Oh,
he is the Prince of Wales although he’s England’s future king
And his granny is the daughter of a Scotchman’s highland fling
His aunt in Holland is a niece of Norway’s royal pair
And if they all died in their beds, he’d be the Belgian heir
His father’s mother came from Greece, his aunt’s Bavarian
And himself he wears the tartan of the royal Stuart clan
His second cousin’s Danish at least that what he thinks
For surely Queen Victoria must be the missing link.
His
mother she is English now or Scottish in Killin
Canadian in Canada and German in Berlin
His cousin’s niece is Swedish and his uncle’s wife is Greek
And he himself must surely be an international freak
King Billy was a Dutchman and King Jamie was a Scot
But the Prince of Wales just doesn’t know if he is here or not
Our king won’t come from London town nor yet from Donegal
Nor will he come from Scotland for we’ll have no king at all.
Flagnote:
Paisley-born (1932) songwriter Jim McLean shares the same birthday, 21
April, with the Queen of England, but that is the only thing they have in
common! For Jim McLean is a dedicated Republican and campaigner for Scottish
Independence whose many songs richly added to the Scottish Folk Revival and
the rise of the Scottish National party in the 1960s. The groundwork laid 40
years ago is finally bearing fruit as the Scottish National Party has become
the largest party in the fledgling Scottish Parliament in May 2007.
See the
THE BLUE TOON SONG BOOK in our
Features section
SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS
AND CUSTOMS
A
few years ago Flag doyen Jim Lynch cast doubts on the popularity
of Cricket in Scotland, but it is a fact that there are more Cricket
Clubs in Aberdeenshire than in Yorkshire! Usually Cricket and Morris
Dancing are synonymous with England but there is however a long
tradition of both in Scotland. The poet William Dunbar testifies to
the popularity of the Morris Dance at the Scottish Court in the
Sixteenth Century.
Sum singis; sum dancis; sum tellis storeis;
Sum lait at evin bringis in the moreis.
Two
weeks ago reference was made to the Celtic
Beltane celebrations which have lasted throughout the Centuries, but
in addition, there grew up the tradition in the Scottish Burghs of
celebrating May Day through symbols more associated with the festival
in England - May-pole, May Queen and King, games and Morris Dancing.
In the Burghs the ceremonies were directed by a "mock" Abbot
assisted by a Prior until the Sixteenth century when Robin Hood and
his attendant, Friar Tuck, took the place of the Abbot and Prior.
In recent years it has been suggested that
the story of the fictitious Robin Hood was indeed based on the
exploits of the great Scottish hero William Wallace.
A
book published in 2001
"William Wallace - Robin Hood Revealed" by Anthony &
Paul Cooper ( BVM Publishing £12.99 ) looked in depth at the evidence
supporting this supposition. They made their argument well and the
book also contained a splendid prose version of Blind Harry's epic
Fifteenth Century poem on William Wallace. It was Blind Harry's work
which inspired the script for the Oscar winning film "Braveheart"
starring Mel Gibson as William Wallace.
But, whatever the truth of the tale,
undoubtedly William Wallace and "Robin Hood" would both have
enjoyed a feast of venison - as would you!
Venison in Claret
Ingredients: ( 3-4 servings ) - 1 lb ( 500
g ) venison, shoulder, neck or slices from the haunch; 2 level
tablespoons flour seasoned with salt and pepper and 1/2 teaspoon
freshly ground allspice; 2 tablespoons oil; 1 onion, finely chopped; 1
pt ( 600 ml ) robust claret ; 1 tablespoon rowan jelly, plus
extra for serving; seasonings - salt and pepper.
Method: Cut the meat up neatly into bite-size
pieces and coat in seasoned flour. Heat the oil in a pan or flameproof
casserole and brown the onion, then add the meat and brown well.
Sprinkle in any leftover flour. Add the claret and rowan jelly. Bring
to a slow simmer, cover and cook, preferably in a slow oven, till the
meat is tender, about one-and-a-half hours.
Season and serve with potatoes and rowan
jelly.
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)
Crawlin about like a snail in the mud,
Covered wi clammy blae,
ME, made after the image o God -
Jings! but it,s laughable, tae.
Howkin awa neath a mountain o stane,
Gaspin for want o air,
The sweat makin streams doon my bare back-bane
And my knees aw hauckit and sair.
Strainin and cursin the hale sift through,
Half-starved, half-blin, half-mad;
And the gaffer he says, 'Less dirt in that coal
Or ye go up the pit, my lad!'
So I gie my life to the Nimmo squad
For eicht and fower a day;
Me! made after the image o God -
Jings! but it's laughable, tae.
Gordon
Wright’s Scottish Photo
Library