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The Thistletire

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 Caledonian Club of Florida West, Inc.

Your Board 2019-2020

BOARD: Dear Members: President Mary Ellen McMahon Vice President I hope this newsletter finds you all well and the COVID didn’t affect you. Frank Dr. Phil Miner and I are both staying close to home (I’m trying to stay out of mischief as well). Secretary This definitely has been a unique year and I know I will be very happy to say Barbara Shaffer “goodbye” to 2020. Treasurer Jean Walker I wish I could give you exciting news of upcoming socials but alas that is not to be, at least as of now. The Highland Fling originally planned for November DIRECTORS:• 2020 has been postponed to sometime in March or April of 2021. The Donald Campbell committee has not finalized a date yet with Palm Aire C.C. but when they do Rachel “Gay” Haines I will definitely let you all know so you can mark it on your calendar. Allan McIlraith We only had one summer 530 social which was in July at Stotlemyers. We Dr. Mary Thompson have decided that any other socials will be “virtual”. The BOD has been Margaret (Peg) Tonn trying to think of events that can be held via Zoom. If you have any ideas/ Linda Mercurio • suggestions we would LOVE to hear from you. SPECIAL CHAIRPERSONS From what I understand the Heritage Society is still planning the Highland Membership Games. Hopefully we can bid adieu to COVID and start planning some new Dr. Mary Thompson socials for 2021 (can you tell I love saying 2021?). Thistle Editor Dr. Michael Wolfe Webmaster I miss you all so much and I’m “chomping at the bit” to get back to socializing. Paul Johnson Sunshine Lady My best to you all, Jennifer Meinert Mary Ellen Public Relations-Marketing Dr. Michael Wolfe Diane Heron The Declaration of 6 April 1320

Overview

2020 marks the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath held by National Records of (NRS). The Declaration of Arbroath (Latin: Declaratio Arbroathis; Scots: Declaration of Aiberbrothock : Tiomnadh Bhruis) is the name usually given to a letter, dated 6 April 1320 at Arbroath, written by Scottish barons and addressed to Pope John XXII. It constituted King Robert I's response to his excommunication for disobeying the pope's demand in 1317 for a truce in the First War of . The letter asserted the antiquity of the independence of the , denouncing English attempts to subjugate it. Generally believed to have been written in by Bernard of Kilwinning (or of Linton), then Chancellor of Scotland and Abbot of Arbroath, and sealed by fifty-one magnates and nobles, the letter is the sole survivor of three created at the time. The others were a letter from the King of Scots, Robert I, and a letter from four Scottish bishops which all made similar points. The Declaration was intended to assert Scotland's status as an independent, sovereign state, and defend Scotland's right to use military action when unjustly attacked. Submitted in Latin, the Declaration was little known until the late 17th century and is unmentioned by any of Scotland's major 16th century historians. In the 1680s the Latin text was printed for the first time and translated into English in the wake of the , after which time it was sometimes described as a declaration of independence. Declaration of Arbroath For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours, that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but Source: with life itself". Wikipedia, Declaration of Arbroath, (undated). 6th April 1320 National Records of Scotland, Declaration of Arbroath, (undated). The Declaration was part of a broader diplomatic campaign, which sought to assert Scotland's position as an independent kingdom, rather than its being a feudal land controlled by England's Norman kings, as well as lift the excommunication of . The pope had recognised 's claim to overlordship of Scotland in 1305 and Bruce was excommunicated by the Pope for murdering John Comyn before the altar at Greyfriars Church in Dumfries in 1306. This excommunication was lifted in 1308; subsequently the pope threatened Robert with excommunication again if Avignon's demands in 1317 for peace with England were ignored. Warfare continued, and in 1320 John XXII again excommunicated Robert I. In reply, the Declaration was composed and signed and, in response, the papacy rescinded King Robert Bruce's excommunication and thereafter addressed him using his royal title.

