DATES IN
HISTORY
|
As The Flag’s Scottish History Time-line enters its eighth year it
now contains nearly 1,700 dates spanning the past 2,000 years. The
ever-expanding time-line is divided into significant historical
section which are revised as it increases and is an excellent
back-up to James Halliday’s splendid
Scotland: A Concise History. A book which every Scot and all
those interested in Scotland should read. |
8
June 2006
Sir Sean Connery became the 34th person to receive the
prestigious lifetime achievement from the American Film Institute at a
ceremony held at the Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles, USA.
8 June 2006
Lord Elgin cut the first sod for a new bridge crossing over the Forth at
Kincardine, Fife. The 1.2-kilometre Upper Forth Crossing was budgeted to
cost £120 million and due to open in 2008.
9 June 1455
The forfeiture of all lands and property of the rebellious Douglas family
was ordered after their rout at the Battle of Arkinholm, Dumfriesshire, on 1
May 1455.
11 June 1304
Future King of Scots Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, made a secret bond with
Bishop William Lamberton of St Andrews, promising –
‘to be of
ane another’s counsel in all their business and affairs at all times and
against whichever individuals.’
Bishop
Lamberton assisted at Bruce’s coronation as King of Scots in 1306.
11
June 1995
Gavin Hastings played his 61st and his last rugby international
for Scotland, in a 48-30 World Cup quarter-final defeat by New Zealand in
Pretoria. He was captain 20 times.
12 June 2000
Outstanding former world light-weight boxing champion Ken Buchanan was
inducted into America’s International Boxing Hall of Fame. He became only
the second Scot to be honoured by the American body – the first being
Glasgow’ Benny Lynch, flyweight champion of the world (1935-1938).
13 June 1496
An
Act for compulsory education in Scotland for the sons and heirs of all
barons and freeholders was passed.
‘It is
statute and ordanit throw all the realme that all barronis and
frehaldaris that ar of substance put thair eldest sonis and aires to the
sculis fra thai be aucht or nyne yeiris of age and till remane at the
gramer sculis quhill thai be competentlie foundit and have perfite
latyne.’
Acts of Parliament Scotland James IV
14 June 2006
MSPs voted by 114-1 to give the green light to a new Border’s rail link
which would run from Newcraighall, on the edge of Edinburgh, through to
Tweedbank, south of Galashiels.
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"
|
Four
quotations regarding contemporary Scotland ranging from the need for
plain speaking, Scottish ambition to the long-term Scottish
constitutional position. |
Lesley
Riddoch
Public
discourse has been hijacked by people who treat language as a shield not
a bridge. And as a nation of language lovers Scots should be up in arms
– that’s our patch they’re cross-cutting. It’s also our civic world that
their jargon has diminished – because ‘ordinary’ Scots must learn fluent
West Wing to participate.
(The Scotsman
4 June 2007)
Gordon Smith
It’s a big
position; I’m a patriotic Scot and I want to see Scottish football
flourish.
(On being
appointed Scottish Football Association Chief Executive 1 June 2007)
Sarah Smith
I hope
that the country finds a model of government that satisfies all the
country’s ambitions and lets Scotland become a more confident nation
that is comfortable with its place in the world.
(The Scotsman
10 May 2007)
HRH
Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward Windsor, Duke of York, Earl of
Inverness and Baron Killyleagh
This very
month has seen the 300th anniversary of the union of the
parliaments while at the same time the [Scottish] election [3 May 2007]
has rattled the timbers of the concept of union.
(Address to
the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 19 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
WALLACE
Jim McLean
They hung Wallace high from the scaffold,
They cut him down ere he was dead,
And when he choked the queen jeered him,
For daring to cross English Ted.
His heart and his liver they savaged,
While her majesty watched the glad scene,
His head was cut off, he was quartered,
Twas an afternoon fit for a queen.
Chorus;
They murdered the Wallace for treason,
His body has long since decayed,
But no English crown can destroy him,
For Wallace is with us today.
He took up the sword against England,
The cowardly Sassenach ran,
He beat them at Stirling and Falkirk,
And chased them like rats from our land.
King Edward of England was raging
That Scotland was free once again,
The Scottish Republican Army
Had wiped out his best fighting men.
Oh, William the Wallace fought bravely,
No Englishman could him defeat,
But English gold brought Scottish quislings,
And he was betrayed by Menteith.
With a crown made of thorns he was tortured,
For setting his own country free.
How am I a traitor cried Wallace
When England is foreign to me.
From Edinburgh, Stirling and Falkirk,
From Inverness to Elderslie,
His spirit is calling for justice,
And commands us to set ourselves free.
