Newsletter of ...members INTERNATIONAL, Inc. in France, Chief the r. hon. The , k.t VOL. LI I NO. IV December, 2020 Canada, Saying Goodbye to 2020 Norway, As we see 2020 coming to an end and look , back on the year, the thought that comes to New mind is that this has been one for the books. When the new year and new decade were Zealand, being joyously welcomed on New Year’s Eve Australia, could anyone have imagined what was in store for us? , But, as you will see on the following pag- Brussels, es, the celebrations in the Clan Ramsay did not stop. A Clan first was held in November Belgium, & when Christian Jamin, Commissioner for Luxemburg Northern Europe, organized a virtual family gathering in full Ramsay regalia and . As we take time to reflect on the year that is behind us, we should look forward Lord Dalhousie with the hope that 2021 brings us all togeth- er again. We have missed seeing the faces, hearing the laughter, and hearing the pipes that help to hold us together. Please take a look back and enjoy photo- graphs from prior games, and a Christmas greeting from our Clan Chief, with a smile. And keep those fingers crossed that the New Year will bring the stirring sound of the pipes again. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas & a Happy & Healthy New Year.

Mona Ramsey, Editor Newsletter of Clan Ramsay INTERNATIONAL, INC

P A G E 2 A Valley Forge Christmas

History has marked Valley Forge as one of the major turning points of the American Revolutionary War. The Continental Army would spend six months at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, including the winter of 1777-1778. General George Washington had strug- gled with the question as to where to encamp his beleaguered ar- my. He chose Valley Forge just 20 miles northwest of the capital city of Philadelphia, which had been captured by the British. With- in a month of encampment, 2000, 12x12 huts were set up with straw bedding for some 12,000 troops, including about 500 wom- en and children. During this winter encampment some 2000 men would die due to a lack of food and basic provisions. Among these men was a soldier, who served throughout the campaign, a private who enlisted from North Carolina. Joel Ram- sey enlisted for three years in the 4th Regiment of North Carolina serving in Capt. Goodman’s Company commanded by Col. Thomas Clark. He was in the first attachment that marched to Wilmington, NC. From Wilmington he went to Philadelphia and wintered at Valley Forge, where he served frequently as guard to General Washington. On Dec. 23, 1777, conditions worsened as a heavy snow began to blanket Valley Forge. For three days they experienced the worst blizzard of the season thus far. With a quarter of his troops freezing, starving and poorly clothed, Washington running out of options schemed a bold and risky Christmas Eve attack. On Christ- mas afternoon as he snow continued to fall Washington and his men found a way to reverse the war. Private Joel Ramsey was also at the battles of Mammoth, Brandywine, Germantown and Tren- ton, and was present when General Washington captured the British General Howe’s horse. Joel Ramsey was discharged from service 20 May 1779, after which he would make his home at Lebanon, Russell County, Vir- ginia. He was a native of Baltimore County, Maryland, where he was born about 1759, coming to North Carolina with his father’s family. At age 64, Joel Ramsey applied for his military pension form Russell County, Virginia. He enumerated in the 1840 U.S. census of Russell County, Virginia census as a veteran and died the following year about age 81.

Submitted by Lee K.Ramsey Newsletter of Clan Ramsay INTERNATIONAL, INC

P A G E 3

President’s Letter

Fellow Clan Ramsay Members around the World: I wish you a most Merry Christmas! May your holidays be full of love, peace, and happiness - and may it continue into the coming year. This has been a year we will not soon forget. With a world-wide pandemic and the resulting loss of life and jobs and economic hardships throughout the world, a record-setting hurricane season and more than 8 million acres of land and thousands of homes turned to ash from over 100 wild fires, one could not blame you if you’re find- ing it hard to find things to be thankful for and joy- ful about this year. Oh, and how could we forget the U.S. national election with hyperbole being the norm from all sides? But while we have had our troubles, all is not gloom and doom! A covid vaccine appears to be near reality, western economies seem to be pick- ing up—certainly Christmas sales are setting rec- ords. Unemployment is improving somewhat, though too many are still out of work. And the election is over! And our Clan membership numbers are holding reasonably steady. We look forward to getting back to some degree of normalcy in 2021— attending highland gatherings and games and see- ing old friends and long removed relatives— people we couldn’t see at Thanksgiving and won’t be able to see at Christmas. Perhaps the best way to sum up the holidays is this: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men, and "Honey, where is my face mask?” (I borrowed that from someone.) Having said all that, I think I need to go back and repeat the first paragraph: “I wish you a most Merry Christmas! May your holidays be full of Ora et Labora love, peace, and happiness - and may it continue Dick McGraw, President into the coming year.” Newsletter of Clan Ramsay INTERNATIONAL, INC

P A G E 4 Mona’s Christmas Shortbread

Lincolnton, North Carolina Baking shortbread is not for the faint of heart. Shortbread takes dedication and intense concentration, that I do not have every year around Christmas, so this is not really what one would call a tradition. I will call it more of a pleasant Christmas surprise, when it happens. The recipe is very simple and most will think “I’ve got this”. But do not let that simple recipe fool you into a false sense of security. Baking shortbread is all in the directions.

