Make Your Plans for Burns Night—Jan 26th at Receptions in Loveland, Ohio!!!
ISSUE 18 / WINTER ’12
Bill Parsons, Editor
6504 Shadewater Drive
Hilliard, OH 43026
513-476-1112
[email protected]
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E C A L E D O N I A N S O C I E T Y O F C I N C I N N AT I
In This Issue:
St. X—Great Event!!! 1
St. X Photo Montage 2,9-13
*Schedule of Events 2
Burns Night 2013
3
CSHD
3
Cinti Highld Dancers 3
The Wee Link
4
St. X 2013 Plan Ahead4
*Resource List
4
Out of the Sporran
5
Views of the Kilted 5
H.M. Hghld. Servant 6-7
*Email PDF Issue only*
Victoria = Mrs. Brown8*
PAY YOUR DUES!
Don’t forget to pay your current
dues. You will not be able to vote
at the AGM unless your dues are
current.
The Caledonian Society of Cincinnati,
Mike Brooks, Secretary
4028 Grove Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45212-4036
If you have any questions please
contact Mike at:
739-3326 or
[email protected]
Issue Deadlines
If you have something you want to
put in The Gazette, your materials
must be received by:
Spring March 1st
Summer June 15th
Fall September 1st
Winter December 1st
1
We solicit any and
all articles about the
Scottish Culture and Organizations
St. Andrews Ball—A Study In GREAT!!!
E
veryone arrived and enjoyed the
Maketewah”sphere” that the Saint
Andrew’s Committee provided the
Society. As far as this attendee saw,
things again went smoothly and fluidly.
Check-in was handled expertly by
Billie Andrews and her crew again.
Drinks this year were “great pours” for
the price. All I spoke with recounted
overtly large allotments of nectar.
Selections-HUGE! All enjoyed the
cheese and fruit table, that our venue
provided.
Our tartans dressed out the entry
hall with their brilliant colors. Inside,
all in their finery; people complimented
the baronial trusses and beams of this
Maketewah dreamscape!
This year’s dinner was expertly
prepared personally by Maketewah’s
own Michelin Chef Rachel Hostiuck;
to perfection. The filet’s could and
were sliced with a fork (though some
thought the filets a bit rare, and needed
steak knives)... Again, the meal seemed
fair for the price all paid, and at the
end most belonged “to the clean plate
club”; dessert was very rich indeed.
The program began with The
Wesley and Virginia Montgomery
Scholarships. Presentations were
received by Andrew Spellman-UC,
Emma McGrego-UK, and Elizabeth
Kimmel-WrightSU. The President’s
Prize Award was received by Edmond
Chan who attends the UC, College of
Medicine, and Dr. Carol Stephenson,
PhD was admitted into the Order
of St. Margaret. President Rex then
declared the celebration open and
dancing began. Performances by
Cincinnati Scots Highland Dancers
and The Cincinnati Highland Dancers
were received with great interest.
Then the mingling of Scots began, as
we fostered our Scottish friendships.
Scottish couples adorned the dance
floor accompanied by The Seven
Sharps Band. The prep and hard work
by Susan McLennan’s Scottish Country
Dance was overwhelmingly enjoyed
by all. And, the climax of the evening
was the arrival of The Caledonian Pipe
and Drum Band. And as always, the
Saint Andrews Ball ‘12 closed with the
singing of Auld Ang Syne.
This year, all seemed comfortable
with Maketewah, aside from some
possible tweaks on the filets, all
seemed to enjoy the event and meal.
As this year’s Saint Andrew’s was
before Thanksgiving, the committee
will have to assess the turnout and
commentary of this date. If you want
to see a Saint Andrew’s video by PastPresident Duncan Moir go to:
http://youtu.be/8htdOFNTFuM
The long hours and constant
care given to the Society by all who
organized this event should be held
up again. In 2013, we are going to
try to return to The Hall of Mirrors,
at Netherland Omni, also the price
at this time is estimated to be
$65.00. We need 300 attendees to
make this possible, let us know if
you can go? Contact Robert Reid at
[email protected] with a
tentative RSVP. That night—Saturday,
Nov. 30, 2013 is actually—Saint
Andrew’s Day!!!
A rearrangement
of where the Seven
Sharps bandstand
was, provided a more
centered area of attention for the entire
program. WKRC 12
was there filming various areas of interest
at this outstanding St.
Andrew’s Ball!!!!
St. Andrews Ball—Extended Photo Montage!!!
All Saint Andrew’s photo’s courtesy of Eve Brooks
Dancing,
Haggis, Bands,
and Fun... was
a the standard
practice at this
magical night;
and was the
climax of the
year—2012!
This continues on Pgs. 9-13 in the Cyber-Gazette.
