DATES IN
HISTORY
22
June 2006
Round-the-world yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur became the first women and
only fourth person to become a Freeman of Skye and Lochalsh at a ceremony in
Portree, Skye. Her great-great-grandfather came from Skye and in 2005 she
became the fastest person to sail solo around the world in just over 71
days.
23 June 1624
King Charles I gave £500 towards a relief appeal following the destruction
of his birthplace Dunfermline by fire; parishes throughout Scotland
contributed to the appeal.
23 June 1996
The Scottish Claymores defeated defending champions Frankfurt Galaxy 32-27
to win the American Football World Bowl at Murrayfield, Edinburgh.
23
June 2006
More than 300 years of military history came to an end when The King’s Own
Borderers marched for the last time through the streets of Edinburgh before
becoming part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The salute was taken by the
Earl of Leven, whose forebear had been authorised to levy a regiment of 800
men by beat of drum at the Palace of Holyrood in 1689.
24 June 2006
Over 22,000 people attended a massive outdoor music concert headlined by DJ
Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook) outside the village of Dores (population 300) on
the shore of Loch Ness.
25 June 1891
First Sherlock Holmes story by Arthur Conan Doyle was published in the
Strand magazine.
26 June 1994
The driver and a passenger died when vandals derailed a train at Greenock.
27 June 2006
Bank manager Donald MacKenzie, 45, was jailed for ten years after pleading
guilty to Scotland’s biggest single fraud case. He obtained £21 million from
his employers The Royal Bank of Scotland between April 1999 and March 2004
at the bank’s branch in Princes Street, Edinburgh.
28 June 1940
Birth of Roderick (Roddy) Wright, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, in
Glasgow. A Gaelic speaker he resigned in September 1996 following the
revelation of his affair with a divorced mother of three, Kathleen Macphee.
They subsequently married and after a period in England moved to New
Zealand.
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"
|
We continue with further quotations contained in Billy Kay’s byous
book ‘The Scottish World – A Journey into the Scottish Diaspora’
(Mainstream Publishing Company (Edinburgh) Ltd £16.99) published in
2005. Billy Kay was born in Galston, Ayrshire, in 1951 and studied
at Edinburgh University. A writer and presenter for both wireless
and television, he is also the author of the widely acclaimed
‘Scots: The Mither Tongue’. |
Anonymous
(German)
Warte bis
der Schotte kommt – Wait until the Scot comes and gets ye!
(German
Proverb used to fleg naughty bairns)
James
Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck 1740-1795)
They were
struck with the noble sentiments of liberty of the old Scots and they
expressed their regret at the shameful Union. I felt true patriot
sorrow. Oh, infamous rascals who sold the honour of your country to a
nation against which our ancestors supported themselves with so much
glory. But I say no more, only, alas, poor Scotland.
(On coming
across a copy of the Declaration of Scottish Independence sealed at Arbroath
Abbey on 6 April 1320 in the university library in Leipzig whilst on the
Grand Tour)
Sir Patrick
Geddes (1854-1932)
How many
people think twice about a leaf? Yet the leaf is the chief product and
phenomenon of Life: this is a green world, with animals comparatively
few and small, and all dependent upon the leaves. By leaves we live.
(Last Lecture
as Professor of Botany at Dundee 1919)
John Muir
(1838-1914)
The
clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.
Allan Ramsay
(1684-1758)
Guid
claret best keeps out the cauld
An drives awa the winter soon
It maks a man baith gash an bauld
An heaves his saul ayont the mune.
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.
BANNOCKBURN
Gordon Menzies
Edward of England northwards did ride
Will yon Scotsmen fight was the question that he cried
Will yon Scotsmen fight, aye, in darkness or daylight
We shall die or be free cried the Bruce.
Chorus:
We shall die or be free, cried the Bruce
We shall die or be free, cried the Bruce
Will yon Scotsmen fight, aye, in darkness or daylight
We shall die or be free, cried the Bruce.
A
hundred thousand Sassenachs had rallied to their king
And Edward King of Scots was the boast that he did sing
No English King of Scots, though our freedom’s dearly bought
We shall die or be free cried the Bruce.
The brave and mighty Bruce to his countrymen did turn
Stand fast and true when you reach the Bannock Burn
Stand fast and true, for this land belongs to you
We shall die or be free, cried the Bruce.
The longbows of England and forty thousand horse
Deadly and grim fell upon the Scottish force
Deadly and grim, still we sing our battle hymn
We shall die or be free, cried the Bruce.
The Bannockburn is won, the Sassenachs are fled
Nothing now remains but the dying and the dead
Nothing now remains but a Scottish monarch reigns
We shall die or be free, cried the Bruce.
Flagnote: An
appropriate song to commemorate the 693rd anniversary of the
victory of Robert I, King of Scots, and the Scottish host at Bannockburn on
23/24 June 1314 which falls this week.
See the
THE BLUE TOON SONG BOOK in our
Features section
SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS
AND CUSTOMS
Scots are renown for being sweet-toothed!
This probably explains why Scottish housewives generally make more jam
than their English counterparts. Raspberry and strawberry being the most
popular varieties. Nine-tenths of Scotland's raspberry crop is grown in
the Strathmore area and along the coastal districts of Angus. The Carse
of Gowrie, a narrow plain stretching from Perth to Dundee is where the
most intensive production of raspberries, strawberries and peas takes
place. Low rainfall, freedom from Spring frosts, prolonged Summer
sunshine and rich soil all contribute to the success of this industry.
In many areas pick-your-own is now the order of the day. This weeks
recipe for Strawberry Sweet should satisfy the sweetest of tooths! A
delicious Summer sweet when strawberries and redcurrants are plentiful.
Ingredients: 1 lb ( 500 g ) strawberries; 1
lb ( 500 g ) red currants; 1 lb ( 500 g ) caster sugar; 1/2 pt (125 ml
) whipping cream
Method: Spread out the strawberries on a large plate
and sprinkle over them half the sugar. Leave in a cool place overnight.
Next day put the red currants into a pan with a little water and cook
gently till they are soft. Strain off juice and add the other half of
the sugar to it. Put in a pan and bring to the boil. Boil for 10-15
minutes until you have a thick syrup. Add the strawberries and their
syrup and leave to cool. Before serving pour into individual dishes,
chill and top with some whipped cream.
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)
jimp: shorter; close fitting; short;
slender; neat
perjink: nicety; fastidious person;
fastidious; precise; prim
staun: stand; last; afford; goods stall
No bein fit to write in Greek,
I wrote in Lallans,
Dear to my heart as the peat reek,
Auld as Tantallon.
Gordon
Wright’s Scottish Photo
Library