Thistle November 2011 Letter from the Editor Calendar of Events Ian Skone-Rees Nov
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the histle ’ s S o c i e t y t n d r e w o f L o s A A S t . n g e November 2011 T h e l e s a message from John E. Lowry, FSA Scot President. Seaside 2011 St. Andrew's Societies in all corners of 9th Highland Games have the civilized world maintain a calendar of a special Scottish flavour. activities in keeping with the interests of their membership. Our venerable 80 year old club November 30th is St Late rain on Thursday tries for a balance between tradition and contemporary Andrew's Day in Scotland. suggested that for the first The patronage of the saint in keeping with our diverse membership—and that is a time in the history of the also covers fishmongers, tall order considering active memberships that reach back over half of Games clan row may be gout, singers, sore our history! But even with our history and the fine record of charitable moved indoors and the throats, spinsters, activities that make us so proud, we are mere babes when it comes to heavy athletics would maidens, old maids and other cities and their Societies. San Francisco 1846, Alexandria, Virginia become a series of mud women wishing to 1760, Boston 1659, New York 1756.One quick note from a time when wrestling matches. become mothers. But just But Friday dawned with blue Andrew Carnegie was president of SASNY, Carnegie asked his dear friend who was Saint Andrew skies, warm sun, and a gentle and how did he become Sam Clemens to come down and visit these "mortals" and speak at that ocean breeze. However the the patron saint of year's St. Andrews Dinner. Sam Clemens (aka Mark Twain) wrote back physical work of unpacking the Scotland? that he couldn't stand the noise of such a gathering and he preferred to van, erecting a tent plus all the Saint Andrew, was an "feed at home!" He did exactly that and then came to the dinner and ancillary activities of properly agile and hardy Galilean merchandising a clan tent, fisherman who also had talked for about ten minutes and was off and away… and the caused this clansman to shed his good social skills. He Carnegie/Clemens friendship shirt and slather himself with sun brought the first foreigners carried on for many years! to meet Jesus and shamed a block. The ensuing evening and two days made all this seem a large crowd of people into Contact John Lowry via email sharing their food with the at : jemmettlowry aol.com small price to pay for the @ people beside them. Today Please see Seaside , page 5 we might describe him as the Patron Saint of Social Networking! Having Saint Andrew as Scotland's Patron gave the country several advantages: In Gear because he was the brother of Saint Peter, founder of the Church, the Scots were Innes Ireland able to appeal to the Pope in 1320 (The Declaration of As well as writing one Prix for Team Lotus, a win Arbroath) for protection of the all-time great against the attempts of he inherited when long- motorsport books, the time leader Stirling Moss Robert McGregor Innes Ireland English kings to conquer 1930-1993 the Scots. Traditionally, confusingly named retired. Scots also claimed that they Scotsman by the name of That is not to say that the win checquered flag at the Watkins were descended from the Ireland was Scotland's first was not well-deserved, and Glen track. Although that was his Scythians who lived on the grand prix winner, when Ireland after lap after lap of first full GP win, he had already he secured victory in the pressure from the moustachioed See St. Andrew , page 6 1961 United States Grand form of Graham Hill took the Please see Innes Ireland , page 4 2 the thistle november 2011 Letter from the editor Calendar of Events Ian Skone-Rees Nov. 30, 2011, 6:30 p.m. St. Andrew’s Day Dinner Those of you visited probably best known for running Spumante Restaurant President the St. Andrew’s tent at the iconic Scottish Poppy Appeal. 11049 Magnolia Blvd # 107 John E. Lowry, FSA Scot the Seaside Games In June 2011 Poppy Scotland North Hollywood, CA 91601-5658 Vice President probably noticed our new merged with their sister charity John D. Macpherson Jan 28, 2012, 6:00 p.m. Treasurer colorful banner that The Royal British Legion (TRBL), David Moffett provided the marquee. which operates in England, Wales Robert Burns Supper Secretary La Cañada Thursday Club Vacant The society’s shield is and Northern Ireland, to form the flanked on two sides by the largest charity group supporting For further details log on Board of Trustees waving blue and white Saltire. In the Armed Forces community Norman Auslander www.saintandrewsla.org the bottom right corner is the across the whole of the U.K., and John L. Benton, M.D.