The 2013 Caledonian Calendar
2
Jan 5
Jan 26
Feb 1
Mar 9-10
Mar 17
Mar 23 tentative
TBA
Apr 13
Apr 1 3 Nov 30
Annual General Meeting—Members
www.caledoniansociety.org
at Great Scott Restaurant, Oakley, OH
Burns Night-Receptions, Loveland, OH
www.caledoniansociety.org
OVSS Dine for Dancers, Grand Finale Rest. 513-771-5925 for Reservations
Celtic Lands Festival, Union Terminal, Cinti. www.cincymuseum.org/events/passport/celtic
Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, Downtown Cinti. cincinnatisaintpatrickparade1.netfirms.com/
Easter at Shriners Burns Project Cinti., OH www.caledoniansociety.org
Spring Mtg.-TBA
www.caledoniansociety.org
CP&D Band Ceilidh, Sycamore Sr. Ctr., OH www.cincypipesanddrums.org
Cinti. Indr Highld Dance Cmpt, Above Location www.ovss.org
St. Andrew’s Ball, HofM, Neth. Omni, Cinti.www.caledoniansociety.org
(2013’s Ball is on St. Andrew’s Day)
The Caledonian Society of Cincinnati
Celebrates Rabbie Burns on Jan 26th!
O
nce again we will be
celebrating the life and
worksof Scotland’s Beloved
Poet, Robert Burns. For 2013 we will
be back at Receptions in Loveland,
this year we’ll have the whole place
to ourselves After the sell out from last
year, we’ll be needing the extra space.
But be sure to call in your ticket order
early as a good number of people
were turned away and we are getting
more and more first timers attending.
Great for our membership, not so
good for those members that wait to
the last minute to send in their orders.
The Buffet style meal will consist
of a carving station with slow roasted
top round of beef with red wine demi
glace and horseradish, also available
will be Grilled Chicken Breast with
tomato basil salsa. Cocktails and
appetizers will start at 6:00pm with
dinner at 7:00. We have plenty of
entertainment lined up including
Cincinnati Scots Highland Dancers
the Caledonian Pipes and Drums,
Cincinnati Scots, Cincinnati Highland
Dancers and the Royal Scottish Country
Dancers. Lady Gwlenys Reid will be
doing her rendition of Red Red Rose,
with the compliment of Lyle Reid on
flute. This, along with a few surprises,
will sure to make for a great evening. Be
sure to do a little research on where in
Scotland your ancestors came, as there
will be an activity involving making
up an ancestral map. We are holding
ticket pricing at $24 for adults, $12
for children (12 and under) Be sure to
invite your friends. This is a nice relaxed
evening and a good introduction for
those just getting into the Society. . n
Contact Jesse & Billie Andrews for
reservations. 513-574-2969, 6910
Bridgetown Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45248
***Also see the included Flyer for a
reservation form!
Cincinnati Highland Dancers
Come join the FUN with the Cincinnati Scots Highland Dancers!
T
he Cincinnati Scots once again turned out in full force to
perform at one of their favorite events- The St. Andrews Ball.
Several of the dancers even returned from university to once
again perform for the Caledonian Society signaling the close to
another successful year of competition, performance, workshops and
fun with the many friends and families the dancers meet from all over
the world.
The dancers ended the fall with wins by Iris Harmon at Stone
Mountain and a wonderful performance at the St. Andrews Episcopal
Church’s kirking. The dancers joined the church members, pipers,
and Masons as they paraded down Ft. Thomas Avenue to the church
for the ceremony.
The upcoming year shows no mercy with workshops planned and
competitions starting with the Chicago Championship in February,
followed by a new competition in Columbus, Ohio and our own
Ohio Valley Scottish Society’s 17th annual Cincinnati
Indoor Competition on April 13th. n
3
For instruction or performance information, contact
Missy Gentry at 859-466-7937.
Madison Williams, Katie Craig and Lauren Ballard at St. Andrew’s Night.
2012 Recap
T
he Cincinnati Highland Dancers had a great year in 2012.
We enjoyed performing at all our usual events including the
Caledonian Society Burns Night and St. Andrew’s Night. Several
of our dancers joined other students from Allegro Dance Arts to
perform at the Aronoff with Disney’s Imagination Movers in April.
This was a thrilling experience; the dancers got to interact with the
cast and joined them onstage in 3 different numbers. We had a good
competition season travelling throughout the Midwest.
We are really looking forward to the new year and unveiling
our new original choreography at Burn’s Night. n
For more information on our group please contact Louise Reid at
513-444-4920 or email [email protected].
The Wee Link:
*A Society Member Acknowledged
Link - Outside of Our Area for Review
Scottish Gourmet USA
www.scottishgourmetusa.com
O
ur Goal is to deliver the finest foods from
Scotland to our customers and to have
you as a customer for life.
You are the reason we exist - and we love to
hear from you whether by phone, email or snail
mail. We have received many suggestions for
new products, and also suggestions on products
and packing that need improvement.
Scottish Gourmet USA was founded in 2005
by Anne Robinson after several years of visiting
Scotland during her courtship and then marriage
in 1999 to Andrew Hamilton, a Scottish chef and
hotelier from Inverness.
Andrew started his Scottish food business,
Scottish Wild Harvest, in late 2003 when a friend
and noted restauranteur challenged Andrew to
deliver live langoustines to his New York eatery.
