The Thistle, Our SASLA Fall Matheson, How We As a Society (And, Yes, This Dog) Rises and Sets with the Sun
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
the histle Fishing for ’ s S o c i e t y t n d r e w o f L o s t . A A n Young e S g e l September 2010 Members T h e s ll of us who have a message from John E. Lowry, FSA Scot President. Andy Murray Aattended Saint Andrew’s events can’t help but notice the average age Dear James C. Ledy II, USA (Ret.) Why? of our fellow members is Members, Because that is what we do. We Loss is very steadily increasing. honor and mark the passing of much a part of Nothing we can do about our friends and fellow travelers. living. We all that. But if our society is to Over the years your St. Andrew’s know that and continue and to flourish Society has attended and even we all we need to recruit younger conducted memorials for those experience loss from time to time. folk too. Here is an close to us. I just thought you No this is not a repeat from At the ninth anniversary of 9/11 the approach SASLA member would like to know that we care. last issue. Just an update on the other day, we could all “re-live” and Clan Matheson west Now, if I have not chased you Scottish number one and current the horrible emotions of that day coast lieutenant, Bob totally away, things are, in fact, number 4 in the world. The US whether we were affected directly looking up! The “Dog Days of Matheson, is taking: Please see Andy Murray, page 6 or only as caring citizens of this Summer” are pretty much great United States of America. concluded and we are headed for ne of the Those horrendous sights and Fall. What are the dog days? Well, summer days even more Osmallest sounds will never leave us, will during certain days of summer, uncomfortable! Highland they. Sirius, the brightest star in the As you will see elsewhere in Clans is Clan But I am thinking today more of constellation Canis Major (the big the Thistle, our SASLA Fall Matheson, how we as a society (and, yes, this dog) rises and sets with the sun. Schedule is light but important and without St. Andrew’s Society) face loss and It DOES whether you can see it or with the Seaside Highland Games knowing any aunts, uncles what we do about it. Tomorrow a not! The ancient Romans, being coming up in less than a month. or cousins, it was easy for Gordon Clansman and I will drive slightly more superstitious than Please make your plans to attend Bob Matheson to grow up to the little town of Carefree, most Californians, believed that this constantly growing and and never know anyone Arizona just to attend the Memorial this very bright star added to the improving Celtic Gathering. It’ a else named Matheson. of another fallen Clansman, Major heat of the sun, making those hot Discovering the Clan Please see Message, page 2 Matheson Society in The Highlander magazine in 1981 started Bob's own excellent adventure of discovering his family's past. After In Gear attending local Games and commenting to the Society that he never saw a Clan ackie Stewart World Formula Champion J 1 Matheson tent, he was 1969, 1971, 1973. appointed the USA Deputy Lieutenant for the west In a relatively short Stewart was also an early coast. Now Bob sees a Clan career, Scottish race-car advocate of driver safety and Matheson tent every time he driver Jackie Stewart, born worked tirelessly to improve the sets it up! While Clan in Milton Dumbartonshire “diabolical” state of course and driver safety. He was the first to Sir Jackie Stewart, OBE Matheson's participation in in 1939, won 27 Grand Prix The Flying Scot the Highland Clans DNA races and was Formula 1 pioneer the use of safety belts world champion three and full-face helmets. Motor See Fishing, page 6 times. racing was not the first sport he Please see Jackie Stewart, page 4 2 the thistle september 2010 Letter from Edinburgh Calendar of Events Part two of Kenneth’s honeymoon Seaside Highland Games adventure. Part one was published Oct 8, 9 & 10, 2010 in the June 2010 Thistle. President John E. Lowry, FSA Scot Kirkin of The Tartans Vice President e next took the road north along Little Oct. 24, 2010, 10:30 a.m. John D. Macpherson WLoch Broom round Gruinard Bay which Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church Treasurer David Moffett contains Gruinard Island famous for being the Secretary testing place of an anthrax bomb in WWII. Robert Burns Supper Joan C. Standing It was only recently that it was decontaminated and visitors are Jan 29, 2011 Board of Trustees once more allowed. Then south by Loch Ewe for our next stop at the Norman Auslander world famous Inverewe Gardens amid scenery of great natural www.saintandrewsla.org John L. Benton, M.D.