&" .. ,• ·'-'-~ . : t't>J'f1 ~fi-t : ..' .. '..:.. ·.. , , : ~vr.- " . UNJTJN(i.. ,.»":.. ::.: .... ,, Following in tile footsteps of such had a prior i co:fl.i n1i khiI1t:: ~~at~h in'g : ', forebears as William Wallace !!olden eagles on tlie.lSLe :· otMulL · · .':.:i-:'"· ....WA.zucEs can't be easy, but Andrew, 'I enjoyed the fiim far more than I next to lead the Wallace clan, A_Ro ~LYiJJf[p'i expected, and thought they did an continues to define the role excellent interpretative job,' he ,''it:\ ":.;;;::~F;::\[1;:~;;;wo RLD of' 'today's cltief.' commeors. 'There is danger in any .·; histori cal drama that fiction is seen as The romanticized image of a Scottish The Clan Wallace Socicty­ reality, but that is t111e of all interpreta­ chieftain caUs to mind a solitary tions of history. As entertainment it was World"vide ol'fers educational and man in a tartan kilt striding superb. As a history, it was close enough historic materials for those across heather.. coatcd hills, to what we now view as the facts not to interested in the history of bagpipes wailing in the distance. be too out of line. ' Scotland, its heroes, clans and To a deeree, this description fits achiev<;:ments. It re-publishes .... • ·t • As for his own hi story, Andre'vYw as Andrew Wall ace, nex t in line to rnuent born in Westminster, J, ondon , in out-of-pri nt articles and books and tl1..; title of Chief of Chm Wallace. He restores and preserves historic February 1 96 ~ , '500 yards away from walks the countryside, many miles a l a where William Wallace was hung, objects and places, lime, and feels the same 'Scottish d ra\'<11 , and quartered,· he remarks. His particularly those connected to the prejudice· th at boiled in Robert Burns' father, from Nairn, in the Scottish family and Clan of Wallace. \Vhile blood. But the tall. often witty Highl ands, settled in Westminster to Edinburghian tu rns serious as he the Society cannot do genealogies, pursue hi s career in i ndust~' befor~ _ envisions the much more m odem role-­ it crui provide assistance. its rdiring in J 977 and retummg the family that of am bCJssador, rather than 1eader­ to Si.:otlanct. WaJl ace makes it clear that members also participate in hc will assume when he succeeds his Scottish games and gatherings held his heart and history are Scotti sh, father, fan Francis Wallace, Ille Clan's although his mother, born in Sussex, in the United States. 35th chi ef. despairs because she says I ahvays forget Th ~1vc good English blood in me.' The .Society has two classes of 'What iL's all abol'l! now is not memberships: life members, who ncc1::ssarily anything to do 'vvith the The Wallace clan originated in the fam ily per se, or the clan system,' make a one-time donation of $50, Scotti.sh Lowlands. Their first mention /\ndrcw explains. ' ft 's just the fact that and council members, who in l 2th centu ry documents places most there are a lot of Scots all over the world of the Wallace clan near the city of contribute 5 l 00. There are who senously value their Scottish roots. Glasgow. fhey and other Lowland currently more than 300 members, Gi veo I ha!. given rhe fac1 that tbey a~1d families used surnames, a fairly recent identifv with heads of their family, tile including two new honorary Nomian innovation, and gathered mode;,, role is to revital ize the idea of members- Braveheart screenplay strength from family ties rather tban writer Randall Wallace and the extended family, which is what it re" i o~rn l all iances. The Wallace clan was all about to sta11 with, and have it as C> c , director-star Mel Gibson. There are fostered the same stTong sense 01 umty a form of k inship.' no annual dues. as the l Iighland clans but without the trappings. Lowland families, Wallace As the role of the clan leader contin­ expiains, only begm1 embracing such For more information on the ues 10 evolve, a 20th century chief also Highland traditions as call in ~ th~m - / . needs to remember to approach the role Society's publications and selves clans and liaving cb1ets afterJ..... rng with humility. Andrew believes that a membership, contact: George I V's visit to Edinburgh in 1822. modem chief shoul d avoid seeking power and profit. With the recent box­ On this royal visit, the King made a office success of the Oscar-winning film Richard And.rew ·waRlace bold fashlon sLatcmenl by appearing iu a Bravehearl. however; has he been ki lt of roval Stuart tartan. TI1e tartan Council Member templed to commercially exploi! his represents im integral part of a clan's 728 East 19th Street ancestors' popuiaiity? h eritage ~ each set distin guishes a :MaYysvme, CA 95901 particular clan. The Wallace Clan traces 'Oh Go<l, ye s~' he admits. But then he (503) 743-1060 its tartan sets back to at least l 829, shake$ his he<'ld . ' The thought might preceding th e Vestiarum Scotocutn a it have crossed my mind, but kept on hoax of I 842 by the ' "Sobieski StuarL<;'­ going.' Although he did receive an an '·-.. -an embarrassing fiasco i which invi.tatiou Lo the film ·s Hollywood two Poli sh brothers, claiming to be prem iere, he regretful.l y declined. He :;·, . · .