The New York Times noted this Scottish invasion,
labelling his product “exquisite crustaceans” and
business took off. Meanwhile Anne was going to
Scotland with Andrew and shopping for gifts to
bring back to friends and family. She found many
other delicious Scottish foods with no equivalent
in the USA. Anne decided to create Scottish
Gourmet USA, a consumer direct business
devoted to selling the best Scottish foods. The
website was launched in July 2005.
The first catalogue was mailed in October
2005. The 2007 catalogue added several new
products specifically requested by our customers.
In November 2007 we added the most requested
item - great tasting haggis (they have a 5lb. one)!
Today we now sell meat pies - a frequent
request, breakfast bangers, bridies and sausage
rolls. We definitely listen to your requests! We
hope you will visit our webstore often and click
on the NEW section.
Hurricane Sandy hits us hard and definitely
has made Christmas 2012 challenging. Thank
you all for your understanding while we recover.
We will make sure all orders are delivered before Christmas! Scottish Gourmet USA has offices and warehouse space just off Route 287 in
South Plainfield, New Jersey. We don’t have a
retail store, but we do allow you to pick-up your
order if that is your preference. Call in advance
to be certain we’ll be there to greet you. n
4
Scottish Gourmet USA LLC
43 Davis Street
South Plainfield, NJ 07080-1429
877-814-3663 toll-free
908-754-7447
Fax—908-754-3880
*Provided by Mike Brooks
AGM
2013
Saturday, January 5th
Great Scott
Restaurant
in Oakley
530pm Cocktails begin
630pm Fish & Chips
or Shepard’s Pie
730pm AGM Begins
Contact Mike Brooks at (513) 739-3326 for further information.
Your Dues Need To BE CURRENT, So You Can Particpate @ The AGM.
Annual General Meeting
St. Andrew’s 2013
Please read! As a response is being requested!
O
reparations for the 2013 St. Andrew’s Night Ball are in the works.
Everyone enjoyed the Maketewah Country Club with the great food and
attentive staff, but with the Saturday of Thanksgiving falling on the actual
St. Andrew’s Day (30th) the idea of taking the Ball back to the Hilton Netherland’s has
come up (either the Hall of Mirrors or the Pavillion Ball Room). To accomplish this
we’d need at least 300 ticket sales. With ticket
sales over the past few years being under 200,
this would be quite a leap. Ticket price would
most likely be held at the $65. (maybe $70 if
needed) With this in mind I’d like to get some
feedback from our members on this. So if you
could respond to me and let me know your
thoughts and if you would be able to attend the
event on Nov 30th that would be very much
appreciated.
Cheers,
Robert Reid—[email protected]
Or call 513-444-4920
*
Your Caledonian Resource Guide
Caledonian Society
Country Dancing (RSCDS)
Pipe Bands
Highland Dancing and Instruction
www.caledoniansociety.org
Secretary: Mike Brooks739-3326
[email protected]
** Gazette Newsletter: Bill Parsons476-1112
[email protected]
Caledonian Pipe Band: Rob’t. Reid 444-4920
www.cccpandd.com/
H. C. Sheriff: Stephen Watt
946-2296
Emerald Society: Kyle Hess 616-7518
Radio Programs of Celtic Music
Wed: WOBO* (88.7 FM) 12 - 3 p.m.724-3939
Hosted by Jesse Andrews
Sun: WNKU (89.7 FM), 4 - 6 p.m. 859-572-6500
Hosted by Cathy Costello
Sun: WOBO* (88.7 FM), 6 - 9 p.m. 724-3939
Hosted by J. D. McEwans—Celtic Fusion
Cincinnati Branch: Jill Cole
631-2429
Flying Ghilles: Doreen Bernstein 937-845-0310
Heather & Thistle: Laura Russell 614-447-0620
www.rscdscincinnati.org
Non-RSCDS: John Southcombe872-2222
CHD: Louise Reid
[email protected]
CSHD: Melissa Gentry
[email protected]
528-5578
859-356-5889
Solo Pipers: Contact any pipe band
(Clip and Save!)
*Can’t get WOBO? Go to WWW.WOBOFM.Com and stream to your PC
**Please note that The Gaelic Gazette will carry King’s English features unedited. All sources of
articles will be noted, unless orginal. All numeration from those sources will be given, so the
author’s version will be given. For further information please refer to given websites/sources.
Out of the Sporran:
Wojtek Memorial Dedicated in Edinburgh Park
T
he £200,000 monument is to commemorate the extraordinary
life of “Private Wojtek”, a 6ft tall, 500lb brown bear who
served alongside Polish soldiers -- and lived out his years after
the war in Edinburgh Zoo.
The monument to ‘Private Wojtek’. A maquette of the planned
work, by Scottish sculptor Alan Herriot, shows Wojtek’s ‘keeper’,
soldier Peter Prendys, placing a hand on the shoulder of the gentle
giant, a stance he always adopted when the pair walked around
camp together.
Wojtek -- a Polish boys name which means the “happy warrior”
-- was acquired by the Polish Army as a cub, and quickly took on
the role of mascot to the 22nd Company of Polish Army Corps.
He is best remembered however for his role in the brutal
battle of Monte Cassino in 1944, where he voluntarily helped his
comrades unload boxes of artillery shells for the Allied guns under
fire.
