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Home , David Dunbar (actor), David Dunbar Buick, John Marshall Lang

the histle w ’ s S o c i e t y December 2008 Membership t A n d r e o f L o s a i n t A n e S g e l Dues T h e s

a message from John Benton, M.D., President here's little of the will celebrate the bard’s 250th A guid New Year to ane an membership dues are Tyear 2008 left. It's anniversary (invitations will be a and mony may ye see! payable by January 31, been a busy one, and mailed soon and I encourage you Dues notices were 2009. there's much yet to do to sign up early to avoid mailed to all members ‘ere the dawn of 2009. disappointment). In February we November 18. If you did not Our new monthly newsletter, had our AGM at Jack and Barbara receive a notice or have The Thistle , has had a very positive Dawsons' home in La Canada. Be mislaid it a copy may be reception from our members and it be noted that AGMs are more downloaded and printed has provided The Society with an like a ceilidhs! from the Saint Andrew’s While New Year’s Eve is effective method to communicate In May, there was our annual Society website: celebrated around the world, with and inform our members. The reception for new members, www.saintandrewsla.org. the Scots have a long rich Thistle is also mailed to an ever hosted by our Membership Chair Membership dues are the heritage associated with this growing list of sister organizations Vickie Pushee at her home in society’s principal form of celebration—and have their own accross the country and overseas, Brentwood. Our Annual Garden revenue and your prompt name for it, Hogmanay. allowing us to exchange Party was held at the home of payment will help ensure we There are many theories about information and ideas with our long-time member Barbara Grant. will be able to continue to the derivation of the word brethren no matter where they may Our Society inaugurated its improve the benefits and Hogmanay . The most likely source be. Our 77th Burns Night Dinner, membership tent at the Seaside services our members seems to be the French. Homme planned by our Secretary, Peggy Highland Games held in Ventura deserve. Thank you. est né or Man is born. Steiner, was held in January at the in October. These games are The Beach Club in Santa Monica. organized by our vice president Hogmanay Traditional The 78th celebration in 2009 John E. Lowry, and his wife, Nellie. Celebrations promises to be a gala event which Kilts, Cannon, Please see MESSAGE, page 2 Historians believe that we Canines, Cavorting, inherited the celebration from the Cabers, and Quaffing In Gear Vikings who, coming from even were all to be had at the Please see HOGMANAY , page 4 6th Seaside Games. For a This is the second of series of articles devoted to cars. Not just any full report see page 5. cars, but those owned by members of the Saint Andrew’s Society that may be regarded as representative of the Golden Age of Motoring. Each issue, this column will feature a member’s own automobile love affair. Kirkin O’ The If you have a love affair to reveal, contact the editor. Ford’s Model A, by Jack Dawson, Trustee

There are a few objects that we I think, the flesh given to those assume to be extensions of our old phantoms, personal freedom, bodies: a car, a motorcycle, a individual liberty.” Jack & Barbara Dawson with their Model A in boat…What then is the car? It is, Pontus Hulten, 1984 Switzerland during their trip in 2001.

2008 is the 80th anniversary and Henry thought they could sell car was needed and in less than a Saint Andrew’s members celebrated the annual Kirkin, October 26 at the of Ford’s Model A. Henry Ford them forever. However, it became year miraculously designed and Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church. introduced the first mass produced so obsolete that many dealers put into production the Model A. Pictured above (L-R): Alan MacDonald, Vickie Pushee, Jack car, The Model T, in 1908. By 1926 switched brands or went broke. About five million Model As were Dawson, John Lowry, Dave Moffett. he had sold about fifteen million Ford finally acknowledged a new Please see FORD’S MODEL A, page 2 2 the thistle december 2008