The wars of Scottish independence began as a result of the deaths of King Alexander III of Scotland in 1286 and his heir the "Maid of Norway" in 1290, which left the throne of Scotland Details of the Declaration of Arbroath vacant and the subsequent succession crisis of 1290-1296 6 April 1320 ignited a struggle among the Competitors for the Crown of Scotland, chiefly between the House of Comyn, the , and the House of Bruce who all claimed the crown. After July 1296's deposition of King by Edward of England and then February 1306's killing of John Comyn III, Robert Bruce's rivals to the throne of Scotland were gone, and Robert was crowned king at Scone that year. Edward I, the "Hammer of Scots", died in 1307; his son and successor Edward II did not renew his father's campaigns in Scotland. In 1309 a parliament held at St Andrews acknowledged Robert's right to rule, received emissaries from the Kingdom of France recognising the Bruce's title, and proclaimed the independence of the kingdom from England.[

By 1314 only , Berwick-upon-Tweed, , and remained in English hands. In June 1314 the had secured Robert Bruce's position as King of Scots; Stirling, the , and much of Lothian came under Robert's control while the defeated Edward II's power on escaping to England via Berwick weakened under the sway of his cousin Henry, of Lancaster. King Robert was thus able to consolidate his power, and sent his brother to claim the in 1315 with an army landed in Ulster the previous year with the help of Gaelic lords from the Isles. Edward Bruce died in 1318 without achieving success, but the Scots campaigns in Ireland and in northern England were intended to press for the recognition of Robert's crown by King Edward. At the same time, it undermined the 's claims to overlordship of the British Isles and halted the Plantagenets' effort to absorb Scotland as had been done in Ireland and Wales. Thus were the Scots nobles confident in their letters to Pope John of the distinct and independent nature of Scotland's kingdom; the Declaration of Arbroath was one such. According to historian David Crouch, "The two nations were mutually hostile kingdoms and peoples, and the ancient idea of Britain as an informal empire of peoples under the English king's presidency was entirely dead." Versions, copies and facsimiles The document in National Records of Scotland is the "file copy" of the Declaration: the only version to survive in its original form. It was kept with the rest of the national records in Edinburgh Castle until the seventeenth century. When work was being done on the castle, the Declaration was taken for safekeeping to Tyninghame, the home of the official in charge of the records. While there it suffered damage through damp and it returned to the custody of the Deputy Clerk Register (the predecessor of the Keeper of the Records of Scotland) in 1829. Conservation staff at the NRS monitor the Declaration to ensure it survives for many centuries to come. Although the Declaration was damaged during its absence from Edinburgh Castle, the full text was known from an engraving made in the Some of the Seals attached to the early eighteenth century, which was re-engraved around 1815 by William Declaration of Arbroath Home Lizars and Daniel Lizars. HELLO!We’re HELLO! glad to have you as a member.

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Kirkin’ O’ the Tartan Luncheon & Print this form and mail your cheque Dinner Events made payable to the Caledonian Club Piper-in-the-Park P.O. Box 19281 Scottish Games Sarasota, FL 34276 Summer Socials Meet the author Robert Lewis Heron www.robertheron.net Accomplished author, artist, husband to Diane Heron (CCFW Public Relations/Marketing, Co-chair) and Caledonian Club member

Robert is a U.S.-based Scottish author and artist that has published a series of famous cat adventure books to support the non-profit St. Andrews Charity: The Hamish Foundation of St. Andrews.

The Scottish author and artist Robert Lewis Heron used his lockdown time at his home in Sarasota, Florida to allow his creative inspiration to flourish and he has created and published a series of children’s books based on the famous St Andrews cat Hamish McHamish.

The illustrated stories follow Hamish on his adventures with his friends and the local children of St Andrews. The current four books and colouring book have recently been launched for sale on Amazon with proceeds from the book sales going to The Hamish Foundation, a St Andrews based charity which raises funds with a focus on projects to support young people and local St Andrews community initiatives.

The collaboration between the author and the charity resulted from a conversation prior to lockdown last Christmas between author Robert, his wife Diane and their friends Jerry and Linda- Anne Beaulier who were visiting the US from their St. Andrews home. Robert explained: “Last Christmas, the Beauliers were telling us about their work with the beach wheelchairs project in St Andrews, and we were so taken with everything they had done. As we got more information from them about The Hamish Foundation, we knew we wanted to help in some way.”

“We heard all about Hamish and, in early June, we discussed with the Beauliers the idea of doing a children's book about Hamish McHamish – The St Andrews Cat. That night, Hamish was in my dreams and I went to my studio the next morning and started his story. One story led to another and the series of books following his adventures moved from dream to Publication.”