When the war finished, Wojtek and his company were relocated
to Winfield camp near Hutton in Berwickshire before the bear was
moved to Edinburgh Zoo in 1947, where he lived out his final years.
It is the bear’s relationship with his comrades which is portrayed
in Herriot’s sculpture -- as opposed to the famous image of him
carrying a mortar shell in his paws.
Mr Herriot said on Wednesday: “Wojtek may be most famous for
assisting his fellow soldiers in carrying the shells, but really the value
was in the effect his presence had on morale.
“I was very keen to depict that close friendship they enjoyed
with him, as well as the entertainment and laughter he brought to
the troops. It’s not just about the bear, it is also to commemorate the
part the Polish played in the Second world War. The British and other
European countries owe a great deal to them.”
When this is decided, an application for permission will be
submitted to Edinburgh City Council, with the intention that the
statue will be unveiled in around 12 months’ time.
Views of the Kilted
Piper Don Neil’s Wife Passed Due to Cancer. He
Organized a Memorial Benefit and Raised Over
$10,000 for the Livestrong Foundation.
Polish veterans units were presnt at the unveiling of Wojtek’s monument. Pipers marked
Scottish zoo-visitors love for the bear.
The campaign to erect the memorial is backed by Cardinal Keith
O’Brien -- most of the Polish soldiers were Catholic and Aileen
Orr, author of the book Wojtek the Bear: Polish War Hero. She said
she had been captivated by his story ever since she visited him at
Edinburgh Zoo, aged eight, with a Polish friend. When Wojtek heard
her friend speaking Polish his ears pricked up and he waved to the
two delighted school girls. Ms Orr, from Lockerbie, said: “What the
bear offered all of these men was comfort. At a time when they were
far from home, had nothing, and often no-one, Wojtek stood in for
the wives, children, pets, family they’d left behind. He was someone
to live love and someone who loved them back.”
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost George Grubb said: “Wojtek, the
Soldier Bear, was a very familiar and much-cherished figure in
Edinburgh and became part of the tradition and history of the Polish
community in the city. “We would like to ensure that his memory
is preserved for generations to come and our monuments experts
are currently working with the Polish community to help identify a
suitably prominent site for his memorial statue.” n
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/
howaboutthat/8061743/Polish-bear-that-fought-Nazis-to-becommemorated.html
Scottish Fun... Music... Dance...
Entertainment... Pipes & Haggis
Robert Burns Night
MEMBERS, FRIENDS & GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED
I
t’s been one week since I completed the
LIVESTRONG Challenge, so I thought I
would reach out to all that donated and
provided an email address.
You should note that I raised just
over $11,000 towards the LIVESTRONG
Foundation and qualified for the “Ride for the
Roses” , White Jersey. Out of the approximate
4,500 riders that took part, there were only
150 that exceeded the $10,000 fund raising
minimum requirement, thus being able to take part in some very
special activities. I owe everyone that made a donation a heart
felt thank you. Your support helped me through some very trying
times and provided funding towards LIVESTRONG, so that they
may continue their primary mission of providing navigation
support to cancer victims, their family members and care givers.
5
$24 for Adults
$12 for Children (>12)
Includes—Appetizers, Buffet meal
(Round of Beef-Grilled Chicken
Thanks again for your support,
Breast-Pasta ala Caprious) Vegetable
Don Neil
[email protected]
Cell: 205-492-5157
Bouquet, Buttered Parsley Potatoes,
Salad, Baked Rolls, Cake dessert,
Non alcoholic beverages
Extra—Cash Bar available
in
Loveland,
Ohio
January 26
Her
HerMajesty’s
Majesty’sFaithful
FaithfulServant
Servant
This is the Story of Queen Victoria’s
Highland Servant—John Brown
by Ursula Grosser Dixon, “Ursula’s Web History—www.nevermore.tripod.com/urshist2.htm
A
Prince Albert loved
deerstalking, and
often Victoria would
go out with him. They
had made friends with
the charming gillies
who accompanied
them, and a man
named John Brown
had become prince
Albert’s favorite
gillie, Above. Below, a
still young Victoria
mourning shortly after
Albert’s death in 1862.
6
fter the creation of his Crystal
Palace Exhibition, the Queen’s
consort, Prince Albert, was
soon busy again with creating a new
home. Two visits to Scotland had
convinced Victoria to have a house
in the Highlands. In 1848 she had
taken a lease on Balmoral, a small
castle on the river Dee. It was not large
enough for a growing family, as well
as members of the household and the
Ministers in attendance. But the Queen
loved its location which afforded her
family privacy. Prince Albert loved
deerstalking, and often Victoria would
go out with him. They had made
friends with the charming gillies who
accompanied them, and a man named
John Brown had become prince
Albert’s favorite gillie. The Prince even
tried to learn Gaelic, but found it too
difficult.
After four years the Queen bought
the estate of Balmoral, and Prince
Albert made his plans for expensions.
In 1855, built of granite, the new castle
was completed. The interior had many
tartan motifs, and everywhere one
could see symbols of Scotland in honor
of the Queen’s ancestry. Balmoral
would become her “ dear paradise, all
dear Albert’s own creations.”