Joyeux Noël,

Nollaig Chridheil

Huibh,

Merry Christmas

&

Classic Shortbread

1/2 cup butter at room temperature Wishes for A 1/3 cup sugar, unsifted 1 cup All-purpose flour, unsifted Happy New Directions: Cream the butter until it is light. Cream in the sugar. Now work in the flour. Knead the dough on an unfloured board until nice and smooth. Spray the shortbread pan very lightly Year/2021 with non-stick vegetable spray. Firmly press the dough into the shortbread pan. Prick entire surface with a fork, and bake the shortbread right in the pan at 325 degrees for about 30-35 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let the shortbread cool in its pan for 10 minutes, time this it is very important to the success of the shortbread, before you loosen the edges with a knife and flip the pan over onto a wooden cutting board. If the short- bread does not come right out tap one edge of the pan. Imme- diately cut the shortbread into serving pieces while it is still warm. Do not let the shortbread cool before you cut. If you do you will have shortbread crumbles, which are pretty tasty sprin- kled on ice cream. If making more than one batch allow pan to cool thoroughly before reusing. Submitted by Mona Ramsey Newsletter of Clan Ramsay INTERNATIONAL, INC

P A G E 5 the Stockings Were Hung.. … A Simpler Time

Lone Tree, Colorado

Each year we anxiously await display- ing the Ramsay Christmas stock- ings. They were made by our resident kiltmaker Carrie Simpson, whose talents also produced the banners that we use in various Scottish Festivals. These beautiful stockings hang proudly on our mantel each year during the Christmas season.

A Christmas photograph of James Clinton Ramsey, my Dad, at the home place in Pool, West Virginia with two of his grandsons. Circa 1970. I believe dad was the youngest grandson of Thomas Addison Ramsey and this was the original family farm.

Submitted by Mary Ramsey Burr

A Socially Distant Christmas

This has been our home for the past 3.5 years. We have visited 38 states and have traveled more than 26,000 miles. Our plans for Christmas. We were just north of Knox- ville, Tennessee for the month of November and on “And the stockings were hung by the December 1st, we headed to Gadsden, Alabama for the chimney with care...” month with plans to enjoy a “socially distant Christmas” with the kids and grandkids.

My family lives in Lone Tree, just outside Submitted by Charles Ramsey Denver, Colorado and have greatly enjoyed getting to know Wayne Premo, and meeting so many others with Ram- say connections. I’ve had the honor of hosting the clan tent in Wayne’s stead several times, and can usually be found near it otherwise.

With my ladies, Alex and our daughter Jeannie.

Submitted Tim Hale Clan Ramsay member #876 Newsletter of Clan Ramsay INTERNATIONAL, INC

P A G E 6 Building to Last with Dry Stone

On your travels through the British Isles, the Euro- my hands rather than an engineered and tested pean Continent, and other places I know you’ve seen product to be installed according to certain specifi- miles and miles of stone walls, the remains of stone cations. I love the simplicity of it. and lots of stone structures everywhere. You may have wondered how long have they been there and how long will they last? The answer is simply until man tears them down or wind and water The author in a wear them away. dry stone doorway in Machu Picchu, Most likely what you saw was dry stone construc- Peru, built in the tion. Dry stone construction is simply the craft of 15th century. building with stone and nothing else. It is ancient toil, as old as it gets. I’ve heard dry stonemasonry referred to as the world’s second oldest profession. Perhaps, but I but Minimal tools and equipment are needed to cannot confirm that. make structures that are remarkably durable, yet No mortar, lime, cement, clay, or any other bind- easily repaired if damaged. The fact that the mate- ers are used in dry stone construction. Gravity and rials are provided by the earth makes me feel friction are what hold dry stone structures together. grounded; in tune with the planet. After thirty Some of the oldest buildings on earth are built this years of it, some days make me feel like I am soon way. to be one with the ground. Suffice it to say, I am passionate about stones! Styles of dry stone work are as diverse as the geology, climate and terrain of regions around the world. Of course, the skill of the waller, as dry stone masons are called, also comes into play. Like poetry, anyone can do it, but only some should.