Debbie MacCallum of The Hamish Foundation said: “We are absolutely amazed and grateful to Robert for coming up with this idea and turning it into reality. The donation of his time, his creativity and his investment to support this fund- raising initiative is wonderful and we thank him and his wife Diane for progressing everything so quickly.”

Hamish McHamish (1999-2014) was a ginger cat that lived in St. Andrews on the east coast of Fife, Scotland and was well known and loved by local residents and visitors. It was said he brought luck to your business when he visited. He was also so well known that when Hamish crossed the road, the traffic stopped for him! Such is the fame of Hamish McHamish, a bronze statue was erected in his honour in the town centre. The series of books can be found for sale on Amazon and the retailer, J&G Innes Ltd. Booksellers located in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland.

Robert won the 2019 Sarasota Fiction Writer's contest based on the year's theme on the life and work of Salvador Dali. The story to be 2,500 words or less. A fictional piece to be frightening, dramatic, romantic, thrilling, humorous, sci-fi, western, etc. In other words, a freedom to create whatever you like around a Dali theme.

His short story, judged the winner by the head of creative writing at Sarasota's Ringling College, was inspired by Dali's artistic ability to create art which visually morphs from one subject to another. Dali's painting, 'Persistence of Memory, 1931', combines three art genres: the still life, the landscape and the self-portrait. As you look and stare and stare some more, the picture morphs between three different images. A painting with a multiple identity crisis… incredible, awesome yet mind-blowingly artistic. Magnifique mis amigos. Robert’s incredilbe creative talent has resulted in his contribution to other stories in books, poem+audio, and video. His children's Book “Princess Adeline & Three Fluffy Elephants” is now available in both book and Kindle forms on Amazon.

Under the main headings “Mystery' and 'Poetry,” Robert has added four chapters to “Artful Deception” plus a Chapter 1 reading and a poem called “WE”, which he wrote in 2016 to honor the Yorkshire village of Hebden Bridge flooded in 2015. Every Christmas Eve, the local one screen cinema shows the movie “Its A Wonderful Life.”

One of Robert’s favorite artists is Jackson Pollock. In 2007 (updated in 2019), he created a three-minute video a tribute video with accompanying original music as a tribute to him on Youtube.

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Ardgour lighthouse reflecting on Loch Linnhe near Fort William, Scotland PIPER in the PARK CALENDAR SCHEDULE

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Scottish Highlands Wedding 1780 Vincent Ventimiglia March 19, 1935 – February 24, 2020

Vincent P. Ventimiglia, age 84, lived in Bradenton, FL, and was born March 19, 1935, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Matteo and Agatha Ventimiglia. He attended St. Edwards Elementary Catholic School and graduated from McBride Catholic High School. Vincent ultimately earned his Associates's Degree from Columbia College. Vincent was a well-accomplished athlete and excelled in almost every sport he took on. In 1953 he was a member of the All-Metro High School basketball team in St. Louis and was scouted by the St. Louis Major League Baseball (MLB) only one year later.

In 1954, Vincent joined the Army, serving in the Korean War until 1956. He was a PFC and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and a Disabled Veteran (DAV). During his time in Europe, he joined the Army's USO baseball team. It was at this time that Vincent also started playing soccer. After serving, Vincent worked for the Department of Defense as a GS-12, and in 1980 became a soccer coach for the CYC league and City Champions Gabriel's 8th-grade soccer team back in St. Louis. He retired in 1988, and a year later moved to Florida. During his time in Florida, Vincent started playing tennis; his home court was at Payne Park in Sarasota. He enjoyed bowling, tennis, and always partook in his daily exercise routine. Vincent was also a member of the American Legion and Caledonian Club of Sarasota. Vincent is survived by his son Mike Ventimiglia and daughter Patricia Ventimiglia. His siblings Joseph Ventimiglia and Josie Ventimiglia.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Matteo and Agatha Ventimiglia, his wife Mary Jessica Ventimiglia, and son Vincent Ventimiglia. Vincent was interred next to his wife Jessica on July 16, 2020, at the Sarasota National Cemetery.