the caledonian club magazine spring 2012

CA

LE

DO

NIA

NTHE

Official Journal of

The Caledonian Club

Belgravia, London

SPRING 2012

S COTC H W H I S KY . G O R D O N S TO U N . S O C I A L S C E N E . T H E C A L E D O N I A N L E C T U R E

BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE AT HOLYROOD . IN CONVERSATION WITH DAVID SOLE, OBE

Ever to ExcelA film to mark the University of St Andrews’

600 years; as told by Member Sir Sean Connery

2 The Caledonian SPRING 2012

The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC013532

THE CALEDONIANThe Official Journal of

The Caledonian Club

9 Halkin Street, Belgravia

London SW1X 7DR

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Ian Ross (Chairman)

Colin Buchanan

lan Campbell

Alison Davis

Alison Hemmings (Copy Editor)

Bill Kerr Elliott

DESIGN & PRODUCTIONHalo Design Tel: 020 8123 6700

ADVERTISINGJoanna Hemmings

[email protected]

Tel: 020 8868 9688

PUBLISHERThe Caledonian Club ©2012

Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy,

neither The Caledonian Club nor the authors can

accept liability for errors or omissions. Views

expressed in this journal are not necessarily those

of The Caledonian Club. No responsibility can be

accepted for unsolicited manuscripts,

transparencies or photographs. All prices and

information contained in advertisements are

correct at the time of going to press. No part of

this magazine may be reproduced without

written permission from the publisher.

CLUB CONTACTS To complete email address, add suffix: caledonianclub.com

Secretary lan Campbell ic@ 020 7333 8711

Secretary’s PA Alison Davis ad@ 020 7333 8712

Accounts Karen Amira finance@ 020 7333 8715

Dee Kelleher dk@ 020 7333 8716

Banquetingand Catering Abigail Duggan asd@ 020 7333 8722

Bedroomsand Dining Frankie O’Donnell reservations@ 020 7235 5162

Chef Paul Hodson ph@ 020 7333 8727

Events Hishge Batbold events@ 020 7201 1509

Financial Manager Steve Moore sjm@ 020 7333 8713

House Manager David Balden dcb@ 020 7333 8730

Membership Anne Rowland ar@ 020 7333 8714

PRESIDENTThe Rt Hon The Earl of Dalhousie DL

VICE PRESIDENTSAlastair C D Stuart CBE

William T McMahon MBE

Alex W Wilson

W Colin Buchanan

A Grahame B Young

Ian C Menzies

George M F Gillon

Peter A J Gardiner OBE

CHAIRMANRanald T I Munro TD

VICE CHAIRMANDavid T Coughtrie

COMMITTEEJames H F Gemmell

David W Guild

William E McDermott

Iain L Macdonald

Leon G Renwick

Ian Ross

Dr A Ian Schoolar

Rodney R T Smith

Anthony S Westnedge OBE

David L C White

www.caledonianclub.comPUBLISHED BY THE CALEDONIAN CLUB

Over and out

SPRING 2012 The Caledonian 3

CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

Dear Friends and Fellow Members,sadly, my three year term as Chairmanof The Caledonian Club is drawing to a close.

Over the years, every Club Committee

has had to deal with the challenges

and opportunities of its time. As my

three-year tenure as Chairman comes to an

end, I think I can say, at least to the extent

that modesty allows, that over that period

your Committee has grasped the nettle when

necessary, made robust decisions and seized

opportunities when they have presented

themselves. It has handled matters collegially,

with good humour and always with the

Club’s best interest at the forefront. Notable

milestones in the recent past have included

the welcoming of ladies to membership; the

500K Challenge; modernisation of the Club

Rules, and amendments to the bye-laws

acknowledging, at least in part, the ubiquity

of electronic devices. I would like to thank

personally, and on behalf of all Members, all

those who have served on the Committee

during my tenure. I am confident that your

professionalism and commitment have set the

Club up for continued success into the future.