In 1861 Prince Albert went to
Ireland to see the Prince of Wales,
who was with the Grenadier guards
at Curragh camp. He was told by his
father of the matrimonial plans which
were being devised for him. It would
be arranged that he would meet
Princess Alexandra of Denmark during
a visit to the continent. She eventually
became The Princess of Wales.
Again the Court went to Balmoral.
John Brown was now the Queen’s
factotum. He waited at table, led
her pony and as the Queen wrote to
her uncle Leopold “ combined the
offices of groom, footman, page and
maid, as he is so handy with cloaks
and shawls.” Up to now he had only
attented the Queen at Balmoral, but
now he joined her at Windsor as well.
After the dreadful event of the
death of her beloved husband, the
Queen felt a special connection to
John Brown, because Albert had liked
him so much. He had been often
chosen by the Prince to look after the
Queen’s safety. When the widowed
sovereign traveled to Germany in the
summer of 1862 and decided to take
her own pony chaise, Brown was put
in charge of it. When in the following
year she suffered several carriage
mishaps, it was Brown who saved the
Queen from serious injury. During
the winter of 1864, her physician Dr.
Jenner wanted the Queen to keep
riding. Victoria protested that a strange
groom would not do. John Brown
was sent for to lead the Queen’s pony,
Flora. In February 1865 Victoria wrote
in her journal that Brown would
remain permanently with her as “ he
is so dependable.” As the Queen’s
Highland Servant he would take
orders only from her. In a letter to her
daughter Vicky in Berlin, the Crown
Princess of Prussia, she wrote “ He
comes to my room after breakfast
and luncheon to get his orders, and
everything is always right; he is quiet,
has an exellent memory, and besides
is so devoted. He is a real treasure to
me. It is an excellent arrangement,
and I feel I have a good and devoted
soul in the house, whose only interest
is my welfare. God knows how much
I want to be taken care of. “
In the words of the esteemed
author Stanley Weintraub, who wrote
the exellent biography “Victoria”
exactly how much she was taken care
of became the subject of intense and
widespread gossip in 1865. Much of
it was the result of Edwin Landseer’s
painting of the Queen on her horse,
led by John Brown. He circulated the
stories that the Queen had taken fancy
to a certain servant, by name Brown:
will have no one else to wait upon
her, makes him drive her out alone in
a pony carriage, gives orders through
him to the esquerries, allows him
access to her such as no one else has.
“The affair had become a joke
throughout Windsor, where Her
Majesty is talked of as ‘Mrs. Brown’
and if this keeps up, it will grow into
a scandal.” Lord Stanley wondered
how much longer the subject could
be kept out of the newspapers. “The
man is admitted to her confidence in
a way no one else is, and orders are
sent through him to persons of high
rank, which alone will create jealousy.
The Queen is not on good terms with
any of her family, so it is impossible to
warn her of what is being said about
her.”
In December 1865, Brown
accompanied the Queen and her
daughters to the Mauseleum at
Frogmore, where she paid her respects
on the fourth anniversary of her
husband’s death. Later John Brown
came to her room for his orders, when
the Queen saw tears rolling down
his cheeks. “ I didn’t like to see ye at
Frogmore this morning. I felt for ye, to
see ye coming there with ye daughters
and your husband lying there. No, I
didn’t like to see it; I felt sorry for ye--ye who had been so happy. There is no
more pleasure for ye, poor Queen.”
Servants were confiding
information to Brown, because
they knew that the Highlander’s
recommendation for a job or
promotion meant more than that
of princes. Ceremony meant little
to him where the Queen’s interests
were concerned. At one time he told
the Prince of Wales, overheard by
servants, “ Ye’ll no’see your Royal
mither till five o’clock.” Most likely
the courtiers tried to dislodge Brown
...the Queen
felt a special
connection to
John Brown,
because
Albert had
liked him so
much. He had
been often
chosen by
the Prince
to look after
the Queen’s
safety.
7
from Windsor and have him returned
to Balmoral. Since the Scot had the
job of carrying messages to and
from the Queen, they probably tried
to work him to exhaustion, hoping
he would ask for reassignment. The
Queen pleaded with the Master of the
Household, “that my poor Brown has
so much to do that it wd be a gt relief
if the Esquerries did receive a hint not
to be constantly sending for him at
all hours for trifling messages: he is
often so tired from being constantly
on his legs that he goes to bed with
swollen feet and then can’t sleep from
fatigue!” She added, “it must be put a
stop to....”
The Queen announced she would
attend a military review in Hyde Park
in July 1867 and would be attended
by Brown (in his usual kilt) After her
Ministers discussed the probability
of further gossip in the press about
the conspicuous Highlander, the
Queen who found put about the
objections to Brown’s presence, said
“If the government wants me, they
have to put up with John Brown.” He
became the only person in her life
whom she trusted completely. When
he helped her secure her bonnet, he
would say “Hoots, then wumman!
Can ye not hold yerr head up?” Or,
when he disapproved of a wrap she
was wearing, he would ask her “
What’s this ye’ve got on today?” What
others perceived as bold behavior was
completely disarming to Victoria. The
stories circulated at the Court about
Brown’s drinking made no difference
to the Queen. To Victoria he was
beyond any criticism.