Board of Trustees

Boxing Day Calendar of Events John Benton, M.D., President January 24, 2009 Despite its name, Boxing Day, which is celebrated on Robert Burns and St. Andrew’s Day December 26 in Great Britain, has nothing to do with pugilistic Annual Dinner Dance. competition. Nor is it a day for people to return unwanted Christmas The Beach Club, Santa Monica. presents. While the exact origins of the holiday are obscure, it is February 22, 2009 likely that Boxing Day began in England during the Middle Ages. John Margaret Annual General Meeting Lowry Steiner Boxing Day is celebrated in Great Britain and in most areas settled by March 14, 2009 Vice President Secretary the English (the U.S. is the major exception), including Canada, Annual Scottish Heritage Day , and New Zealand. Outdoor sports such as soccer, horse May 3, 2009 racing and hunting are popular on this holiday. New Member Reception Some historians say the holiday developed because servants were Date TBA required to work on Christmas Day, but took the following day off. As Garden Party David Moffett Mary servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers Treasurer Corcoran, Ph.D October 25, 2009 would present them with gift boxes. Reduced to the simplest essence, Kirkin O’ The its origins are found in a long-ago practice of giving cash or durable Full details for all events may be goods to those of the lower classes. Gifts among equals were found on the website, exchanged on or before Christmas Day, but beneficences to those less www.saintandrewsla.org fortunate were bestowed the day after. Jack Douglas Message, from page 1 Dawson Fairbanks Church Alms Boxes We're planning more for 2009, Another theory is that the boxes placed in churches where including an evening devoted to parishioners deposited coins for the poor were opened and the Highland Dancing, and a day contents distributed on December 26, which is also the Feast of St. devoted To Scottish Heritage. The Stephen. As time went by, Boxing Day gift giving expanded to Thistle and our website will keep Alan J. David include those who had rendered a service during the previous year. MacDonald MacPherson you informed! In the meantime This tradition survives today as people give presents to tradesmen, Seasons Greetings to you all and a mail carriers, doormen, porters, and others who have helped them. Very Happy New Year. St. Stephen's Martyrdom The Feast of St. Stephen also takes place on December 26. St. Victoria J. Howard Pushee Standing Stephen was one of the seven original deacons of the Christian John Benton Membership Immediate Contact John Benton via email at : Past President Church who were ordained by the Apostles to care for widows and the taverman hotmail.com poor. For the success of his preaching and his devotion to Christ, St. 1@ Stephen was stoned to death by a mob. As he died, he begged God is the official publication Ford’s Model A, from page 1 The Thistle not to punish his killers. of the Saint Andrew’s Society of . It is published four times a In the familiar Christmas carol, Good King Wenceslas' gifts of sold. There are still over250,000 still year. Deadline for each issue is the flesh (meat), wine, and firewood were made to a poor man whom he registered. I and my wife, Barbara, first day of March, June, observed struggling through the snow "on the Feast of Stephen." have a 1931 closed cab pick-up and September & December. Submit articles and photos to the editor at: a 1930 Briggs Town Sedan. The truck [email protected]. s William Shakespeare is England’s national is great for parades and we or The Editor bard so Robert Burns is ’s. And occasionally use it to haul stuff. The Saint Andrew’s Society, Los Angeles Anearly 250 years after he was born into a sedan is our touring car and has 12240 Ventura Blvd., Suite 101 Studio City, CA 91604 poor Ayrshire farming family the universal appeal taken us through Switzerland,

CONTRIBUTORS of many of his poems and songs endures. Germany, Austraia, Italy, Denmark, John Benton, Cynthia Benton, In 2009 the 250th anniversary of the birth of Norway, and Sweden. This fall we David Cargill, Jack Dawson, John Lowry, Alan MacDonald, Robert Burns will be celebrated. The Bard generates travelled with twenty other Model A Victoria Pushee, Ian Skone-Rees, Editor in the region of £200m every year to the Scottish owners to Nova Scotia (New economy. Not bad for a man who left debts of £14 when he died. Scotland), but that’s another story. 3 Saint 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 , which had stressed the In this series of articles we will introduce Scots or persons of need for education, so every Scot could read the bible. Scottish descent who have left their indelible mark on the Education has always played an important part in Scottish American landscape. Ed. David Dunbar