* Poppy Scotland logo that may overseas. TRBL is represented in Jack Dawson** not be as familiar. Poppy the U.S. by Patrick and Pamela Robert Matheson Scotland helps thousands of ex- Sweetman. Based in San distributing poppies and Rev. Charles Robertson, D. Min. Servicemen and women, and Francisco they administer the collecting donations we have an their families each year to Poppy Appeal across the country. opportunity to explain the Ian J. Skone-Rees, FSA Scot overcome physical, emotional For the past three years we have meaning of the poppy and why it Stuart Bird-Wilson and financial difficulties. It is collected donations at the is was chosen as the emblem to * Immediate Past president the leading charity supporting Society tent at the Seaside honor our heroes. Thanks to all of ••Past president ex-Servicemen and women and Games. This year a little over $100 you who contributed to this their families in Scotland and is was collected. In addition to worthwhile cause. House of Gordon USA Flowers of the Holds Annual AGM Forest The Thistle is the official publication of the Saint Andrew’s Florence F. Weir Society of Los Angeles. It is published four times a year. 1923 – 2011 Deadline for each issue is the Florence Anna Forschner Weir first day of March, June, was a cherished wife and September & December. Robert Keith Grant Submit articles, photographs, mother. In an era when few and address changes to the women went to college, Florence 1952 – 2011 editor at: [email protected]. Gordon clan members from all over the USA met or chose to study Chemistry at Robert Keith Grant was born at the Seaside Highland Games in Ventura, CA The Editor Elmira College, and was student March 10, 1952. Beloved son of Saint Andrew’s Society, Los Angeles October 8, 2011 for their Annual General Meeting. Photo L –R: Lynne Gordon, VP; Nellie Lowry, 12925 Riverside Drive, Ste. 219 body president. After Barbara Grant, nephew of Jack Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 Treasure; Roger J. Mills, President, and Laura www.saintandrewsla.org graduation, she married Bissinger, passed away Whiteside, Secretary Alexander Weir Jr, in Grace peacefully in Los Angeles on The publisher accepts no responsibility for the opinions Cathedral in New York City on September 11, 2011, surrounded by Sun Seekers expressed, accuracy of information, or similarity of names submitted by December 28, 1946. his family and close friends. authors. She is survived by her Keith was born in San Francisco CONTRIBUTORS husband Alexander Weir Jr, three and spent most of his life in Los John E. Lowry, FSA Scot children and 12 grandchildren Angeles, graduating from UCLA. David Cargill Ian J. Skone-Rees, FSA Scot and one great grandchild.She A life member of the Saint PUBLISHER will be loved, remembered, and Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles EDITOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGN missed dearly. his infectious laugh and sunny Ian J. Skone-Rees The family wishes in lieu of personality will be missed by all PHOTOGRAPHY flowers that contributions be of us. Our treasurer, Dave Moffett, and V.P. Dave Ian J. Skone-Rees Macpherson above the harbor of Monte Carlo in Dave Moffett made to the St. Andrew's Society the Principality of Monaco during their of Los Angeles. Mediterranean cruise this summer. Rumor has it they did not break the bank. 3 St. Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles Scotland’s Influence in the United States The Scots were a valuable addition to a developing world. society, and these Scots played a crucial role in the early Their past experience of working in the harsh conditions of rural development of the New World. Most headmasters of the schools Scotland, combined with their hard-working Presbyterian in the new colonies south of New York were Scottish or of upbringing, made them an ideal people to help build America in Scottish ancestry. These establishments were fundamental in the its formative years. education of America's future leaders; both Thomas Jefferson's The Scottish emigrants of the 18th Century were an educated and John Rutledge's tutors were Scottish immigrants. group due to the Scottish Reformation, which had stressed the In this continuing series of articles we will introduce Scots or need for education, so every Scot could read the Bible. persons of Scottish descent who have left their indelible mark on Education has always played an important part in Scottish the American landscape – Ed. John Logie Baird Baird was a Scottish engineer, most famous for being the first person to demonstrate a working television. John Logie Baird was born on 14 August 1888 in Helensburgh systems were developed, chiefly by on the west coast of Scotland, the son of a clergyman.