To her public, the Queen was
seen favorably by the friendly
circumstances in which she lived
with her servants in Scotland. In 1868
Brown accompanied the Queen on
her visit to Switzerland. That she was
going abroad at all was seen by her
government as a good thing: she
might even be persuaded to go out
in her own country! But the rumors
would not stop. It was even published
that she was going to Lausanne in
order to give birth to Brown’s child.
That the Queen was fifty years old
and didn’t even go to Lausanne, but
went to Lucerne with three of her
children, seem to make no difference
to the rumormongers who wished
to discredit her. The Queen’s party
was not difficult to notice. Besides
her three children, Louise, Beatrice
and Leopold, she was accompanied
by secretaries, cooks, maids, other
servants and a chaplain. And Brown
in his Highland costume made sure
that crowds collected everywhere
they went.
Even in Balmoral Brown had
become a controversial figure.
Knowing well the influence he had
on the Queen, when it came to new
legislature, Prime Minister Disraeli
joked “ I must first be sure that it
has the approval of the two J.B.’s.
He explained “John Bull ( the equiv.
of Uncle Sam in the US ) and John
Brown.”
Her own family members tried to
intervene and it was suggested that
Brown should take a wife. A Miss
Ocklee, who often danced with him
at gillies’ balls, was perhaps a likely
bride. When she married someone
else in 1873, Brown remained a
bachelor. Finally the Queen made
him an esquire, but the rank failed to
protect him from family and courtier
conspiracies to get rid of him. In
early 1862 the Queen returned from
St. Paul’s. Brown was sitting as usual
behind the queen on the carriage.
At the gates to Buckingham Palace,
a seventeen year old Fenian, Arthur
O’Connor, made his way to the
carriage door and pointed a pistol at
the Queen. The ever watchful Brown
leaped from the rumble seat and
seized the would-be assassin by the
throat. In the aftermath, there were
renewed demonstrations of loyalty
to the Crown. For the third time in
the same week, Victoria rode out
to the cheering of the crowds, with
Brown behind her as usual keeping a
watchful eye.
The Queen entry in her journal on
the occasion of her birthday in 1871
reads “My poor old birthday, my 51st!
Alone, alone, as it will ever be! But
surely my dearest one blesses me.”
Victoria seldom went to funerals,
even to those of close relatives. But
in October 1875, when John Brown’s
father died at eighty-six, she went
with Brown to his father’s house. She
comforted the widow and presented
her with a mourning brooch. In any
case it was the custom in Scotland at
the time for the landlord to follow one
of his people to the grave. When her
favorite Scots preacher, the Reverend
Norman MacLeod, died, it was
Brown who brought her the news. In
December 1878 he was even selected
by the family to break the news to the
Queen that her daughter Alice, the
Grand Duchess of Hesse, had died
of diphtheria on the anniversary of
Albert’s death.
The Queen had become
overweight and looked old and grey.
The rumors had finally come to an
end, and Brown’s presence was
accepted for the watchful care it
truly was. Early in 1883 he worked
seven days a week as usual despite
chills and fever. He needed the help
of another servant , Lockwood, as
the queen had to be carried to her
pony chaise. She had missed a step
and came down hard on one knee,
which was swollen. Guests had
been invited on Palm Sunday to St.
George’s Chapel at Windsor to hear
Handel’s “The Redemption”. The
performance was canceled because
the Queen was indisposed. Six days
later, Brown served the Queen for the
last time. He was ill with erysipelas,
which covered the side of his face.
Dr. Jenner was called to treat him. The
Queen wrote in her journal, that he
had a high fever and a bad night. She
added “vexed that Brown could not
attend me, not being well at all.” The
next day Brown was delirious, but it
seems the Queen had not been told.
She attended the christening of Prince
Leopold’s daughter in the Windsor
chapel. Princess Beatrice took
Brown’s place beside her pony chair.
On Tuesday, March 29 John
Brown died at 10:40 in the evening.
Her son Leopold went to her dressing
room and “broke the dreadful news
to me that my good faithful Brown
had passed away.” It was a terrible
blow to Victoria. To Vicky’s eldest
daughter in Berlin the Queen wrote
“for 18 years and a half, Brown
never left my side.” Her wreath, sent
to Scotland and placed on Brown’s
coffin, was “A tribute of loving,
grateful and everlasting friendship
and affection from his truest, best
and most faithful friend Victoria R&I.
She commissioned Joseph Boehm to
erect a statue of Brown at Balmoral
bareheaded and in Highland
garb. Lord Tennyson prepared the
inscription:
Friend more than Servant, Loyal,
Truthful, Brave,
Self less than Duty, even to the grave.
Also try and rent the excellent 1997 Judi
Dench/Miramax movie “Mrs. Brown”.
Victoria: ‘did become
Mrs. Brown’
by Andrew Alderson, Chief Reporter
R
...published
diaries
provide
the most
compelling
evidence yet
that Queen
Victoria
married
John Brown.