We are doing so much that is right.

There is, I hope you agree, a real buzz in the

Club. We have a full and exciting events

programme, the societies are flourishing, the

Younger Members’ Society is thriving, room

occupancy is very satisfying, banqueting is

vibrant, and importantly, our membership is

increasing; 99 new Members last year, giving

a net increase of 33 for the year. This is all

really good news but we have to keep up the

momentum. The stated aim of 1,400

Members is a stretch but it is realistic, and

indeed necessary, if we are to maintain the

high standards that we expect – food, wine

and decor.

One of the many advantages of being Club

Chairman is the opportunity to visit other

clubs and explore how clubland is evolving.

The Secretary and I have been undertaking

what we fondly refer to as a “club crawl”.

During this ‘campaign’, the camaraderie,

warmth and friendship that exists within the

fraternity of London clubs is tangible. There

are many wonderful London clubs, each

with its own character and ethos. Perhaps

biased, I know, but I think we compare with

the very best, certainly when it comes to the

quality of our food, the courteousness and

professionalism of our staff, and of course

the Scottish welcome extended by our

Members! We have much to be proud of.

Within clubland we are well known and

respected, but we need to expand our profile

and reach into new areas to boost our

membership numbers.

We cannot, however, be complacent.

The number of proprietary clubs in London

is increasing. They offer private membership

with, in many cases, a more relaxed dress code.

The question for us is whether we compete

head-on by mimicking them, or provide

something different, something increasingly

unique. I see this as being one of the challenges

that the next Committee will need to

address. It may be time to survey Members

for their views.

It has been a privilege to be your

Chairman. Thank you to all those who have

supported me and provided helpful advice

along the way. The last three years have been

fulfilling and such fun. I shall miss it. I owe a

particular debt of gratitude to our Secretary,

Mr Campbell, who has proved himself to be

adept at balancing the ethos of the Club with

commercial realities and has ensured that

the Committee remains focussed on the

important issues. I wish the new Chairman

and Committee all the very best. In The

Caledonian Club we have a wonderful asset

which deserves support and trumpeting so

that Members and prospective Members can

experience and enjoy all that it has to offer.

Ranald T I Munro TD

Chairman

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Our future is shaped

by what we do today.

www.caledonianclub.com

4 NEWS IN BRIEF School’s out: All roads leadto The Caledonian Club

Friends of The Bahamas

5 RECIPROCAL CLUBSPhyllis Court Club

Bangalore Club

6 NEW MEMBERSWelcome to the Club

Membership Update

7 IN FOCUS: SCOTCHWHISKYSome facts behind the headlines

8 SPOTLIGHT ON STANDREWS UNIVERSITYMembers share theirrecollections

10 SOCIAL SCENEPhoto update on recentsocial events

12 CLUB SOCIETIESRounding up activities of the Club Societies

16 MEMBER INTERVIEWIn conversation with David Sole OBE

20 BONNIE PRINCECHARLIE AT HOLYROODClub’s historical paintingrestored

22 COMING UPFor your diary

Forthcoming events

NEWS IN BRIEF


All roads lead to The Caledonian Club

School’s out

PIPE MAJOR IAN L KING RVM

After nearly 42 years, Pipe MajorIan King RVM has finally retiredfrom the Territorial Army. In thecourse of his TA career, the ClubPiper has worn six cap badges(Tayforth UOTC, Black Watch,London Scottish, 51st HighlandVolunteers, Royal Corps of Signalsand Royal Signals Pipes and Drums)and acquired innumerableregimental, corps and divisionalties. He has now traded in hisGlengarry and brogues for a beretand Oxfords to serve as a FlightSergeant with the Henley onThames Air Training CorpsSquadron, earning yet another cap badge and tie.