·· descendants of Bonnie Prince Charli e, Richard and his descendauts benefited of ambassadorship After attending -, made a living creating tartars aud rrom their relationship with the future Trinity College in Glenalmona, spurious histories to go with them. Royal Stua1ts; throughout the genera­ Perthshire, Andrew sh1dicd ecology at Today; the Wallace Clan's green hunting tions they built up a fair amount of Edinburgh University. His love of nature set, like members of the family itself,. wealth and prope1ty holdings. Sir led him to a job as a fly fishing guide in can be found world-wide- most William \Valiace, Richard's great-great­ Chile and then in Alaska (an experience conspicuously, perhaps, on packages of great grandson, was likely born at that included a harrowing encounter invisible Scotchtape brand . Elderslie, a Wallace estate near Paisley, with grizziy bears). around 1270. Wallace holdings once Andrew packed his ki lt last autumn to included Eiderslie, Riccarton in His writing reflects his interests in attend his first American-Scottish games Ayrshire, an d other land to the east and natme and the outdoors. Andrew's in ·Stone Mountain Georgia, where he north into Moray. Today, the family no publishing credits include articles in The met members of th e Clan Wallace longer owns any of these historic Field, Country Life, the national news­ Society-Worldwide. He calls that estates, which Andrew wryly describes paper l'l1e Scotsman, and the Dritish meeting a 'revelation. as 'very considerable piles of stone.' fishing press. Andrew also copublishcs although Andrew may not live in 171e Green Highla11de1; an international 'T had always suspected tlrnt the 'chiefly splendour,' as he calls it, the fl y fishing newsletter. He boasts that the commitment of the American Scots door to his very comfo rtable Haymarket newsleltcr indudes subscribers on eve1y would, he strong, but, I had no idea how home always stands open to both family continent but Antarctica. This situation strong, he says. 'The .i enthusiasm for and friends. will hopefully be rectified, Wallace Scotland and ail things Scottish was jokes, 'by recruitin g someone fro m the both extraordinary and frankly very Past 'vVallaccs llave fow1d their calling British Antarctic Survey.' flattering. I maintain my belief that as ministers, doctors, la\\')'ers, judges, whilst the traditions are important, the and authors Countless 'good soldiers,' Andrew also devotes his time to a true value of such events and societies is including Andrew's uncle, Mak olm project on Scotland 's west coast in­ a hands-across-the-sea gesture . The Robert Wallace, 34th clan chief, grace volved with conservation and clan, or-family must now be vievved in th e family's ranks. After his death three management: of freshwater fis heries. He th e broadest sense of the word. 'The year!S ago, Malcolm's title passed to his approaches this challenge •v.ith American Wallaces ' hospitality, interest, younger brother, Andrew's father Ian. enthusiasm-almost more passion than and friendliness was, as expected, 'He had a good chiefly bearing about he feel s for fishing itsell. ' It 's bigger faultless. him; he was quite a character,' ;\ndrew than the actual fishery. lt's all to do with recalls of his uncle. 'B ut I suppose he water management; whatever goes on Andrew takes immense pride in the always knew he was going lo be a chief, aroLmd a river ends up in it, which I Wallace name, at home or across the which my father didn't. ' They grevv up think is fascinating. And it's also very ocean. 'Regionally ·we were quite a in a military family, and .Malcolm, who m uch to do ·with the Scottisb country­ signifi cant family, and nalioually we never manied became a lifelong soldier. side, which I adore.' provided good soldiers for the Empire.' Ian, on the other hand, entered industry With a histo1y like that behind him and a1kr his army service and devoted When the time comes, Andrew will the .l itlcs, ' The Chief of the Name, Clan, himself to his family. mal!iculate his coat of arm.s with the and F<imi ly of Wallace,' or simply 'The l ,ord Lyon, Keeper of Arms, in WaUace,' looming ahead, it would seem Andrew may be the first Wallace chicl Edinburgh and officially become Clan· that Andrew Wallace bears a heavy in centuries not to have performed some Chief and a member of the Standing burden.