8
ecently published diaries provide the most
compelling evidence yet that Queen Victoria
married John Brown, her devoted servant, in a secret
ceremony.
The diaries of Lewis Harcourt, a politician and
minister in Asquith’s Liberal government, claim that the
Rev Norman Macleod, the Queen’s chaplain, made a
death-bed confession that he had married the couple and
regretted it for the rest of his life.
Historians said yesterday that the new material was
“fascinating” and “intriguing” although it fell short of
providing absolute proof that Queen Victoria, who ruled
for 64 years, had married a second time.
There has been speculation for more than 130 years
that Queen Victoria had an affair with Mr Brown as he
comforted her after the death of her husband, Prince
Albert. There were rumours at the time that the couple
married but never any evidence for the claim which
historians, including Queen Victoria’s biographers, have
previously dismissed as myth.
The relationship between the Queen and Mr Brown,
the hard-drinking, bearded son of a Scottish crofter,
was turned into an award-winning film, Mrs Brown,
in which Judi Dench played Queen Victoria and Billy
Connolly played John Brown. The film portrayed the
couple’s relationship as affectionate and intimate but
left it to the audience’s imagination whether it was ever
consummated.
The new evidence that the couple did marry comes
from the diaries of Lewis, the son of Sir William Harcourt,
the home secretary in William Gladstone’s Liberal
government. Extracts of his writings are published this
week in the first issue of The British Diarist, a quarterly
historical magazine.
Lewis (later Lord) Harcourt wrote on February 17,
1885: “Lady Ponsonby [the wife of the Queen’s private
secretary] told the HS [the home secretary: the author’s
father] a few days ago that Miss Macleod declares that
her brother, Norman Macleod, confessed to her on
his death bed that he had married the Queen to John
Brown, and added that he had always bitterly regretted
it. Miss Macleod could have had no object in inventing
such a story, so that one is almost inclined to believe it,
improbable and disgraceful as it sounds.”
The Rev Macleod was the minister of Barony Church
in Glasgow and so it is likely that any wedding would
have been in Scotland.
Lewis Harcourt, who was known as “Loulou” to his
family and friends, was 21 at the time that he wrote the
entry. If the service did take place, it is likely to have been
in 1866 when rumours intensified that the Queen and Mr
Brown had become “too close” and had even married.
Prince Albert, the father of the Queen’s nine children,
died in December 1861. Afterwards the Queen withdrew
from public life for many years and it was at this time that
her friendship with Mr Brown grew beyond the normal
monarch-servant relationship.
Patrick Jackson, who wrote the introductory article
to the extracts in The British Diarist, has read all the 74
leather-bound notebooks containing the diaries. “Lewis
Harcourt is an almost ideal diarist. He knew everyone
who mattered in politics and society and he was a sharpeyed observer, with a keen interest in all the gossip and
scandal of the day,” he wrote.
“The diaries were written for Harcourt’s own
personal satisfaction with no ulterior motive, no idea
of publication or even circulation, and no retrospective
correction.”
The diaries belong to the Hon Mrs Crispin Gascoigne,
the author’s granddaughter, and are kept at the Bodleian
Library in Oxford. Lewis Harcourt went on to serve
as a minister in the Liberal governments of CampbellBannerman and Asquith, retiring with a peerage in 1916.
He died in 1922.
Mr Jackson, a retired civil servant turned author, said
yesterday: “I suppose some people will say that it is no
more than tittle-tattle, but it’s certainly very high-level
gossip from very respectable sources who had no reason
to make it up.”
Andrew Roberts, the historian and author, studied the
diary entry yesterday and said that it was possible that the
couple had married out of affection, yet had never had a
sexual relationship.
“This is a fascinating and remarkable twist to an
established story. Many people will find this astounding
but it is more believable that the Queen and Mr Brown
underwent a form of ceremony than that they had sexual
relations,” he said.
Lord Blake, the constitutional historian and a former
adviser to the Queen, said he had been unaware of the
existence of the diaries. “This is a very interesting story
indeed: quite remarkable,” he said. However, he remains
sceptical that the story is true, as does A N Wilson, the
historian whose book The Victorians was published last
year.
“I still think it is inconceivable that they married. The
Queen was clearly very fond of Brown: they may even
have had a cuddle and a snog. But she had a great sense
of royal dignity and would not have married someone in
his position,” Mr Wilson said.
Christopher Hibbert, the author of Queen Victoria:
A Personal History, said in his book that Mr Brown was
known by members of the Royal Household as “the
Queen’s stallion”. He said yesterday that the new diaries
were “intriguing” but added: “On balance I find it most
improbable that they married.” n
Additional reporting by Susan Bisset. For more information—
www.telegraph.co.uk/.../Victoria-did-become-Mrs-Brown.html
St. Andrews Ball—Montage
At this Saint Andrew’s Ball’s Cocktail
Hour... all were recipients of
“Grrrrrreat Pours!” Our guests had
great meal by Maketewah’s Michelin
Chef Rachel Hostiuck, while all were
celebrating the Scholarship & Prize
Recipients.
9
All Enjoyed and danced the night away!
