THE Tidewater St. Andrew’s Society is having a great year and doing things a little differently. We are meeting every month and sometimes twice. Conklin’s Irish Rover Pub, just off Virginia Beach Boulevard, is the place for our monthly dinners with its outstanding lamb meatloaf and Black Douglas ale. Bob, the owner is part Scottish, and there’s some Irish among us, so it seems to work out very well.

OUR St. Andrew’s Day Celebration Banquet at the New Princess Anne County Club was up-scale and everyone looked so nice all dressed up for the occasion. Fellow Scots-Irish and author James Webb talked on many relevant topics and his book, Born Fighting, about the influence on the history of America by the Scots-Irish. His lovely new wife of two months, Hahn, had her own story to share. Her family was “kicked out” of North Vietnam and then “kicked out” of South Vietnam and then re-located to New Orleans. Guess what? They have four Louisiana relatives living with them in Arlington for a while. She loves America.

EVERYONE is excited about the January 21 Robert Burns Nicht Supper. We will be centrally located at the Holiday Inn Greenbrier in Chesapeake, right off I-64 and a really Scottish menu has been arranged. Dr. G. William Whitehurst, currently back at ODU, and formerly our Congressman, will present the immortal memory. He is one of the smartest, smiling Scots that I have ever met. The hotel has given us a good holiday rate for those that wish to spend the night.

WELL done volunteers and board members. You are appreciated for all of your time and talent and your kind demeanor. Everyone contributes and we make new friends at every meeting. This is a great time to be Scottish and America.

YOURS aye,
     Robert B. Felty

THE St. Andrew’s Society of Tidewater will be honoring the immortal memory of Robert Burns on Saturday, January 21, 2006. The annual event is being held at the Holiday Inn Chesapeake, and will begin with a social and cocktails at 6:00 p.m. Inserted in this issue of the Tidalaire is a copy of the registration form that contains all of the details. This form may also be downloaded from the internet at www.tidewaterscots.org. Click on the St. Andrew’s crest to access the Society’s portion of the site.

WE are honored to feature former U. S. Congressman G. William Whitehurst as the speaker for the 2006 event. Dr. Whitehurst is a speaker of some reknown and favorite history professor to all who have had the honor of taking his courses. With Dr. Whitehurst at the podium, the evening is guaranteed to be delightful.

REGISTER now before the holiday frenzies push this priority too far back on your list. All reservations must be received by Saturday, January 14, 2006.

Burns Nicht Raffle Support Requested

THE Annual Burns Nicht, scheduled for January 21, 2006, will include opportunities to win from a wide variety of wonderful prizes donated by our membership and guests. The proceeds from this raffle support the St. Andrew’s Society of Tidewater Scholarship Fund. Plan now to be represented at the raffle table. Contact Past President and Raffle Coordinator, Al Alblowich, or Charlie Austin for additional information and to arrange for the donation of your item(s).

JOHN Greenshields Ferguson, a long-time member of the Society, passed away on November 12th at a local hospital. He will be greatly missed.

A native of Lanark, Scotland, John was the son of the late Georgina and William Ferguson. He was a member of A.F. & A. M. Lodge 499 of West Pittston, Pennsylvania; Khedive Temple, AAONMS, Chesapeake; the Scottish Society of Tidewater, the Royal Canadian Legion, St. Andrew’s Society of Tidewater, and the Fleet Reserve Association. He attended the Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church. He retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer from the U.S. Navy after thirty-two years of service.

JOHN is remembered by his wife Barbara J. Ferguson; a daughter, Sally Bonk and her husband, Tom; a son, Thomas A. Ferguson and his wife Jane; grandchildren, John and William Ferguson, Lorraine Horton and her husband Bruce, Jeanene Marshall and her husband Douglas, Deanna Jones; and a sister, Greta “Margaret” Whyte and her husband Andy.

RITA Hamilton is well on her way to recovery from the second of her knee replacement operations. We all look forward to having Ham and Rita rejoin us at Society functions in the New Year.

  4 December — Death of William the Lion at Stirling in 1214.
  9 December — Death of Malcolm IV at Jedburgh in 1165.
14 December — Death of James V at Falkland in Fife in 1542.
22 December — James VII landed at Peterhead in 1715.
25 December — Battle of Annan in 1332.
  2 January — Thomas Muir of Huntershill arrested for sedition in 1793.
  7 January — Glasgow University founded by a bull of Pope Nicholas V in 1451.
17 January — The Battle of Falkirk (second Jacobite rising) in 1746.