the histle w S o c i e t y o t A n d r e f L o s A Pay your 2014 S t . n g e March 2014 T h e l e s Membership Dues online via a message from Ian J, Skone-Rees, FSA Scot, President. PayPal or mail am delighted to be serving as enjoyed the evening highlighted by Lynn Ferguson’s Iyour newly elected President Address To A Haggis . We were also privileged to with your check and I am looking forward to welcome the newly installed British Consul General, working with our talented Chris O’Connor and his wife Martha. to the Treasurer Board in the coming months. Our Society is not in any way political but it would Those of you who attended our be foolish to ignore the debate currently taking place today. Annual General Meeting in in the UK regarding Scottish independence. Scots February will already know that resident in Scotland will make an historic decision just Regular Annual the Society is the beneficiary of a seven months from now whether they will remain part Membership $45 significant financial bequest from the estate of John of the UK or go it alone – a momentous decision. and Barbara Grant. John Grant served as Society We are now well into the new year and I and your Out of State $22.50 President 1975/1976. His wife Barbara, passed away last Board are busy planning our annual events, and some year following a brief illness. The Grants were proud of new ones, so please keep an eye on your mailbox and Life $450 their Scottish heritage and were staunch supporters of the Society website (www.saintandrewsla.org) so you our St. Andrew’s Society. I recall attending one of my don’t miss out on the fun. Membership Dues are first St. Andrew’s events at Barbara’s home in June I and your Board bear the responsibility of guiding payable annually on 2007, when she generously hosted our annual Garden the Society and making sure our mission is properly January 1 each year. Annual Party. This bequest has launched our Society into a executed but we need your help and I encourage each dues are the Society’s new era that opens up an abundance of opportunities of you to contact me or a Board member if you would regular source of income. for us to enhance the Society’s visibility, further like to help us out by contributing your time and your We rely upon timely promote Scottish culture, and increase our charitable skills, or if you have an issue or suggestion you would remittance of dues to meet support. Needless to say our fortune brings with it like to bring to our attention. our standing operational increased responsibility and I and your Board will be Best wishes to you all. Slainte! expenses. In return for the working hard to ensure the Grant’s love of Scotland and modest membership dues all she represents is properly reflected in all we do. members receive special January 25, saw another hugely successful Burns rates for the various Society Dinner held for the second year at the Altadena Town & Contact Ian Skone-Rees via email at : rees mac.com or iskonerees saintandrewsla.org events throughout the year, Country Club. More than 120 members and guests 1@ @ a regular newsletter, and participation in one of the oldest (established 1930) and most respected Scottish organizations in California. Please also consider a In Gear donation to the Society. We are a 501 (c) 3 registered McLaren organization and as such your gift is tax deductible he McLaren motor car as a charitable donation. Tcompany is named after Thanks to all of you Scottish New Zealander Bruce who continue to support us McLaren. As a Formula 1 Grand in the many and unique Prix driver he was recognized as ways you do. one of the most talented of his era. He died tragically at 32 but Please see McLaren, page 6 2 the thistle march 2014 St. Andrew’s Day 2013
President Ian J. Skone-Rees, FSA Scot nce again we gathered at for many weeks following the Vice President OSpumante restaurant in event. This was the fifth year our Norman Auslander Treasurer North Hollywood for our celebratory dinner was held at David Moffett annual dinner in recognition Spumante (a restaurant your Secretary of Scotland’s patron saint, St. editor and wife have been Pamela Lowry Marbell Andrew. patronizing for close on 30 years) Board of Trustees More than 70 members and but if the numbers keep rising John E. Lowry, FSA Scot** guests enjoyed the piping of our host will have to extend the J. D. “Dave” Macpherson* Society piper Cindi McIntosh and premises or we will have to find a
Patrick Moffett a variety of reels and strathspeys new venue – not a bad challenge Top left: Cindi McIntosh, Pamela Lowry Marbell, piped over the Society’s own to have to face I suppose. and Mary Brown. Eileen B. Skone-Rees sound system. The food once Above: Kenneth McKinnon, Ian Skone-Rees, and Steve Tom again garnered rave reviews and Rod Shreckengost. Dr. David Warburton, OBE the filet mignon and selection of *Immediate Past president single malts were talked about **Past president
Society Piper Cindi McIntosh Flowers of the Forest The Thistle is the official publication of the Saint Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles. It is published four times a year. Barbara B. Grant, Deadline for each issue is the San Francisco 1921 first day of March, June, Los Angeles 2013 September & December. Submit articles, photographs, and address changes to the editor at: [email protected]. “Winter’s or L-R: Leslie Warburton; Dr. David Warburton, OBE; Dr. Roberta Williams The Editor bitter chill Saint Andrew’s Society, Los Angeles softens As 3836 Goodland Avenue Studio City, CA 91604 the world Committees www.saintandrewsla.org awakes As with most societies and will attract new members and The publisher accepts no responsibility for the opinions Spring is clubs the bulk of the Society’s appeal to their interests. The expressed, accuracy of information, organizational burden falls on skills required for this work are or similarity of names submitted by coming authors. Barbara Bissinger Grant soon.” a small cadre of committed varied and include creativity,
CONTRIBUTORS members willing to take on the public relations, and advertising. Ian J. Skone-Rees, FSA Scot Long-time Society member responsibility of planning and If you would like to be more PUBLISHER Barbara Grant passed away execution. Our events require involved in the Society by EDITOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGN an attention to detail involving serving on a committee please Ian J. Skone-Rees peacefully after a brief illness. among other things, venue, contact me or one of the Board PHOTOGRAPHY Her generosity, compassion, and Olivia Kwan support will truly be missed by invitations, and entertainment. members, your contribution is David Moffett We are also evaluating new needed. Ian J. Skone-Rees her many wonderful friends. events and programmes that 3 St. Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles
The Scottish-American Connection
The Scots were a valuable addition to a developing world. development of the New World. Most headmasters of the Their past experience of working in the harsh conditions of rural schools in the new colonies south of New York were Scottish or Scotland, combined with their hard-working uncompromising of Scottish ancestry. These establishments were fundamental in upbringing, made them an ideal people to help build America in the education of America's future leaders; both Thomas its formative years. Jefferson's and John Rutledge's tutors were Scottish The Scottish emigrants of the 18th Century were an educated immigrants. group due to the Scottish Reformation, which had stressed the In this continuing series of articles we will introduce Scots need for education, so every Scot could read the Bible. or persons of Scottish descent who have left their indelible Education has always played an important part in Scottish mark on the American landscape – Ed. society, and these Scots played a crucial role in the early
Alan Cumming, OBE, 1965 –
os Angeles has long been Good Wife for which he has been nominated for multiple Emmy, Lregarded as the SAG, Critics' Choice and Satellite awards. He also stars as Austen entertainment capital of the Clarke opposite Lisa Kudrow in Showtime's Web Therapy and is world and in this Oscar season it the host of Masterpiece Mystery on PBS. seems appropriate to recognize a member of the entertainment He voices Gutsy Smurf in Smurfs 2, in cinemas now, and industry who continues to stamp received five Best Actor awards on the film festival circuit for Any his indelible and unique Scottish Day Now which is opening around the globe throughout 2013. mark on the landscape. Alan was born in Aberfeldy, His most recent recordings include The Head That Wears A Perthshire, January 27, 1965. His family lived nearby in Dunkeld, Crown, a CD of Shakespeare speeches, and the narration of where his father, Alex, was a forester for Atholl Estate. The family Armistead Maupin's Babycakes, one of the many audiobooks he (Alex, mother Mary, big brother Tom and Alan) moved to Fassfern has performed. He received the prestigious Audie Award for Male near Fort William soon after, before moving to the east coast of Performance of the Year in 2010. He has also released an album of Scotland in 1969 where Alan's dad took up the position of Head songs, I Bought A Blue Car Today, which won him a Bistro Award. Forester of Panmure Estate, and it was here Alan grew up. In September 1982 he began a three-year course at the Royal Scottish He recently appeared in Jay Z's video Picasso Baby and will Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. He graduated in 1985 soon be seen in Maladies with James Franco. with a B.A. (Dramatic Studies) and awards for verse speaking and direction. He continues to be an activist for gay rights and education and has received many awards for his work including most Alan Cumming recently completed the Broadway run of the recently honors from Bailey House, the Matthew Shephard National Theatre of Scotland's production of Macbeth, for which Foundation, The LGBT Task Force, The Trevor Project and AmFAR . he won the Broadway.com and Broadwayworld.com Best Actor He was awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire) for his work awards, the Critics' Award for Theatre in Scotland and a Broadway in the arts and civil rights by the Queen in 2009 and has also League Performance of Distinction nomination. He was also received both the Great Scot and Icon of Scotland awards recently honored by the Mayor of NYC with a Made in NY award for his cultural contributions to his adopted home city. He was named one of the three most fun people in show business by Time magazine! He is currently shooting season 5 of the CBS hit drama The 4 the thistle march 2014
www.saintandrewsla.org Calendar of Events Mission Statement Website Update
April 6, 2014 he Society’s mission statement has been updated and adopted Tartan Day Dinner Tby the Board at the recent AGM. The change was made to more Tam O’Shanter Inn accurately reflect the stated corporate aims of the Society as Details on the website at: written in its bylaws. www.saintandrewsla.org The purpose of the Society is to promote Scottish history, June 22, 2014 traditions, and culture by developing educational and Annual Garden Party charitable undertakings that nurture relations between the The Society website Sportsmen’s Lodge Society, the people of Los Angeles, and the community at continues to develop, Studio City becoming an even more Details on the website at: large. www.saintandrewsla.org useful resource for us all. Those of you who regularly October 10 –12, 2014 login to the site are a testimony to Seaside Highland its ease of use and value as an Games informational source. All Seaside Park, Ventura County scheduled Society events are Fairgrounds, listed by date and linked to an 10 W. Harbor Blvd. Ventura expansive description, including Details on the website or how to reserve tickets. The contact John Lowry: membership area allows SeasideChief aol.com @ prospective members to download and print a membership October 26, 2014 BritWeek Celebrates Kirkin’ O’The Tartans application form, or if more Beverly Hills Presbyterian Ch. Scottish Heritage convenient to complete the form For information contact online. Payment may be made Chuck Robertson: in Santa Monica through PayPal for new chuckrobertson dslextreme.com memberships or to renew an @ On The Third Street Promenade existing annual membership. November, 2014 oin us May 3 & 4 to celebrate Lythgoe (American Idol, So You The Useful Links page lists a St. Andrew’s Day JScottish Heritage, Tradition, Think You Can Dance) and the wealth of sources for Scottish Dinner Innovation, and Entertainment. British Consul General. It was information, including news from Location and date TBA For established as a 501 (c) 3 non- The Scotsman or BBC Scotland , information contact Ian The BritWeek-Santa Monica profit organization with a links to other Scottish Skone-Rees: rees1 mac.com @ Festival takes over 3 blocks of the mission to celebrate and organizations such as the buzzing Third Street Promenade highlight the importance of the January, 2015 Scottish-American Military Robert Burns Supper to host a celebration of all things creative fusion between the UK Society , and the Celtic Arts Center . Altadena Town & Country Club British, including Music, Food, and California. Whatever your Scottish interests 2290 Country Club Drive, Dance, Children’s activities and BritWeek has expanded to this page gathers together some Altadena, CA 91001 much more. include 46 events across Los of the most entertaining and The BritWeek festival is in Angeles in 2013 which are helpful sources available partnership with Downtown attended by more than 200,000 anywhere. Don’t forget we also Santa Monica and attracts over people, ranging from red carpet have a Facebook page which is For more society information 120,000 people and generates events, to music festivals to guaranteed to keep you informed millions of media impressions. fashion shows and generated and news log on to: with Scots goings on! BritWeek was founded in over 500 million media www.saintandrewsla.org 2007 by the TV producer Nigel impressions. www.saintandrewsla.org 5 www.saintandrewsla.org Burns Dinner January 25, 2014
More photographs from Burns Dinner 2014 are online at www.saintandrewsla.org 6 the thistle march 2014
Poets’ Corner www.saintandrewsla.org
Poets’ Corner is the name given to a section of McLaren, from page 1 the South Transept of Westminster Abbey due to the number of poets, playwrights, and writers now buried and commemorated there, including his name endures on leading Grand effective in the four hour GT races in Scotland’s own Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Prix and exotic road cars. 1995, its first season of racing. The Le Thomas Campbell, and Robert Adam. Mans 24 Hours that year was to be The company's first car was the McLaren's first attempt at the world's McLaren F1, a sports car that would most prestigious endurance race. accelerate from 0–60 miles per hour (0–97 km/h) in 3 seconds. McLaren decided to update the 001 Such A Parcel Of chassis–the original test car–and enter The F1 was a three-seat coupe with it to augment the five customer cars Rogues In A Nation the driver situated in the middle of the that had been running all season. It car. The car was designed by Gordon was this car, piloted by former Formula Murray, who also designed competitive One racers JJ Lehto and Yannick Dalmas Robert Burns, 1791 formula one race cars for McLaren. The and experienced Japanese driver 6,064 cc (370.0 cu in) V12 engine, Masanori Sekiya that took the which produces 618 bhp (461 kW; 627 chequered flag after a race full of PS), was designed and built by BMW. drama. McLaren F1 GTRs finished 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 13th. Production of the original F1 began Fareweel to a' our Scottish fame, in 1992. The LM model was then The F1 held the record for the fastest Fareweel our ancient glory; introduced in 1995, followed by the GT production car until 2005, with an Fareweel ev'n to the Scottish name, model in 1997. The GTR was built from independently measured top speed of Sae fam'd in martial story. 1995 through 1997. Production of the 242.97 mph (391.02 km/h) at the Now Sark rins over Solway sands, McLaren F1 drew to a close in May 1998, Volkswagen Ehra-Lessien track in 1998. An' Tweed rins to the ocean, with a total production of 100 cars. It has a 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) time of To mark where England's province stands Variants produced were 64 F1 (street 3.2 seconds. This has been bettered by Such a parcel of rogues in a nation! car), 5 LM, 3 GT, 9 GTR95, 9 GTR96 and the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, and the SSC 10 GTR97. Ultimate Aero TT. However, the F1 is What force or guile could not subdue, naturally aspirated while the CCX, Thro' many warlike ages, The McLaren F1 GTR was developed Veyron and SSC Aero are not. Is wrought now by a coward few, from the F1 road car, and proved highly For hireling traitor's wages. The English stell we could disdain, Secure in valour's station; But English gold has been our bane Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!
O would, or I had seen the day That Treason thus could sell us, My auld grey head had lien in clay, Wi' Bruce and loyal Wallace! But pith and power, till my last hour, I'll mak this declaration; We're bought and sold for English gold Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!
Bruce McLaren, 1962 German Grand Prix