David Dunbar Buick.

work partner Ben Briscoe for loans. Although Buick remained involved in the company’s research and development, the loans eventually signed away much of Buick’s shares and control to William C. Durant, who would later create GM. The Buick Car Company produced 16 cars The Editor’s personal 1948 Buick Roadmaster convertible. This car is equipped with the famous Dynaflow in 1903 and 34 cars in 1904 each selling transmission and in-line eight cylinder engine producing 150 bhp. It also has hydraulically operated power push button controls for the top, windows and seats. The brightwork is stainless steel. In 1948 this car sold for $3,500. for $1200. In 1937, a styling ne of the most iconic brands in the American car industry researcher created a new Buick logo by researching the ancestral Ocan be traced back to a little known Scottish car arms of David’s original Scottish family name spelled “Buik.” The enthusiast. The Buick car company, the corner stone of the Scottish family crest design is a tri-emblem shield inside a circle General Motors Empire, was created by David Dunbar Buick in and today this design is the internationally recognized corporate 1903. symbol for Buick. Buick was born in 1854 in the fishing town of , Angus, David Dunbar Buick deserved fame and fortune yet died in but remained in his native Scotland for only two years before almost poverty. In 1921, David’s business partner Ben Briscoe emigrating with his family to . calculated that had David kept all the shares in his Buick car During the 1890’s Buick developed an interest in automobiles company the total value would be in excess of $21M. Since its and he began to experiment with internal combustion engines, creation, Buick has sold over 35 million vehicles. creating the ground-breaking overhead valve engine. On March 5th 1929 at the age of 74, David Dunbar Buick died Buick’s innovative designs often left his Buick Car Company of colon cancer in a Detroit hospital. The Angus born lad was still financially stretched and he regularly approached banks and his working as an inspector at Detroit’s trade school. 4 the thistle december 2008

www.saintandrewsla.org Hogmanay, from page 1 Scotch Corner further north than the Scots, "The king o'drinks as I paid even more attention to the conceive it, Talisker, passing of the shortest day. In Isla or Glenlivet." Shetland, where the Viking The Scotsman's Return from Abroa d influence was strongest, New R.L. Stevenson 1880. Year is called Yules, from the Scandinavian word. ere, lodged far from any It may not be widely known Hneighbour in the small but Christmas was not Slainte mhat! A very Merry Christmas coastal community of Carbost at celebrated as a festival and and the head of Loch Harport, on virtually banned in Scotland for A Happy New Year from The Editor. Skye, is one of the finest yet around 400 years, from the most remote distilleries of all, end of the 17th century to the producing a wonderful award- 1950s. The reason for this has “The most widespread winning Island malt bottled at its roots in the Protestant national custom is ‘first- above average strength. Reformation when the Kirk footing’…a tall, hand - Talisker's ™ soft, peaty water is spirit still, which was then still portrayed Christmas as a some, and dark-haired drawn from twenty-one coal-fired. When the spirit reached Popish or Catholic feast and man bearing a gift is underground springs that rise boiling point a disastrous overflow therefore had to be banned. strongly preferred.” from Hawk Hill (Cnoc nan Speirag) occurred onto the flames below Many Scots had to work over beside the distillery. These same and the resulting fire burned down Christmas and their winter springs have fed Talisker from its the still-room. The distillery was solstice holiday was therefore at and of course a kiss to wish beginning in 1831. As its name fastidiously rebuilt around exact New Year when family and everyone a Guid New Year . The suggests, the hill is home to birds copies of the old stills and friends gathered for a party and underlying belief is to clear out of prey, usually including reopened in 1962. exchange presents. the vestiges of the old year, Peregrines. Talisker ™ embodies all the There are traditions before have a clean break and welcome Today, 20,000 gallons of spirit of this rocky, storm-lashed midnight such as cleaning the in a young, New Year on a cooling water an hour from the island and its strong, steadfast house on 31st December happy note. fast running Carbost Burn fill a people. Skye's only distillery this (including taking out the ashes First footing (that is, the traditional Talisker feature – five may be, but like the men of the from the fire in the days when first foot in the house after wooden worm tubs , located island the malt has coal fires were common). There midnight) is still common in outside the still house. character enough for ten. is also the superstition to clear Scotland. To ensure good luck In November 1960, a simple all your debts before the bells at for the house, the first foot lapse of concentration led to the midnight. should be that of a dark male, For more information visit leaving open of a valve on the No. 1 Immediately after midnight (believed to be a throwback to www.whisky.com it is traditional to sing Robert the Viking days when blond Burns’ For Auld Lang Syne . strangers arriving on your are the only items still prevalent And it is worth remembering An integral part of the doorstep meant trouble) who (and available). that January 2nd is a holiday in Hogmanay partying, which should bring symbolic coal, Scotland as well as the first day of continues very much today, is shortbread, salt, black bun, and Torch and Bonfire Ceremonies the year, to give Scots time to to welcome friends and whisky. These days, however, The magical Firework display recover from a week of merry- strangers, with warm hospitality whisky and perhaps shortbread and torchlight procession in making and celebration, all part of —and throughout many Scotland’s fascinating cultural “Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? cities in Scotland—is reminiscent legacy of ancient customs and Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne of the ancient custom at Scottish traditions surrounding the pagan For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, Hogmanay pagan parties festival of Hogmanay. We’ll take a cup o kindness yet, for auld lang syne.” hundreds of years ago. 5 Saint Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles

www.saintandrewsla.org Seaside Games Sets New Attendance Record

players and observers as the word spreads. And the SASLA tent was there amidst it all! One stage—the Celtic Rock Stage—remained open and rocking on Saturday until the wee hours and has a strong possibility of that becoming a tradition on the Field. If food and drink were your cup of tea, it was all available, from good Scottish meat pies and bangers to Heavy weights fly as heavyweights burgers and fries, the Games Food Court was the place show their muscle. to be. Fine British beers and ales washed down helpings of fish For full results of the Seaside heavy athletics go to and chips and you could even get an education on Scotch www.saaa-net.org whisky—with tastes—in Ray Pearson's Glenfiddich classroom. Classes in the Gaelic language were very popular this year and the Celtic Arts Center Gaelic Choir demonstrated exactly how much you he St. Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles and its members did not know about Gaelic speaking and singing! Tproved to be huge supporters of the Seaside Highland Games Merchandise vendors aplenty for your gifting needs were this year and the Society tent on Clan Row was a bustling place there, as were several dozen British car owners, from local British all weekend! This Scottish/Celtic Festival staged at the Ventura Car Clubs showing off their fine automobiles. The military was County Fairgrounds has grown to now host more Clans and represented by Yellow Ribbon America and by the Soldier's Angels Societies than ever before (80) and was attended by far more Campaign (who assisted the children in writing letters to US Scotophiles and true Scots than in their six year history—just service personnel overseas) and the Masonic Order did their usual short of 23,000! An aggressive ad campaign got the word out to fine job with the free Child I.D. program. many first-timers and Society members were keenly aware of the Plans are already in the works for the 2009 Games (October 10th Games’ commitment to excellence. Multi-media campaigns and & 11th) and we hope that many of you will become Seaside the thousands of free and discounted tickets distributed each year Ambassadors and invite your friends and relatives to join us in bring in unknown—and unknowable—numbers through the gate. Ventura next year! We do know, however, that one simple $2 off coupon in a free local paper proved to be worthwhile by the scores of coupons redeemed with gate crew members. Every Games venue was bustling the entire weekend—from the Gordon Highlander re-creation demonstration and herding dogs in Morgan Arena to the lively and educational Children's Glen and Highland Dance areas near the main entrance—people were interested and entranced by what they could see and enjoy. Three The Wicked Tinkers strut their stuff. stages occupied by some of the best Celtic entertainers in the country were humming with quality sounds as were a dozen or so smaller venues with fiddlers, choirs, classrooms, and even a brass band for those who dropped by. You could not miss the bagpipers and bands, alone and en masse, as they marched the grounds from one end of Clan Row to the other. And, we hope you did not overlook the Scottish Heavy Athletes as they thundered to set three new records in heaving their heavy tackle and cabers! It is truly a show like no other. The new darts venue drew many Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus (alias Fred & Elizabeth Minter of Clan Donnachaidh) Gordon Highlanders on parade. participants from across the US and will pull in more new with Luke & Jinger Worthington. 6 the thistle december 2008