So when once again we do battle
For Wallace against English scum,
With no fear of betrayal to the Saxon
Let them come! Let them come! Let them come!
Flagnote: An
outstanding song about Scotland’s greatest warrior hero – Sir William
Wallace, Guardian of Scotland. William Wallace, a successful guerrilla
fighter, leapt to prominence when, along with Sir Andrew de Moray, he led
the Scots to a great victory at Stirling Bridge on 11 September 1297. They
defeated a far larger English army under John de Warrenne, Earl of Surrey,
and the Treasurer of England, Hugh de Creesingham. Wallace and Moray were
appointed as joint guardians of Scotland, a responsibility which fell to
Wallace alone after Moray’s death from injuries received at Stirling.
Unfortunately, the song is incorrect, the Scots were defeated at Falkirk on
22 July 1298, and shortly thereafter Sir William Wallace resigned as
Guardian. He fought on until his betrayal by Mentieth and murder at the
hands of Edward Langshanks, King Edward I of England, in 1305.
See the
THE BLUE TOON SONG BOOK in our
Features section
SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS
AND CUSTOMS
The
Royal Burgh of Selkirk is renowned for having, perhaps, one of the
most colourful of the Border Common-Ridings with the Casting of the
Colours, led by the Standard-Bearer, in the Town's Market Place
after the Riding of the Marches.
This
year’s Royal Burgh Standard Bearer will be Alasdair Craig and the
Common Riding is due, as usual, on the second Friday after the first
Monday in June – in other words a week today – Friday 15 June 2007.
That day Selkirk will resound to the town’s traditional song – ‘Up
Wi’ The Souters O’ Selkirk’ –
‘It’s up wi the Soutars o’ Selkirk,
An doun wi’ the Earl o’ Hume,
An here’s tae a’ the braw ladies
That weirs the single-soled shuin.
It’s up wi’ the Souters o’ Selkirk,
For they are baith trusty an’ leal,
An up wi’ the lads o’ the Forest’
An doun wi’ the Merse tae the deil.’
But
you don’t need to wait until next week in Selkirk to enjoy the
town’s well-known delicacy Selkirk Bannock as below you will find a
recipe to make your very own!
First made by Robbie Douglas in his bakery
in Selkirk Market Place in 1859 it was a great favourite of Queen
Victoria. A slice of Selkirk Bannock was all that she would eat, along
with a cup of tea, when she visited Sir Walter Scott's grand-daughter
at Abbotsford in 1867 in spite of being offered a rich repast.
According to the writer Theodora
Fitzgibbon the Selkirk Bannock is a reminder of our Celtic Heritage -
"All the Celtic Countries - Scotland, Ireland, Wales and
Brittainy - have many things in common; a similarity of language;
cultural heritages; as well as a surprising number of foods general to
all these countries. There is little to choose between the Barm Brack
of Ireland, the Bara Brith of Wales, Selkirk Bannock of Scotland, the
Morlaix Brioche of Brittainy...".
To make your very own Selkirk Bannock,
a circular, very rich fruit loaf, flat on the bottom and rounded on
top, take -
2 lb flour, 1/2 pt warmed milk,1 oz
yeast, 1/2 lb sugar, 1/2 teasp sugar for creaming the yeast,
1lb sultanas, 4 oz butter, 4 oz lard, 4 oz chopped candied orange
peel, a little milk and sugar for glazing.
Melt the butter and lard until soft but
not oily, then add the warmed milk; cream the yeast with 1/2 teaspoon
sugar and add to mixture. Sift the flour into a bowl, make a well in
the centre and pour in the liquid, then sprinkle the flour from the
sides over the top to make a batter. Cover with a cloth and leave in
a warm place for about 1 hour until doubled in size. Knead well, and
add the fruit and sugar. Knead again for about 5 minutes, place in
greased tin which should be half full, cover and sit again to rise for
about 45 minutes. Bake in a moderate oven ( 350F; mark 4-5 ) for about one
hour to one and a half hours, and half an hour before done, take from
oven and brush top with a little warmed milk with sugar dissolved in
it. Put back in oven and continue cooking until golden. Test with a
skewar to ensure fully cooked.
It is usually served for tea, sliced and
buttered - enjoy like Queen Victoria - well worth the effort!
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)
habble : limp; perplex; confusion; difficult
Dule and wae for the order sent our lads to the Border;
The English, for ance, by guile wan the day:
The
Flowers of the Forest, that foucht aye the foremost,
The prime o' our land are cauld in the clay.
Gordon
Wright’s Scottish Photo
Library