* beauty– an oasis of greenery and colour stretching as far north as Labrador in the west and St Petersburg in the east, warmed by the Mary Corcoran, Ph.D Gulf Stream it is able to sustain plants from many temperate regions Message, from page 1 John D. Macpherson of the world which were established over one hundred years ago by grand celebration of your Rev. Charles Robertson Osgood Mackenzie by excavating the glacial raised beach and heritage—come on out! Then, on a Ian J. Skone-Rees, FSA Scot importing soil for a vegetable, fruit and flower garden for his bit more somber note is our much Stuart Bird-Wilson Victorian Gothic house completed in the 1870s. anticipated annual Kirkin’ o’ the On leaving there we went south along Loch Maree to Achnasheen * Past president Tartans service at the beautiful through the forests to Achnashellach, (these two names being very Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church. familiar to me as it was known my father as a young man worked in The announcement of our luncheon that area in connection with his work for the Post office), and on by destination will be made at that The Thistle is the official Lochcarron where my wife took a turn at the wheel and drove us time. Isn’t that exciting?! publication of the Saint Andrew’s across the new bridge "over the sea to Skye" to Kyle of Lochalsh, Society of Los Angeles. It is One of my goals as President is published four times a year. where I drove around dropping off our guests at various B&Bs. The a return to some celebration of the Deadline for each issue is the day following after picking up our guests we drove to Talisker life of our namesake, Saint Andrew. first day of March, June, Distillery where we were shown how they make "usquebaugh" – the September & December. A Saint Andrew’s Society should water of life! Submit articles, photographs, honor its creator! I don’t know if and address changes to the The next day we left Skye and paused at Eilean Donan castle, then that will be possible this year but editor at: [email protected]. on by Loch Duioch passing the Five Sisters mountain tops through or when it is, you will be the first to The Editor Glen Sheil and south by Loch Lochy and Spean Bridge where we know! A modest gathering of Saint Andrew’s Society, Los Angeles visited the Commando Monument. This is a large three-figure bronze 12925 Riverside Drive remembrance, perhaps, with a Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 statue commemorating the service and sacrifice given by thousands www.saintandrewsla.org more elaborate gala dinner dance of Allied troops during World War II. Each Armistice Sunday a in the not-too-distant future. How The publisher accepts no memorial service is attended by veterans and their families with responsibility for the opinions does that sound? Good, I hope, and expressed, accuracy of information, locals and visitors. Then on to Fort William where we stopped I hope you will all stay in close or similarity of names submitted by overnight, and treated our guests to a performance of Scottish music authors. communication with us and with and dance along with a good meal. CONTRIBUTORS each other. Our strength is in our John E. Lowry, FSA Scot We were now on the homeward stretch back to Edinburgh. Along numbers and our numbers must David Cargill the final road we drove through Glencoe, called in at Doune castle, Robert Matheson include you. Thanks and always David Moffett where I viewed the Wallace monument, then on to Stirling castle, Kenneth Sinclair Stewart know there is more to come. Ian J. Skone-Rees, FSA Scot Bannockburn and the giant statue of Robert the Bruce. Truly a tour de force and a comprehensive introduction to PUBLISHER EDITOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGN Scotland for our wedding guests! Ian J. Skone-Rees PHOTOGRAPHY Next issue Kenneth will give his personal commentary on this Contact John Lowry via email Ian J. Skone-Rees at: jemmettlowry aol.com David Moffett year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. @ PRINTING Coronet Printing Which of these is not a continuous flow of water? Word Power A BurnB StreamC CreekD RillE Brook Click here for the answer. 3 St. Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles Scotland’s Influence in the United States A series of articles prepared by David Cargill 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.