www.saintandrewsla.org In The Dog House Committee News How I Went to the Dogs, The Board of Trustees met And took my husband along with me! on Saturday December 6. Minutes will be posted on the By: Cynthia Benton website. I became name is Bell) and involved with dogs thought it quite The Communications after we moved to appropriate! Prior Committee coordinates Pasadena in 1977, when to Angus we had production of The Thistle and I became good friends with a two English other related outreach projects. neighbor who had shown Springers, Winston The committee met on dogs for years. In 1988 I got and Clementine, so November 14 at the Robin Hood my first showdog, a Cairn I guess you could pub to discuss and plan the Terrier, Angus, whose formal say we’re editorial content for the end of name was CH. Gay Tayl Anglophiles. year issue. Aonghas MacMhaolain. Why In 1994 I The Membership chair has that? you ask. Well, at the time acquired an Cynthia Benton and . I thought I was part of the English Springer reported five new members MacMillan clan (my maiden Spaniel, Tavish (CH. Silverhill Tavish), and in 1996 his sister, since June 2008. Scout (CH. Silverhill To The Moon Alice). Tavish and Scout Any member interested in Highland Games Calendar – 2009 had rather spectacular show joining a committee please careers and in 1999 at the contact the appropriate February English Springer Spaniel committee chairperson. Contact 14th & 15th Queen Mary Scottish Festival Long Beach, CA National Specialty Show in details are posted on the SASLA March Portland, Tavish went Best of website. All members are 13th –15th Sonora Celtic Faire Sonora, CA Breed over 275 entries, and welcome to attend committee April Scout went Best Opposite Sex meetings and Board of Trustee 4th Bakersfield Highland Games Bakersfield, CA (in other words, Best Female) meetings. Dates are posted on 25th & 26th Sacramento Valley Games Woodland, CA —the only time that litter the website. Meeting minutes Please refer to the SASLA website for a comprehensive calendar of Highland Games and mates, and owned by the same are posted on the website. Scottish celebrations. person had achieved this. In 2000, Tavish retired after Welcome New Members Westminster, and Scoutie had her one litter from which came The vitality and strength of any organization thrives on my current showdog, Sidney new blood and we all most heartily welcome the following (CH. Silverhill Alice Is At It to our midst, in the certain knowledge that they will add, Again). Sidney, a champion in Thank you contribute to, and participate in our Saint Andrew’s Society. 2003, didn’t win much until I Coronet Printing NEW MEMBERS SINCE SEPTEMBER 2008 decided to retire her, at which for your generous support of point she started winning—at The St. Andrew Society Life Member of Los Angeles. the age of seven! She turned Frances Buchanan November 2008 eight yesterday (November 29) Members Quality Service Since 1946 and is the #19 springer in the Pre-press • Printing • Bindery Eileen Skone-Rees September 2008 country. Following her Virginia Elwood-Akers October 2008 upcoming shows in December, 9260 Owensmouth Avenue Alex Weir October 2008 Chatsworth, CA 91311 she will be retired but will 818-775-9733 • fax: 818-775-9368 Mayfield Marshall November 2008 continue her role as princess! www.coronetprinting.com