St. Andrews Ball—Montage
Throughout the evening, our members
and guests celebrated our patron saint.
The tones of Ole’Scotland reverberated
throughout Maketewah’s iconic
baronial arches and trusses.
10
If you want to see Duncan Moir’s video go to: http://youtu.be/8htdOFNTFuM
St. Andrews Ball—Montage
The Society would like to thank all
those who help with this event. But,
kudos and congratulations go to
the steady hands of Jesse and Billie
Andrews, who chaired this Ball!
11
High-points included the piping in of the Haggis, and Past-President Arch Ott .
St. Andrews Ball—Montage
At this Saint Andrew’s Ball’s Cocktail Hour... all
were recipients of “Grrrrrreat Pours!” Our guests
had great meal by Maketewah’s Michelin Chef
Rachel Hostiuck, while all were celebrating the
Scholarship & Prize Recipients.
12
The Caledonian Pipes & Drums, and Our Dance Academies were a highlight!
St. Andrews Ball—Montage
As tradition demands... all gather in the
closing ceremony and by circling and singing
the bard Robert Burns’—“Auld Ang Syne”,
to end Saint Andrew’s and we children of
Scotland then begin our Advent Season.
13
After this year... all hope we see you in 2013’s Saint Andrew’s Ball. n
bon apetite
Friday, February 1, 2013
Dine at The Grand Finale Restaurant and
Support the Ohio Valley Scottish Society’s (OVSS) dance
scholarship fund and indoor competition at the same time.
The Grand Finale will donate 20% of the dollar
total of all food purchases to the OVSS.
There is a minimum of thirty diners needed to receive the donation.
Make a reservation for dinner on Friday, February 1, 2013.
When you call for your reservation, tell the receptionist that you are dining on
behalf of the Ohio Valley Scottish Society.
Reservations may be made by calling:
Grand Finale Restaurant at 513-771-5925
Ask for Elise, Vicki or Virginia.
For directions go to www.grandfinale.info
The Grande Finale Restaurant
3 East Sharon Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
(located at the corner of Sharon
and Congress Avenues)
513-771-5925
The Caledonian Society of Cincinnati’s
AGM
2013
Place:
Great Scott Restaurant
Address: 3355 Madison Road, Oakley, OH 45209
Date:
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Event Schedule:
Cocktails at 5:30 pm (cash bar)
Dinner at 6:30 pm (optional)
Business Meeting at 730 pm
Price:
$18.00 per Member
Annual General Meeting
Join us for Dinner, Fellowship, and our Annual Business Meeting. Agenda items include New Member
nominations and election of officers. And please support our W&VM Scholarship by donating below.
NOTE: While all are welcome to the event **Members only can participate
in the Annual General Meeting** No children please
The price for dinner is $18 which covers the cost of your meal, salad, dessert, coffee, tea and soft drinks,
tax and gratuity. Meal will be your choice of Fish and Chips or Shepard’s Pie.
Please send your reservations to Secretary Mike Brooks at:
4028 Grove Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45212-4036
(513) 739-3326 or [email protected]
Detach bottom portion and return with reservation
The Caledonian Society of Cincinnati Annual Meeting
Reservation and Dues Form
Name:________________________________________________________________________________
Phone:_________________________
Email: ____________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
City: ___________________________________ State: ________
Zip: ______________________
I will be attending the meeting: ____ Yes ____ No
Qty: ___ Fish & Chips or ___ Shepard’s Pie
(Please return this form, even if you are not having dinner or email your reply to [email protected])
Annual Meeting Dinner:
Qty: ______ @ $18.00 = _________
2013 Dues:
Qty: ______ @ $20.00 = _________ (new member +$5)
Wesley & Virginia Montgomery Scholarship Donation:
Amount = _________
The Presidential Prize Fund Donation:
Amount = _________
Total Enclosed: $____________
Detach and return check payable to “The Caledonian Society of Cincinnati.” Mail to:
Mike Brooks
4028 Grove Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45212-4036
2012 Caledonian Society of
Cincinnati




Saturday, January 28th
Cocktails 6:00pm. Dinner 7:00pm
Receptions in Loveland
10681 Loveland-Madeira Rd, Loveland, OH 45140 (just off I-275)
http://www.receptionsinc.com/locations-loveland.asp
Buffet meal with a Fruit and Cheese Appetizer
Slow Roasted Top Round of Beef with Red Wine Demi Glace & Horseradish
Grilled Chicken Breast with Tomato Basil Salsa
Pasta ala Caprious, Steamed Vegetable Bouquet, Buttered Parsley Potatoes
Caesar Salad, Fresh Baked Rolls and Butter
Cake dessert
Non alcoholic beverages
Cash bar available
Come join us to celebrate the life and works of Scotland’s beloved Poet Rabbie Burns with and
evening of food, drink, entertainment and general merrymaking and friendship!
Reservations:
Mail to:
Billie and Jesse Andrews, Caledonian Society
6910 Bridgetown Road
Mack, Oh 45248
513-574-2969
Name:_________________________________________Phone: ___________________
Adult Qty _____ x $24 =
________
Child Qty _____ x $12=
________
Total: _________
Robert Reid