As another academic year comes to aclose students will be moving on topastures new, and we look forward towelcoming them to The CaledonianClub – a home from home since1891 for those finding themselvesin the big city. The fastest growingsector of our membership is in the18-35 age bracket, so hopefullythat will dispel the or myth thatprivate members clubs are “old andfuddy duddy”.

We have for many years offeredthose leaving school and universitya very attractive membership

proposition to join. For obviousreasons this has been primarilyaimed at Scottish-based schools,however many of Scottish descentor those with a connection toScotland will have attendedestablishments south of the border.The question will be, why should Ijoin a private members club –what’s in it for me?

At The Caledonian Club we offer:

• Excellent ‘organic’ networkingopportunities both within theClub and through the Inter-Club

Young Members Group

• Reciprocity with clubs aroundthe world

• The same privileges for maleand female members

• A reliable meeting place and arespectful and safe environment

• A one-off payment of £750 –potentially covering up to sixyears’ subscription if joining at18yrs, with no entrance fee

• Free access to wireless LAN andBusiness Centre

Visitors to London are oftenoverwhelmed by the sheer scale ofthe city and its somewhatanonymous character. The Cluboffers a home-from-home andsomething a little bit different tothe norm and is a great place foralumni to meet up for dinners andcocktail parties.

Please do get in touch with AnneRowland in Membership for moreinformation:

T 020 7333 8714E [email protected]

Franz Hepburn, opera singer and Frank Davis, First Secretary/Consul, BahamasEmbassy/High Commission, London

Bahamian artist Miss Lynn Parottiwith Richard Moir

Friends of The Bahamas is thefirst social advocacy group set up to address issues whichaffect the Islands.

It acts as an umbrella group to

work with others on, for example,

political, environmental, criminal,

animal rights, business, social and

economic development matters.

Almost 150 supporters and

guests met at the Club in November

including representatives from

The Bahamas Embassy, the High

Commission, London and The

Bahamas Preservation Society.

Friends of The Bahamas

45596 Bahamas built in Glasgow, 1934

Delicious food prepared for the reception

PhyllisCourtClub


Bangalore Clubhouse

Relax in style and elegance inthe countryside

Set in the beautiful Thames Valley

countryside in the picturesque

market town of Henley-on-Thames

is our reciprocal club, Phyllis Court.

The elegant Georgian mansion is

set in 18 acres of manicured gardens

with sweeping lawns leading down

to the River Thames.

There are 17 delightful

bedrooms (including four deluxe

rooms), most offering river views

across the gardens. They are

individually styled, with flat screen

TVs, free Wi-Fi etc and all have

en-suite facilities.

Guests enjoy excellent cuisine,

prepared by their Michelin-trained

Chef Greg Lewis, a choice of fine

wines, and excellent accommodation.

Phyllis Court is located on the

banks of the world famous Henley

Royal Regatta course and offers the

very best of hospitality.

The Club is within easy reach

of the M40, M4 & M25, and there

are facilities to arrive by helicopter.

It is ideally positioned for any type

of country pursuit, riverside walks,

shopping in Henley, Marlow and

Royal Windsor and within the

clubhouse elegant banqueting

suites are available for private

dinners and celebrations.

Phyllis Court ClubMarlow Road Henley-on-Thames RG9 2HT

T 01491 570500 F 01491 570528E [email protected] www.phylliscourt.co.uk

Bangalore ClubBangalore Club in India originatedfrom the Bangalore United ServicesClub (BUSC) which was founded in1868 by the then British Militaryestablishment. It is located in theCentral Business District also knownas India’s Garden City and IT City.BUSC ceased to exist from 1947, theyear of Indian Independence. One

of its early members during the year1896-98 was the Rt Hon Sir WinstonChurchill, then a subaltern in the4th (Queens Own) Hussars.

Presently Bangalore Club hassome 6,500 members and is affiliatedto 33 clubs in India and 31 overseas.Its facilities include accommodation,men’s bar, mixed bar, banquet halls,library and various sporting facilitiesincluding a swimming pool.

Bangalore ClubField Marshal KM Cariappa Road Bangalore - 560 025, India

T 00 91 80 4022 0000F 00 91 80 2227 3605E [email protected] www.bangaloreclub.com

Phyllis Court Clubhouse

River Thames from Henley RoyalRegatta Grandstand Pavillion

Club Swimming Pool

ST BOTOLPH’S RECIPROCAL CLUB

RECIPROCAL CLUBS

Boston Tee PartyAn Offal Evening!The reputation of the Club’s Golfing Society Social Evening has spreadto the other side of the pond. Our reciprocal Club, St Botolph’s inBoston adopted our indoor Putting Competition at its Burns Supperthis year. They have named it ‘Caledonian Golf’ and congratulationsare due to St Botolphs’ member Roger Howlett, who went to somelengths to find out what we did and then introduce it to his club.The Secretary had the pleasure of meeting Mr Howlett on his recentvisit to the Club.

Members enjoyed the carpet putting competition, which wasextended to their lift, whereupon the next shot had to be made fromthe first floor down the stairs.

In the traditional manner, Kummel ‘putting mix’ was also served,with what they described as “an edible haggis”.

Welcome to the Club!A selection of some of the Members who joined in the course of the year

Angus D Burrell Angus was bornand brought upin the SouthWest attendingSexey’ s School,Somerset beforereading Frenchand EuropeanStudies at Keele

University (BA (Hons) 2003). Angusmoved to London in 2009, and with abackground in technology andpayments, in October 2011 openedDanish payment managementcompany Pensio’s first UK office inWaterloo. Amongst other interestsAngus is a keen shot and has alreadyjoined the Club’ s Shooting andFishing Society.

Stephen J CowdenSteve Cowden isthe GeneralCounsel andCompanySecretary ofReed Elsevier, aleading providerof professionalinformation

solutions in the science, medical risk,legal and business sectors, listed inthe FTSE 100. Prior to joining ReedElsevier in 2001, he worked in thepharmaceutical industry for over 20years, latterly as Group CompanySecretary of Glaxo Wellcome plc. He began his career with BeechamGroup in 1977 and then withSmithKline Beecham plc. Steve is amember of the Law Society of Scotland,the CBI Companies Committee, theInternational Bar Association, theExecutive Committee of the GC100and an alternative member of theHearings Committee of the TakeoverPanel. He graduated Bachelor of Lawswith Honours from the University ofEdinburgh in 1974 and is a Scottishsolicitor, having been admitted in 1976.

Stephen P GameStephen studiedagriculture,going on to workfor a leadingcommodityinstitution formany years. He has recentlytaken on a fresh

challenge working for a new companywith commodities as its basis, basedin Knightsbridge. Stephen lives inSussex with an interest in shootingand countryside. He has a lifetimepassion for horses, both polo andnational hunt racing and enjoyscycling over the weekends to try and

remain fit. His mother andgrandparents originate from Scotlandwhere Stephen spent many holidaysand still returns every year.

Victoria Kinmonth-GordonVictoria isScottish byancestry. Herfather is fromGlasgow and amaternaldescendent ofKinmont WillieArmstrong, the

notorious border reiver. Brought upin Ireland until 18, she then attendedUniversite Catholique de Lyon. She isa Purser for British Airways and livesin Berkshire. Her passion isvolunteering for The Christina NobleChildren’s Foundation. Victoria lovesdancing, swimming, entertaining andkeeping fit in Windsor Great Park.

Melanie Mareuge-LejeuneMelanie is anadopted Scothaving movedfrom France toEdinburgh aged13 to attend theRoyal HighSchool. She wenton to graduate

from Manchester Business Schoolbefore settling in London working forJPMorgan Private Bank around thecorner from the Club. She is an avidtraveller, passionate photographerand keen skier.

Antony MarksTony is marriedwith two grownup children andlives in Scotland.He is ManagingDirector of aprojectmanagementconsultancyheadquartered in

Scotland, with offices across the UKand also in Houston and Prague. He isa Fellow of a number of Managementand Project Management professionalbodies, and is a Trustee of a charityworking to improve the lives ofchildren in Romania.

Jon McLeishJon is originallyfrom Aberdeenand attendedThe GlasgowAcademy beforegraduating witha Business & Technology

degree at Napier University in 2003.He then worked as an AccountManager for a leading creative agencyin Glasgow working across clients asvaried as Rocco Forte Hotels, GalaCasinos, VisitScotland and Scottish & Newcastle. Jon’ s passion has alwaysbeen to work in sport and after a briefstint scouting for Birmingham City inEurope, he joined the Sports MarketingAgency Platinum One. He is verypleased to join The Caledonian Clubto have the opportunity to meetfellow Scots.

Bruce P PritchardBruce is agraduate ofHeriot-WattUniversity and a member ofThe Institute ofCharteredAccountants ofScotland. He is

Group Chief Financial Officer of aCanadian Biotech group, and a non-executive director of a UK digitalmedia agency. Bruce is married andhas two daughters. He is a keenaviator, holding both EU and USPrivate Pilot’s licences. He also enjoystravel, fine wine and cycling with hischildren.

Adrian P C TearHaving obtaineda BA(Hons) inGeography fromthe University ofDurham, Adriancompleted anMSc inGeographicInformation

Systems at the University ofEdinburgh where he met, and latermarried, Elspeth McVey. Followinguniversity, Adrian co-founded andlater sold two companies, BusinessGeographics Ltd and Allegran Ltd.Adrian, Elspeth and their threechildren divide their time betweenWest Sussex and the West of Scotland where they own a 150 acrefarm on Bute.


MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

NEW MEMBERSStephen P AbramIan AitkenDavid K AllanCaroline J BanszkyAndrew BartonThe Hon Abigail A BlythSusan BradleyAlan J BurnettJ Angus D BurrellEwan R J CameronAlasdair D B CampbellRichard M CampbellMurray CarnegieFrancis J CassidyConstantine CostaNigel G CoxD Russell DalgleishGeorge DiamondRyan DunleavyDavid C G ElliottThom H EvansBlaise Fermor-HeskethDavid ForbesCalum W FraserR Paul M GilliesDr Philip W GoodwinCraig T A HarrowRosemary HetheringtonKevin J HolliganArthur M HughesScot T R HutchonDarren JohnstonMatthew P KinkeadVictoria Kinmonth-GordonJoanna LangeAnthony LockwoodGrahame P A LovettPeter B MacDonaldAedemar A McFarlaneAlexander MacIntyreJon McLeishProfessor Alison M MacLeodCaptain Colin A MacLeodJonathan N McMahonEuan F McVicarMelanie Mareuge-LejeuneAlastair Muir WoodGordon NelsonAlexander NicholasNicholas T ParsonsAntonio C PradoPaul RitchieAllan RowleyBenjamin C ScottJack S SinclairIan StalkerElla A Swinson ReidRory A Swinson ReidStuart Webster

FAMILY ASSOCIATE MEMBERSMark C BradleyJan CoughtrieJoan L KirkpatrickElisabeth MillerM Julia MontforteAnn F PayneHilary R Scott

RE-ELECTIONSRoddy A HamiltonJanet S HelleArchibald B JenkinsCharles H MacleanJohn F Woods

NEW YEARS HONOURS 2012The Queen has been graciouslypleased to approve theappointment of Member David E Reid to Knighthood for servicesto Business and to Charity.

NEW MEMBERS

William BrackJames (Jimmie) A BrownAlexander B GarvenDr Christopher G GreigMrs Isabel M Hardman MBE

Alan KeanDr James S McFarlaneJohn MunroLt Col Robert J D Reid OBE

Adrian B Whitelegge

IN MEMORIAM


In 2011 the industry generated

nearly £5 billion pre-tax

turnover. Single Malts, much to

the surprise of many, account

for less than 10% of bottles sold,

however, they represent close to 20%

of value.

At home we consume less than

7% of the bottles produced, one in

eight of which are bottles of Single

Malt. Here, as around the world, the

majority of consumers enjoy blended

Scotch whisky.

Our largest export market in

bottles sold lies across the Channel.

France consumes more than twice

as much Scotch as the UK with over

a hundred independent importers

active in the market. Visit a Le Clerc

or a Carrefour and see 100+ Single

Malts and 30-40 blends on sale

compared to the puny offerings on

British supermarket shelves.

By contrast, the USA takes many

fewer bottles but it enjoys the best we

produce and accounts for 14% of the

export value. It is the most valuable

market in the Scotch whisky world.

The US market is intensely complex.

Anti-monopoly laws require that

importers may not distribute outside

their own state. State distributors are

limited to that state and retailers

may neither import nor distribute,

therefore whilst Scotch brands

usually have only one importer, they

need different distributors in each

of the 51 states. Penetrating all of

these states, effectively each an

individual country, takes a newcomer

to the market at least 10 years to

achieve full distribution.

Some 17 of the states have their

own outlets and are thereby the only

retail customer. Counties within

states can be dry, and there is at least

one county which runs contrary to

its state and has its own shops. Add

to that the European 70cl bottle is

illegal in the US and a 75cl bottle is

required. Brussels changed from a

75cl about 20 years ago. The key

pack is a giant 1.75 litre with handle

bottle – which sells for less than a

standard 70cl bottle here. Taxation

is the only principal difference.

The BRIC emerging markets –

Brazil, Russia, India and China – are

creating a surge in demand as their

huge populations gain the financial

liberty to enjoy Scotch Whisky.

Particularly difficult is the demand

for aged Scotch from China, Korea

and Taiwan. It took a brave MD to

agree in 1999 to lay down vast stocks

to be matured 12 years to meet then

tiny demand. His successor today has

the unenviable task of gauging what

the requirement will be in 2025!

Not a task for the fainthearted.

The Caledonian Club has a

long tradition of Members who are

influential in the whisky industry,

including several members of the

Grant family, members of the

Worshipful Company of Distillers,

the Scotch Whisky Association and

the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Next time you sample a malt in

the Club Bar, consider joining the

Members on the Journey Whisky List.

On completing 50 different tastings

Members are awarded a blended

whisky of their choice, and on

completion of 100 they are presented

with a bottle of Club Malt.

Chris Parker

Scotch Whisky

IN FOCUS: Scotch Whisky

SOME FACTS BEHIND THE HEADLINES…

The Club Bar stocks 181 whiskies,including more than 150 malts.

The Caledonian Club Whisky Listcharts Members’ journeys throughthe whisky landscape.

The glamour of the big brands and of the specialist

malts are the headlines in most articles about Scotch

whisky. Go behind them and you will discover a

modern, worldwide industry that justifies Scottish

pride in both heritage and the future.


Tom RussellCMG CBE MA

Classics 1938-40

Naturally the warwas uppermostin our minds. I joined the OTC and received ahandsome silver with the Universitycrest medallion inscribed to CorporalT Russell as the outstanding recruitof the year. One of my memories ofthis time is of H J Rose, Professor ofClassics and Professor DarcyThomson, science Professor, who hadjoined the Home Guard, paradingthrough St Andrews, ProfessorThomson with a tame parrot sittingon his shoulder.

I subsequently studied atPeterhouse at Cambridge University and London School ofEconomics but always felt veryprivileged to have earned my degreeat St Andrews.

Gillian Waddell

One of the mosttelling commentsabout St Andrewsis that mostpeople emergewith hundreds oflifelong good friends! I know I didstudy. I certainly spent a goodishamount of time in the library, althoughas this was where most social activitieswere initially planned. AstonishinglyI even managed to sit and pass examsand finals! I lived in a flat called ThePurple Palace on The Scores, and itrocked most of the time with all kindsof activities and badness! The entireFrench rugby team came to stay atleast twice although none of the girlsin the flat were in the slightest bitinterested in rugby. Chariots of Firewas filmed when we were there andwe spent hours trying to lure NigelHavers and other stars up to visit. Theflat was a critical destination point

in activities such as our frequentDeux Chevaux rallies round town!

St Andrews was great fun! I don’tthink any of us ever thought aboutwhat would happen after we left –but the robustness of our lives at StAndrews has really stood almost allthe people I know in good stead –not many can out party us!

DouglasKinlochAnderson OBE MA1956-1960

Nostalgia hasbeen high on theagenda recently with St AndrewsUniversity ‘50 Year’ reunions. Thefirst was the Rugby Club, which in its100th year won the ScottishUniversities Championship.

At 17, much to my surprise, I wasselected to play as a prop forwardagainst the Howe of Fife. My opposite

number was the redoubtable DavidRollo, a powerful raw boned farmer inhis prime as the Scotland XV’s loosehead prop! Talk about the men againstthe boys – but in those days evenprop forwards were gentlemen andhe treated me with great kindness.

Living in Hepburn Hall with only30 students (all male in those days)was like having an extended family,irrespective of our backgrounds andinterests.

I was the only pupil from the6th form at George Watson’s whowent to St Andrews that year. Mybrother Eric had also done so andhad sent back encouraging reports.Sir Eric as he is now, became theHeadmaster and latterly Provost ofEton College.

St Andrews days were goldendays; it was where I met Deirdre. We were engaged on St AndrewsDay 1961 and celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary inJune this year.

SPOTLIGHT ON: St Andrews University

E: [email protected] W: www.cutture.comT: 020 7751 8395

BESPOKE LASER CUT EVENT STATIONERS

Members’ recollections of St Andrews University

“Where does education take

place?’ is a facile question

and the answer to it is

good and easy, too: in a classroom,

with students, a teacher (maybe two),

books, laptops, interactive white-

board and a differentiated task to

stretch the ‘top’, the ‘bottom’ and those

in the middle who we hope will do

better. Why education takes place is

equally straightforward: primarily to

provide a base from which students

can lift into employment, trade

training or university qualification.

The matter is settled. Education

takes place in a defined space and

the equipment is uncomplicated.

What’s more, generations of

pupils, with their parents in tow are

seen through education with these

questions and answers firmly planted.

An educational culture reproduces

itself and its young are ushered into

a dim, long and assessment-heated

corridor with the light way off in

the distance, its course interrupted

only by labels evenly spread along

its walls on which expressions like

Standard Grades, Highers, KS4, AS,

A2, BTEC appear.

This is a bleak vision of our

schooling but for how many people

in senior education now does this

ring true? Speak with any parent

whose A2 Level son or daughter is

about to enter the final term of the

fourth year of public examination

(yes, public assessment has crept into

3rd year or year 10) and he or she

will have to force back the sigh and

stop the rolling eye. Even the Gove-

driven shift to linear assessment

(examinations at the end of the two

GCSE years) will still mean three

consecutive years of terminal

assessment for those who want

post-16 education.

Granted, distinction between

one pupil and the next has to be

made and terminal assessment of

some description has to be bedded

into any educational process.

Resources and culture are set against

any alternative; objective ways of

making sense of further educational

and employment selection have not

yet emerged convincingly.

