Merger with
the Saltire Society
At the 2011Annual general Meeting, a Resolution
was passed empowering the Council of the Edinburgh
St Andrew Society to approach the Saltire Society
to discuss the possibility of merging the two Societies.
The reason for doing this was the falling numbers
of active members and the fact that the aims of the
two Societies are broadly similar.
After discussions the Saltire Society agreed at
their AGM to the merger and it has now taken place.
As one of our members said, at the Special General
Meeting where the decision was ratified , it is hoped
that in joining together, the whole will be greater
than the sum of the two parts.
The Saltire Society has agreed to have a St Andrew’s
Day function and it is hoped this will be a suitably
prestigious event.
The Scottish Flag Trust, an offshoot of the St Andrew
Society, will continue, but as a completely independent
Trust. The St Andrew Society therefore transferred
some of the funds to the Flag Trust to ensure its
future.
It is hoped to maintain links
with our Overseas Societies through the Saltire
Society and continue
to exchange St Andrew’s Day greetings.
We are sure it will be appreciated that this was
not an easy decision but we feel it was the best
way to continue to further the aims of the St Andrew
Society.
Outing to Dumfries
House & Auchinleck House
11th September 2011
On Sunday, September 11, nine members
of the St Andrew and Saltire Societies took a trip
by bus to Dumfries House. The property was everything
it had been reputed to be: a fine Palladian-style
house the first to be built by Robert Adam – furnished
with prize pieces by Thomas Chippendale. But the
exquisiteness of the visit was mainly due to the
uniquely excellent tour guide, who explained the
history of the family, the house, and its contents
in great and amusing detail.
Only four years ago the house was
to be sold and its almost priceless furnishings were
to be dispersed, when HRH Prince Charles, the Duke
of Rothesay intervened. With a loan of twenty million
pounds plus twenty five million pounds from other
sources, to administer the house and thereby saved
it at the last minute from being lost to the public.
Since then it has been restored and reopened to visitors.
The influence of Prince Charles
- "the boss"- is evident everywhere. We
found freshly restored rooms of a size which would
have been pleasing to live in, a coach house and
stables converted into a tastefully furnished café,
and vision of rejuvenating the entire area by using
Dumfries House as a magnet for tourists, handcraft
workers, and new residents.
After our tour and an enjoyable
lunch in the café, we wanted to return to
Edinburgh, stopping at another fine house – Auchinleck
House – on the way. It was not at all far from
Dumfries House, but do you think we could find it?
Like a needle in a haystack, we took one wrong country
road after another in our 16-seater bus searching
for it, until we finally told the driver to give
up and head for home. But by this time he was more
than ever determined to locate it, lending our trip
an unexpected element of excitement. All of a sudden
there it was – a beautiful Palladian-style
symmetrical building similar to Dumfries House, though
not so large. We couldn't go in, but at least we
saw it from the outside, we returned to Edinburgh
highly satisfied with our day.
Marybeth & Kenneth Stewart
Social Conveners
Culzean
Castle, Sunday, 26th June
The St Andrew
Society had another successful outing on Sunday,
June 26, when twelve members and
friends rode to Culzean Castle by bus for a day of
sightseeing. First we wanted to see the castle itself,
which from the newly restored viaduct appeared quite
vast, but which from the inside had a compact aspect
and also gave the impression of being a comfortable
home – albeit a luxurious one, designed by Robert
Adam between 1777 and 1792 and supported financially
by David, 10th earl of Cassillis, and his cousin Archibald
Kennedy, 11th earl.
Originally a fortress for defence on the coast, the
castle underwent a transformation under Robert Adam
from a bastion into a fine residence, the most ingenious
change being the conversion of the inner courtyard
into a stunning interior oval stairwell. Everywhere
there was evidence of Adam's enthusiasm for neo-classical
design. It must have required a flock of servants to
keep such a fine house running smoothly. In every room
of the castle there were explanations to read and unusually
friendly and knowledgeable guides to answer our questions;
but touch-tone audio guides were also available, or
one could go on a guided tour.
The home farm buildings, also
built by Robert Adam, have been transformed into
a fine Visitor Centre, with
video show, exhibition room, gift shop, and café,
where most of us had lunch.
There was hardly time left to see the walled garden
and swans' pond, so some of us will surely go again.
Marybeth Stewart, Social Convener.
REPORT OF OUR VISIT TO THE ROBERT BURNS BIRTHPLACE
MUSEUM
17th April, 2011
The Robert Burns Birthplace
Museum worked like a magnet on a group of St. Andrew
Society and Saltire
Society members and friends on Sunday, April 17, 2011,
when thirty-eight of us traveled by coach to Alloway
to see the cottage where Burns was born and the new
National Trust for Scotland museum there. The weather
was splendid, the ride through the green countryside
beautiful, and the museum very interesting, although
some of us were disappointed in the way the cottage
itself has been restored. In the museum there was a
wealth of information on the development of the poet.
One of the nicest aspects of the museum was the chance
to listen to several of Burns' poems recited by adults
or by children. There were lots of activities for children
to do with their parents. We had lunch in the excellent
museum café', and many of us took the short
walk to see the Auld Kirk where Burns' father lies
buried, the Burns Monument with lovely gardens, and
the picturesque Brig O'Doon.
It was an enjoyable and worthwhile trip, and we hope
to repeat our success on an outing to Culzean Castle
on Sunday, June 26. To sign up, please contact Marybeth
or Kenneth Stewart, if possible by May 1, at 0131.552.4949.
Farquhar Macintosh
Gaelic Scholarship Appeal
Following the passing
last year of our former President, Farquhar Macintosh,
the Sabhal Mor Ostaig Development Trust and his family
decided to raise an appeal in his name. The Appeal
is to raise funds for future scholarships to the Gaelic
College on Skye. The Society feels that the Appeal
in the name of one of our former Presidents is for
a genuinely worthy cause very much in line with the
aims of the Society. To this end the Society has made
a substantial contribution to the Appeal and would
encourage likeminded inividuals and Societies to make
a contribution. Further Information can be requested
from and donations sent to:
The Farquhar Macintosh
Gaelic Scholarship Fund
Sabhal Mor Ostaig
Development trust
Sabhal Mor Ostaig
Sleat
Isle of Skye
Flag
Trust Site Goes Live
The Scottish
Flag Trust now has its own dedicated website. It is
now live and can be found at http://www.scottishflagtrust.com
Centenary
2007 was
our Centenary year and we marked this
milestone by commissioning a St Andrew Society Centenary
Tartan which is available exclusively through the Society.
 |
Price List
Tie - £15
Bow Tie - £17
Scarf - £25
Sash - £40
Cloth - £26/m
Cummerbund to order
P&P - £3.50* |
Contact the Secretary to place your orders
*UK
small orders.
For overseas and large orders contact
the Secretary for a quote .
Mouse Mat Initiative
In
recent years The Flag Trust's only promotional
merchandise has been the excellent T-Shirts. Funding
for promotions of this type has always been an
issue, as has the lack of local retail outlets. Thanks
to The St Andrew Society The Trust has produced
The Athelstaneford Mouse Mat.
The cost is £2.50 plus 25p
postage and is available from the society by emailing
flag@st-andrew.org.uk