Talented dry stone masons, are a practical and

frugal bunch. They are good at making the most of Carloway Broch, Isle of Lewis, thought to have been what is available. Successful designs are similar built in the first century, AD. within a region due to the limitations of the stone and the building site. A few famous examples are the Egyptian pyra- The most widely recognized historic dry stone mids, some of the Incan structures at Machu Picchu, structures are the walls and rock fences that border Peru and the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Prehistoric roads and fields where building stone was readily dry stone dwellings are still standing throughout available. For me, it is a joy to study the varied Great Britain and much of Europe. Scotland’s prehis- styles and understand why the lasting examples are toric and mysterious brochs are dry stone. best suited to the area. I’m a stonemason and feel fortunate to have Mortared walls have a shorter life span than dry learned some different aspects of the trade. Building stone walls for a several reasons. First, mortared without mortar is my favorite technique for several walls are rigid and will fail if influenced by tree reasons. I love that the integrity of the project is in Continued on Page 7 Newsletter of Clan Ramsay INTERNATIONAL, INC

P A G E 7 Continued from Page 6 The Cairn at Grandfather Mt. roots, earthquakes or any foundation settling, while a dry stone wall has some flexibility. Wa- ter will get into a mortared wall and freeze, The grandfather Mountain were origi- pushing stones apart, but dry walls drain natu- nally patterned after the Braemar Games in Scotland. rally. Finally, mortars are complicated and fre- The first event was held in 1955 with a small crowd. It quently misused. If not properly selected, has grown to be one of the largest Highland Games in mixed and incorporated, they will erode cre- the country. ating voids in a wall, ultimately leading to an There is a Cairn to honor the Clans on the meadow early demise and costly repairs. that many of you have seen. The games decided to cel- ebrate the 25th anniversary by building the Cairn to honor the participating Clans. It was planned to have 4 panels with stones from the castles or traditional lands of the Clans located in the panel. The original letter that I received stated the stones should be from the wall of the family . We were small at the time, with no member planning to go to Scotland. Unsure of how I could find a stone to repre- sent the Ramsay Clan, I had my eye on a very fine stone in my back yard.

About that time a partner told me that a friend of his Varied of styles of dry stone construction in was going to Scotland. I contacted him and asked him a wall in Mallorca, Spain. if he would send me a stone preferably from the wall of . A few months later, a small box ar- A few years ago, I was asked to build two dry rived from Scotland, with a small, round stone and a stone bridges on a municipal golf course. The note in it. The note said that he visited Dalhousie Cas- bridges were designed for golf cart traffic and tle, but was reluctant to try to remove a piece of stone we used about 50 tons of reclaimed granite from the wall. He said that the stone was from the curbs on each bridge. Referencing a term my roadside near the entrance. I decided that was good brother used in a recent article on antique mo- enough and sent the stone to Grandfather Mountain.

torcycle racing for this newsletter, I will say that The Cairn was dedicated in 1980 with a small round my proposed style of construction was stone representing the Ramsay Clan. On an occasion in “obsolete engineering”. After several refusals, I the early 1980’s we were able to gather the clan mem- was fortunate to find an engineer to give us his bers at the Cairn for a picture. stamp if we passed a load test upon completion. Submitted by Carl Bailey We built the bridges and passed the load test. It was not part of the load test, but I drove my truck over one. We documented the construc- tion with time-lapse photography and added some bagpipe music to it. Here is a link to the four-minute-long video. Hope you enjoy it! McGraw Hardscapes 2nd bridge - YouTube Submitted by Doug McGraw Newsletter of Clan Ramsay INTERNATIONAL, INC

P A G E 8 A Clan of Artists

That is fact: Clan Ramsay enjoys art in various forms.

We are the worthy descendants of the poet, writer and painters, Allan Ramsay, father, and son.

We boast famous chefs, such as Gordon and Philippe, we have singers and such as Timothy “Tim” Ramsay who is a blues musician, we have watercolor painters such as KC who has just issued a new alpha- bet book.

Today I would like to focus on Corinne “Coco”.

Coco joined the clan few years ago and she special- izes in knife painting. This is her profession. She stud- ied at “les beaux-arts” (one of the most prestigious BURNS NIGHT ROYAL GAULOIS school of Arts in France) when she was younger. CIRCLE

Today she is teaching students, old and young, how On January 21, 2020, the Belgian representative of the to draw and paint. North Europe Ramsay clan, Christian Georges Jamin, was

Coco recently held an exhibition of “live painting” in invited to a Burns Night event organized at the Royal Gau- lois artistic and literary circle (CRG) by the Baron Michel southern France where 250 people participated. Pilette of Kinnear.

In France, she is “quoted” which means she is A little history. acknowledged as a professional artist and there is an The Cercle Royal Gaulois is one of the oldest private official quotation for her work. clubs in Belgium and is open only to men. The Cercle Gau- Her artist name is Matco and what she is painting is lois was founded in Brussels on November 23, 1847 to great. constitute a meeting center for friends of the arts and letters, and artistic, literary, and scientific notabilities of Submitted by the country and abroad, as well as a reading room with a Dominique Taffin and Laurent Jaunaux vast selection of newspapers and magazines.

It was in the reading room where we were surprised and honored with the presence of a distinguished guest, His Royal Highness, Prince Laurent of Belgium,

The Hay Clan Bag Pipers Band opened this exceptional evening in the fabulous Lounges of the Circle. Various Scottish activities were on the agenda: classical and folk dances, songs, harp players, and of course the pipers!

The representatives of the clans were presented to HRH Prince Laurent and invited to the table of honor. An excellent menu was served in the historic rooms of the Circle.

The guests were able to mingle in the lounge, sam- ple various liquors, and bring an end this fabulous Scottish evening! Newsletter of Clan Ramsay INTERNATIONAL, INC

P A G E 9

“ a look back on 2020 Burns Night Celebrations”

CLANS DAYS "BURN’S NIGHT" Should auld acquaintance be forgot, February 8, 2020 and never brought to mind? Royal Anderlecht Golf Club Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Anderlecht, Belgium and auld lang syne*? The gathering consisted of sixty members from various clans that met at the golf club in Ander- lecht in celebration Burns Night. CHORUS: It was to the sound of the Castle Pipers Band For auld lang syne, my jo, for pipers that we enjoyed appetizers followed by a auld lang syne, we'll tak' a cup delicious meal. o' kindness yet, for auld lang The address to the Haggis was made according syne. to the rules of the art by the event organizer, Marc André Frère McKinnon. And surely ye'll be your pint-stoup! The menu consisted of a beef carpaccio, a hag- and surely I'll be mine! gis served with Neeps and Tatties and a surprise And we'll tak' a cup o’ kindness yet, dessert. for auld lang syne. The participants then danced on typical

Scottish folk tunes in an overheated atmosphere A good mood was present and all who attend- CHORUS ed are looking forward to being able to meet again for another Burns Night Celebration, which We twa hae run about the braes, has become a tradition. and pou'd the gowans fine; But we've wander'd mony a weary fit, sin' auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn, frae morning sun till dine; But seas between us braid hae roar'd sin' auld lang syne. CHORUS

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere! and gie's a hand o' thine! And we'll tak' a right gude-willie waught, for auld lang syne.

CHORUS Newsletter of Clan Ramsay INTERNATIONAL, INC

P A G E 10

Ramsay Blue Tartan

I have this beautiful, made in Scotland, Ramsay Blue wool vest and skirt that ar- rived sized incorrectly. Approximate size is 16-18. The set is looking for a new home. If interested or would like more infor-

mation please contact: Linda Bardell 541-979-6548 phone or text

P A G E 11 Newsletter of Clan Ramsay INTERNATIONAL, INC

P A G E 11 2021 Games Information Coming in January

Mona Ramsey 714 North Aspen St. Lincolnton, NC 28092 USA Email Mona: [email protected] or Dick McGraw [email protected]

We Are On the Web www.clanramsay.org 2020 Log In Please Contact [email protected] Clan Ramsay International, Inc. "Renew Your Membership of Give the gift of Clan Ramsay membership to a relative or friend. Use the form below.”

Yearly Renewal/Gift Membership Membership Dues for 2021…………………………..$30.00

From: Your/To: (Please Circle) Your Name ______Name ______Address______Your Email ______City ______State _____Zip______Email______

Make your check payable to Clan Ramsay International and mail it along with this form to: David F. Ramsey, Membership Director Clan Ramsay International, Inc. 434 Skinner Blvd./Dunedin, FL 34698

The Ramsay Report 714 North Aspen St Lincolnton, NC 28092

Newsletter of Clan Ramsay International, Inc.