It is a matter of degree therefore,

which brings me back to my two

questions, ‘where does education

take place?’ and now let’s say, ‘not in

classroom’; and why does education

take place? Let’s say, not primarily to

provide lift into higher education,

trade or employment training. Let’s

say something far more ambitious

and elusive: it is a belief that “any

nation is a slovenly guardian of its

own interests if it does not do all it

can to make the individual citizen

discover his own powers.” Kurt

Hahn, the founding Headmaster of

Gordonstoun School, went on:

“…the individual becomes a

cripple…if he is not qualified by

education to serve the community.”

In his schools (Salem in Germany,

Gordonstoun in Scotland), taking

what for him was a habitual

philosophical cue from Plato’s

Republic, Hahn was committed in

education to feeding certain qualities

and starving others; aims which fight

against clear definition but are driven,

for a start, by belief, insist upon

individual powers being discovered.

These powers may be scholarly, they

may be artisan, they may be based

upon physical prowess; they could be

almost anything that stirs humanity

into service and community.

None of this educational purpose

requires a classroom and the rationale

for it is well clear of the nightmare

vision: a corridor studded with signs

to terminal assessment.

I hear sounds of protest: all well

and good in Hahn’s Gordonstoun,

beneath the Cairngorms, nestled in

alongside the Moray Firth; where’s

the application of these lofty aims?

Show me this in reality and I will

show you a cow leaping the moon.

Actually, there is more than

sound evidence of this reality in many

good schools already, both maintained

and independent; just not, by any

stretch of the imagination, enough.

SPOTLIGHT ON: Gordonstoun


Simon HC Reid BA, Principal at Gordonstoun

School, shares his opinions on the current state

of our education system.

Where does education take place?

Seamanship at Hopeman Harbour

Gordonstoun chemistry lesson

Fire Service training

SOCIAL SCENE


YOUNG MEMBERS’ INTER-CLUB CEILIDH

Autumn and winter saw Members and theirguests enjoy a wide variety of highly entertainingsocial events at the Club

L-r: AnthonyWestnedge, DavidMundell and Colin

Buchanan

NUMBER 9 SOCIETY

Another 15 Membersbecame eligible to jointhe lunch this year

Burns Su

Above: Adam Watson (Caledonian Club),Ciara Burke (ROSL) and guest Paul Stoll atthe YMS Ceilidh on 26th November 2011

Below: Claire Richards (Royal & OverseasLeague) and Member James Scrymgeour

February (above, l-r): ViceChairman David Coughtrie,Vice President Ian Menzies, Rt Hon Angus Robertson MP,Vice President Colin Buchananand Anthony Westnedge OBE

April (left): With MetropolitanPolice Commissioner, BernardHogan-Howe QPM

25 YEAR LUNCH 2012

Right, St Andrews Day Dinner(l-r): Rt Hon Lord Dalhousie,President; David Coughtrie,Vice Chairman; Pipe MajorIain King RVM, Club Piper; Rt Hon the Lord Hunt of WirralMBE, guest speaker; ColinBuchanan, Vice President;Ranald Munro TD, Chairman

Golf Society Members Bill McDermott,Roger Baird, Bob Pringle and Tim-Paterson Brown at the game v 'France' at Muirfield 2012

Captain Tim Paterson-Brownsquaring up with Past CaptainColin McCosh for the match at Woking

Mr & Mrs Bill Proudfootand Mr & Mrs Von Drehle

Chris Parker, Addressto a Haggis, marks therustic, haggis-fedRichard Moir at theBurns Supper 2012

Mrs Mina Oundjian, Mrs Irene Hinshelwood, Miss Tina Colquhoun, Colin McCosh,

Miss Morag McWhirter and Iain Murray

Left: Alba Lunch visit to V&A 'Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton' Exhibition

Below left: Oxana Shevchenko with Music Society Chairman Albert Cowie

on 21 February 2012

Below (l-r): Alison Hemmings, Nicky Spence, David Coughtrie, Dr Kirsteen McCue, David Hamilton

and Pam Holloway at the James Hogg Evening in March


pper 2012

Dr Stuart & