The St Andrew Society of York Newsletter - Easter Special

Keeping you informed during this period

of lock-down and staying at home

Sharing members news and stories

Edited by Jim Murison www.yorkscot.org.uk April 2020

Secretary’s Update Easter has been quite strange this year, and we have all had to adapt to the circumstances facing us at this difficult me for the country. I hope you managed to celebrate Easter in some meaningful way. Anne and I were able to listen to a special service online from our local church in Boston Spa. Normally at this me of year we would all be thinking about our AGM, but regreably this is on hold unl such me as we can all meet together. Nevertheless Council is sll planning for the future and we will send out informaon to you on a regular basis. I am pleased to report that our incoming President Alison Paton has confirmed that Alf Deuchars has agreed to be our President for year 2021—2022. [see profile of Alf, page 4] There are vacancies to serve the Society on Council and nominaons may be sent to me at any me. A formal noce of the AGM will be sent to all members when the coronavirus pandemic restricons are lied. It is certainly hoped that the events in late summer/autumn will take place as planned, so hopefully we may be able hold the annual BBQ in Copmanthorpe. The annual conference of the Burns Federaon in September and the rearranged Yorkshire District Ball in October should go ahead. Please take care and look aer yourselves (by staying home!). Jim Murison

To Aileen Minns’ Mum, Bey who celebrated her100th birthday on 1 st April and Frank Paterson who turned 90 on 5 th April

Remember to let us know if you have a special birthday or anniversary during this me of restricon so that we can share your celebraon.

-1- ‘THE GOOD LIFE’ By Moira & Alf (1st instalment) Having to find things to do is not a problem when you have an allotment. Barbara and Tom eat your hearts out. It seems a few of you have taken the iniave to grow vegetables this year in your gardens.

At the moment we have sown, carrots, beetroot, parsnip and swede along with potatoes. The greenhouse is full of everything else which will be planted out when large enough. One has to watch out for slugs and snails, rabbits, moles and pigeons. Loads of manure has been dug in so looking forward to good crops. Looks as if watering might be needed too. Good luck with all your own vegetable growing.

Quiz In the last newsleer we asked you if you could name 19 towns or cies in that end with a ‘Y’ – so here they are:- Aberfeldy, Auchtermuchty, Ardgay, Banchory, Beauly, Dalry, Denny, Grantown-on- Spey, Huntly, Inverary, Kelty, Kirkcaldy, Newport-on-Tay, Paisley, Pitlochry, Queensferry, Rothesay, Stornoway, Whing Bay WHERE IN SCOTLAND QUIZ EXAMPLE: Where in Scotland will you find the truth? ANSWER: Anstruther Where in Scotland will you find a ….. 1) Road 2) Gun 3) Rod 4) Lens 5) Bell 6) Loch 7) Lash 8) Rug 9) Car 10) Mint 11) Anchor 12) Belt

Answers in the next issue [Thanks to Robert & Sue Marshall for this]

-2- Clans & A response to last month’s short piece about the clan Anderson, by David Waterton-Anderson

To the Editor: Elizabeth and I much enjoy reading the Society’s newsleer which helps us to keep in touch with friends in these awkward mes. Of parcular Interest to me was the piece on the Clan Anderson. If you and my fellow members would excuse my temerity, as Chairman and founder of the “Anderson Associaon” and a member of council and Pursuivant of the Clan, I would like to offer an update. I was asked to write the secon on Clan Anderson for the “Scosh Clan & Tartan Encyclopedia” by George Way of Plean & (the late) Romily Squire of Rubislaw, published in 1998 in which I was able to elucidate the misconcepons of earlier years. For many years, it had been considered that Andersons/MacAndrews were a of . In the light of new research, it is now clear that this is not the case. This assumpon was based on the ancient name of Clan Ross which was “Clan Ainreas,” plus an account in lan of a minor clan relocang from Moidart to Badenoch in the “Kinrara Manuscripts,” called Clan Leandrish. It is now thought that this assumpon was made in error due to translaon difficules as neither Ainreas or Leandrish can be translated as ‘Andrew’ - the basis of the name (in Gaelic; MacAindreas). The name Anderson (in various forms) turns up throughout Scotland (and England) in many early documents due to devoon to Christ’s disciple Saint Andrew and a simple patronymic naming system. The largest of these groupings with a known history, are from the north-east of Scotland in Aberdeenshire, Banffshire & Moray, yet the clan has never had a known Chief. Amongst the collecon of manuscript books now kept at the Lyon Court in Edinburgh is a manuscript compiled from about 1566 called the “Workman M/S.” It contains many contemporary depicons of the arms of Scots who were prominent at that me. Among them is a rough depicon of a coat-of-arms ascribed to “Anderson of that Ilk.” It is unclear whether this manuscript ever formed part of the official records of the Lyon Court and it is not possible to state with certainty that this drawing referred to any parcular individual. However, the capon would suggest that the arms belonged to one who had been recognised as Chief of the arms & name of ‘Anderson.’ Despite the fact this same coat of arms also appears in several other contemporary manuscripts in repositories as far distant as London and The Hague in Holland, we do not even know the first name of this character. However, in ‘Privy Council’ records (James V, 2nd April 1526 ), one James Anderson was made “Carrick Pursuivant of Arms.” He was further given leers of protecon in 1529 as “James Anderson of Sterheuch, our Carrick Pursuivant" and in this posion at the , not to have borne and used arms is inconceivable. There is strong evidence that he, and the mysterious “Anderson of that Ilk,” were one and the same. A descendant line of this James rose to prominence as Anderson of Westerton & Ardbrake who registered arms and crest in 1673 and in more recent mes it has been their crest of “An Oak Tree Proper” with the moo “STAND SURE,” that has been generally accepted by Andersons as their clansman’s crest badge. My father’s line is a scion of the Westerton & Ardbrake family who in 1691 acquired a property in the Laich o’ Moray called Kinneddar. I am proud to say that my own armorials display the Oak Tree and moo “Stand Sure” as did those of my ancestors. Any member who wishes to read more on the Clan Anderson might care to access the website at < clan-anderson.org.uk >

[Editor—Many thanks David for this detailed report on your clan Anderson and we look forward to further insights into Scosh Clans & Tartans and a follow up on Munro, see page 4]

-3- Introducing our President-Elect - Alf Deuchars

Alf and Moira joined the St Andrew Society in 1994 and Alf became President 2004-2005 whilst sll working. Today offers another challenge to see the Society prosper in the me ahead as, now rered but sll very acve, it is especially relevant due to the disrupon caused by the virus. Alf and Moira are both from Dundee and spent 25 years of married life raising a family in Monifieth, whilst Alf spent 40 years working for the railway in a wide range of clerical and managerial roles. Educated at Morgan Academy and Dundee College of Commerce, Alf worked in many local areas of Scotland’s East Coast before commung to BRHQ Glasgow when the railway structure was changing to sectors. From incepon, Alf worked for InterCity but within 5 years privasaon was on the cards. By 1994, our daughter finished secondary educaon and moved on to Aberdeen University. That was the moment Alf was invited to come to York and assist with East Coast which later became Great North Eastern Railway. Rerement came in 2007 and have never looked back. Alf and Moira became Council Members of St Andrew Society for a number of years and in 2004-5 became president with over 200 members. There have been so many memorable moments and events, therefore it is my target to achieve a vibrant future for the future society. Our principal interests are gardening, fruit and vegetable growing, wine making of many popular types of wines and holidays. Today we grow some 38 variees of vegetables, 10 different types of fruit and large collecon of flowers at the allotment near the house combined with our home garden. [see ‘The Good Life’, page 2] I look forward to my year and will fully support Alison during her unusual year. Despite all the current global problems, let’s hear of any of your ideas that can make the Society very interesng. Keep safe and healthy! Alf Deuchars

More on tartans : Munro (from President Marlynn)

I am sure that several members of the Society have puzzled over my surname and could not fit it in with any Scosh connecon! My connecon is in my maiden surname - - Munro (cue for amusement as you put my Chrisan name and my maiden surname together giving a very glamorous screen star!!) Reading through some of the history we have always been a fighng clan. Being a highland clan and I had made the assumpon that we would be Jacobite – nothing farther from the truth. We were involved in one of the companies to patrol the Highlands on behalf of the Government in 1725 and were unofficially known as ‘Black Watch’. To this day the seat of the clan is at Foulis Castle in Dingwall. Clan Crest : A Perching Eagle Moo : Dread God -4-