DATES IN
HISTORY
13
July 1786
‘Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect’ by Robert Burns went to John
Wilson’s press in Kilmarnock. The success of the ‘Kilmarnock Edition’
changed the poet’s intention to emigrate to the West Indies.
13 July 1922
Twelve miners were killed in an explosion at No 4 Pit at Plean Colliery,
near Stirling.
13 July 2006
Sam
Torrance became the first golfer to start 700 European Tour events when he
teed off in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.
14 July 2006
Scottish Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan sacked his legal team and announced
that he would conduct the rest of his £200,000 defamation case against the
News of the World.
16 July 2006
Yi-Chi Chen, a 12-year-old Taiwanese boy, fell 20 feet to his death while
descending Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. He was on a school visit to Scotland.
17 July 1941
Death of Charles Melvin, who had won the Victoria Cross in 1917 while
serving as a Private with the 2nd Battalion of the Black Watch in
Mesopotamia (now Iraq). He was awarded the VC for “most conspicuous bravery”
during the Battle of Istabulat against the Turks.
18
July 1746
William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, left Fort Augustus, after setting in
motion the pacification of the Highlands, and returned to London, England.
There he was met by cheering crowds, bonfires and fireworks, prior to being
honoured at a series of formal balls and receptions in celebration of his
success in Scotland in defeating his cousin, Prince Charles Edward Stewart,
and ending the 1745 Jacobite Rising.
18 July 1872
Britain introduced voting by secret ballot.
19 July 1887
Some 5,000 spectators watched the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, Lord
Lieutenant of Fife, and descendant of Robert I, King of Scots, unveil a
monument at Pettycur marking the 6ooth anniversary of the death of Alexander
III (1249-1286). The audience included Andrew Carnegie and US Senator
Blaine.
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"
|
This week we feature the 250th source – the Duke of
Hamilton’s fierce opposition to the proposed Union between Scotland
and England in 1706. He was recognised as the leader of the
‘Scottish National Party’ of his day, so we also feature the Leader
of the modern Scottish National party and First Minister of
Scotland, Alex Salmond. In his address at the Royal Opening of the
third term of the Scottish Parliament last month (30 June 2007) he
reminded all that the desire for ‘real’ Scottish Independence still
beats strong 300 years on. Scotland might yet sing a braw new sang. |
James
Douglas Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton, 1st Duke
Brandon and 1st Baron of Dutton (1658-1712)
What Shall
we, in half an hour, yield what our forebears maintained with their
lives and fortunes for many ages! Are none of the descendants here of
those worthy patriots who defended the liberty of their country against
all invaders – who assisted the great King Robert Bruce to restore the
constitution, and avenge the falsehood of England and usurpation of
Baliol? Where are the Douglases and the Campbells? Where are thre peers?
Where are the barons, once the bulwarks of the nation? Shall we yield up
the sovereignity and independency of Scotland, when we are commanded by
those we represent to preserve the same, and assured of their assistance
to support us?
(Parliamentary
speech opposing Union with England 2 November 1706)
Janet Paisley
I’m not a
party member. I like to be free to change my mind and my mind can change
quite quickly. But in my heart, Scotland is a separate nation from
England.
You have
the right to be an independent, grown-up person and to relate to the
rest of the world as someone who stands on their own two feet and looks
the world straight in the eyes. Scotland doesn’t do that and hasn’t been
able to do it since the Union. It’s always had another nation to do that
for it, it has chosen and keeps choosing to be this cowering wee child
bride who’s afraid to speak out.
(Sunday Times
24 June 2007)
Alexander
(Alex) Elliot Anderson Salmond
Scotland
is in transition. Our nation faces some pivotal choices in the years
ahead. I believe in the restoration of an independent Scotland. Others
in this chamber take a different view. I welcome that debate and the
national conversation to follow. The challenge for all of us is to have
that conversation with dignity, with respect and with substance.
(Address,
Royal Opening of Third Term of the Scottish Parliament 30 June 2007)
Wendy Wood
(born Gwendoline Meacham)
Faith,
hope, love and lettuce: faith in God, hope of independence, love of
fellow men – and a green salad every day.
(When asked
her creed)
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.
AULD LANG SYNE
Robert Burns
Should auld acquaintance be
forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?
Chorus
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint stowp!
And surely I'll be mine
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
We twa hae run about the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fitt,
Sin' auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidl't in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine:
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.
And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
Andgie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waughs
For auld lang syne.
Flagnote: The greatest name
in Scots-song is that of Robert Burns - he gave us our National Anthem
'Bruce's Address at Bannockburn' (Scots Wha Hae); an international
song of Brotherhood in 'A Man's A Man For A' That' and the universal parting
song 'Auld Lang Syne' which is particularly associated with Hogmanay.
Burns never claimed the song as his own and wrote to his publisher George
Thomson - 'The air is but mediocre but the following song, the old song of
the olden times, and which has never been in print, not even in manuscript,
until I took them down from an old man's singing, is enough to recommend any
air'. However he admitted to Johnson that the two verses beginning
respectively 'We twa hae run aboot the braes' and 'We twa hae paidl'd in the
burn' were his own. Today the song is only associated with one man -
the byornar Robert Burns.
See the
THE BLUE TOON SONG BOOK in our
Features section
SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS
AND CUSTOMS
Highland
2007 – a year of events throughout the Highlands – has already proved to
be an outstanding success with many more attractive activities to come.
The next two weeks, for example, would be a good time to visit the
capital of the Highlands – the City of Inverness – as the Inverness fest
kicks off on Sunday 15 July and runs to Sunday 29 July 2007. The Fest
celebrates the best of traditional and contemporary culture and includes
both the Inverness Highland Games and the European Pipe Band
Championships in the Bucht Park – a real Scottish treat. The Highland
Games also includes the World Highland Games Championships and is held
over two days – Saturday 21 July and Sunday 22 July. The cream of the
world’s pipe bands will contest the European Championships on Saturday
28 July, During the Inverness Fest there is also the opportunity to take
in the RBS Inverness Highland Tattoo at nearby Fort George, Ardersier.
Visit
www.highland2007.com for full details of Inverness fest and the many
other events across the Highlands.
With good
luck, after a very wet June, Scotland will enjoy sunshine for the rest of
summer and thus add to the enjoyment of the many outdoor events. But whether
the sun shines or not, this week’s recipe – Orange Yoghurt Muffins – will
brighten up your Fly Cup.
Orange Yoghurt Muffins
Ingredients: 3 large oranges; 4ozs sugar; 2tbsp water; 10oz plain
flour; 6floz milk; 1 ¼ tsp baking powder; 2 eggs; 2 1/2oz butter; 6oz plain
yoghurt
Method:
Preheat oven to 190 deg C/ 375 deg F. Grate rind of washed oranges. Combine
rind, water and half the sugar in a pan and heat until sugar dissolves. Add
butter and set aside. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, Beat eggs, milk and
yoghurt together, add orange rind mixture. Add dry ingredients and mix
together. Spoon into muffin cases (3/4 full). Bake for approx 15 minutes.
Orange flavoured icing may be used to decorate
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)
Lammas: Term starting on 1st August
The news frae Moidart cam yestreen
Will soon gar
mony ferlie;
For ships o war hae juist come in,
And landit
Royal Chairlie.
Gordon
Wright’s Scottish Photo
Library