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NEWSLETTER OF THE SCOTTISH SOCIETY OF TIDEWATER The Thistledown Volume 18, Issue 3 May-Jun 2002
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| President’s Message |
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Greetings,
I would like to begin by thanking all those who voted for me to be your President for this coming year. I will work hard for the betterment of the Society, and with your help and support, we will become even more dynamic in the months to come. We just came through a very successful and enjoyable Tartan Day Festival. I want to thank everyone who worked on the Festival Committee, and all those who volunteered to help out and work at the event. Everyone worked long and hard to make it happen. I would like to thank Genene Butler, Dean Butler, Debbie Clark, Nancy Weller, Joyce and Al Cowan, Chris Thomas and Casey Thomas for all the hard work they did in the Hospitality Room. A big thank you goes out to Karl and Tamara Cowan who, at the last minute, came forward to staff the hot dog concession. Without their help, a great many people would have gone thirsty and hungry—I being one of them. Thanks to Cindy Philips and her family for coming out to help decorate and for staffing the information table. Sandy MacGregor and Marcey Burton deserve big kudos for staffing the ticket booth. A Big well done and thanks to Nancy and C.G. Miller for their great kilt display and to CB again for his contribution as our master of ceremonies and his assistance in decorating. To John Wallace, my thank you for all the work you did in coordinating the clans and the layout of their table space. Thanks to Donald Fraser for setting up the Society’s table and for the use of his flags. I would also like to thank Eleanor Unger for the loan of the decorations we used. To all the entertainers whose names are too many to list here, thank you for your time and talents in making our festival enjoyable, but especially to Mike Lawler who did double duty as the presenter of the celtic weapons demonstration and the whisky tasting. Last, but not least, a great big thank you to Rita Hamilton for all of her hard work in planning the Festival, arranging the entertainment, finding the vendors, and for setting up and running the children’s athletics. As you can see, the Festival was not—and cannot be—a one person undertaking. Each and every one contributed in making this year’s festival a success. We now look forward to Tartan Day 2003 and planning next year’s event. I am extremely pleased at the number of people who came forward and volunteered to take on and chair activities this year. I know with your help, the next year will be a great one.
Yours aye,
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| Scotland Mourns One of Her Own |
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The World Bids a Heartfelt Farewell Queen Dowager and Queen Mother, Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Lady of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India, Grand Master and Grand Dame of the Royal Victorian Order, Dame Grand Cross of the most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Dame Grand Cross of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John, Relict of his Majesty King George VI. Following only 7 weeks after the death of her daughter Princess Margaret, the death of the Queen Mother was felt around the world. A symbol of a by-gone era, the embodiment of British determination and courage during World War II, she was a constant reminder of what the monarchy had been in times past. Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, the daughter of Lord Glamis, later 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorn, was descended from the Royal House of Scotland and retained strong associations with Scotland. Among the many tributes and the pageantry of processions and the funeral itself, the personal tributes of Prince Charles and his mother, the Queen, touched all who read or heard them. Speaking of his grandmother, the Prince of Wales said ‘Thank od, we are all the richer for the sheer joy and her presence and everything she stood for….Above all, she understood the British character and her heart belonged to this ancient land and its equally indomitable and humorous inhabitants, whom she served with panache, style and unswerving dignity for very nearly 80 years. I know too what she meant to my whole family, particularly the Queen, to whom she was such a stalwart and sensitive support when my grandfather died….Apart from anything else, she wrote such sparklingly wonderful letters and her turn of phrase could be utterly memorable….Above all, she saw the funny side of life and we laughed until we cried-oh, how I shall miss her laugh and wonderful wisdom born of so much experience and an innate sensitivity to life. She was quite simply the most magical grandmother you could possible have, and I was utterly devoted to her.’ In a tribute to her mother, Queen Elizabeth thanked the nation for the ‘love and honour’ shown to her mother in life and death. She spoke to the nation via television from Windsor Castle the day before the Queen Mother’s funeral. In her address she stated that she counted herself ‘fortunate that my mother was blessed with a long and happy life...My family and I always knew what she meant for the people of this country and the special place she occupied in the hearts of so many here, in the Commonwealth, and in other parts of the world. But the extent of the tribute that huge numbers of you have paid my mother in the last few days has been overwhelming...I have drawn great comfort from so many individual acts of kindness and respect…At the ceremony tomorrow, I hope that sadness will blend with a wider sense of thanksgiving, not just for her life, but for the times in which she lived-a century for this country and the Commonwealth not without its trials and sorrows, but also one of extraordinary progress, full of examples of courage and service as well as fun and laughter. This is what my mother would have understood, because it was the warmth and affection of people everywhere which inspired her resolve, dedication and enthusiasm for life.  |
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| Member News |
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| New Members |
Oscar and Joanne Baxter
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Partnership with Virginia Wesleyan Spells Success for Tartan Festival |
 Any Society will be more successful if it establishes strong partnerships within the community. This year’s successful Tartan Festival underscores the importance of such a statement. The participation of Jennifer Repko Nowlin, Director of International and Cultural Programs, and Leilani Atangan, Coordinator of Intercultural Programs brought many resources and ideas as well as infectious enthusiasm to the event. The skirl of bagpipes permeated the new Batten Center at Virginia Wesleyan College on Saturday, April 6th as the Scottish Society of Tidewater joined forces with the college’s office of International and Intercultural Programs to host its most successful Tartan Day celebration ever. The Doorway Singers opened the 5th annual event with a beautiful rendition of God Bless America, followed by Clans Campbell, MacGregor, Wallace, Elliot, Hamilton, Lamont, MacMillan, and MacAuley, each shouting their motto or war cry. The event-filled day included musical entertainment by Skellig Michael, the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Pipe Band, the Doorway Singers, and the Jeff Greer Group. Tidewater’s Scottish Country Dancers, the Scottish Dance Theater of Virginia, and the British Isle Dancers provided dance demonstrations. At midday, Rob Lockwood gave another of his rousing recitations of Burns’ Ode to the Haggis. A welcoming ceremony followed with Mayor Meyera Oberndorf of Virginia Beach proclaiming Tartan Day in the City.
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Children's Athletics Are Tartan Festival Hit
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From Nancy Miller
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Rob Roy’s Will Available on New Web Site |
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A new web site worth checking out is Scottishdocuments.com. It allows a researcher to search an index of Scottish wills and will eventually provide links to the digitized images of the actual documents. One section of the web site provides access to wills of some famous Scots, including Rob Roy MacGregor.
The Testament Dative and Inventary of the goods gear cattle household plenishing and others which pertained to the Deceast Robert Roy Campbell in Innerlochlang beg within the parish of Balquhidder and Commissariot of Dun-blane the time of Decease which was in the moneth of December last Faithfully made and given up by Mary Mcgrigor alias Campbell the Defuncts Spouse only Executrix Dative Decerned as Credetrix to her said Deceas’d husband For payment and Satisfaction to her of the sum of four hundred and thirty six pounds ten shillings and four pennies Scots money Expended and Deburs’d by her on the Defuncts funerals and for masters rent, and Servants fees and for medicaments and other Necessaries fur-nished during his Sickness Conform to a particular Accompt and Several Instructions thereof produced Whereon she made faith as use is As also for payment of the expences of Confir-mation thereof By Decreet of the Commissary principal fo the said Commissariot as the samen of the date of these pre-sents in itself more fully Bears There was pertaining and belonging to the Said Defunct the time of his decease forsaid the goods gear and others aftermentioned of the values after express’d According as the Samen were valued in Virtue of the said Commisarys warrant Vizt. Imprimis Two Tydie Cows at eight pound Scots per piece Inde Sixteen pound item Two Yeald Kine estimate at Six pound Socts pr. Piece Inde Twelve poind Item Two old Kine with a Stirk estimate at Six pounds thirteen shilling And four pennies Scots per piece Inde Thirteen pound Six shilling and eight pennies Item Two furrow Kine with a Stirk estimate at Seven pound Six Shiling and eight pennies Scots per piece Inde fourteen pound Thirteen Shilling and four pennies Scots per piece Inde five pound Six Shilling and eight pennies Item a ten quarter year old quey estimate at Three pound Item thirteen Ews and one Ram estimate at fourteen pound It[em] fourteen oats with a Buck estimate at Twenty pound It[em] eight Minchaks estimate at four pounds Item Ane Old Mair with a filly estimate to eight pound It[em] two horses estimate to thirty pound It[em] a Blind horse estimate to One pound ten shilling It[em] Two Bolls of Gray Corn with the Straw estimate to ten pound It[em] the Key estimate to Twelve pound It[em] the Saddle and Armes estimate with the Bridle Twenty four pound It]em] Betwixt his body Cloaths and heall house plenishing estimate to eight four pound Six shilling and eight pennies. Item The said Defunct had Justly addebted and resting to him the time foresaid of his decease By Alexander Mcfarlane in Coreighlet the Sum of One hundred pounds Scots money and whole annual rents thereof as a part of the sum of Six hundred merks Scots money principal Specified in a Bond Granted by him to the said Defunct therein Designed Robert Campbell of Innerfauit Dated the Twenty eight day of November and ______ day of ________One thousand seven hundred and seven years. Confirmed 6th February 1735 Raynold Drummond and John Fisher of Tayenrouyoch, cautioners. Ref: CC6/5/24-pp.125-126 |
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Jennifer Beebe pictured here with Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf and Scottish Society of Tidewater President Larry McCauley. Jennifer was the Scottish Princess in the MAVA Queen of the World Contest this year, coming in a very close first runner up. Jennifer is a high school senior in Portsmouth and a highland dancer performing in this year’s Virginia International Tattoo. Born in Dunoon, Scotland of a Scottish mother and an American father, Jennifer is a perfect example of the Scottish American spirit. Congratulations, Jennifer!
Other activities occurring throughout the day included children’s athletic competitions, a tartan weaving demonstration by the Tidewater Weavers Guild, face painting, a Celtic weapons demonstration, and opportunities to be wrapped in a great kilt. Two whisky tastings were also held in the Hospitality Suite. The Saint Andrew’s Society of Tidewater, the Royal Canadian Legion, and the Scottish Society hosted information tables as well.
Anyone who missed the day, missed a wonderful opportunity to be steeped in Scottish culture and to showcase our heritage in the Hampton Roads community. Virginia Wesleyan College has already invited us back next year. Mark April 5, 2003 on your calendars so that you won’t miss our next Tartan Day celebration.
One of the most successful parts of the day were the children’s athletic events. Thanks to the parents and guardians for allowing these athletes to compete. Thanks as well to the volunteers, the college, and students at Virginia Wesleyan for their help. Rita Hamilton, Athletics Chair, did a wonderful job of making the day memorable for the children participating in the various pint-sized, but traditional events. She expects that next year will see records broken and hopes that all will participate next year.
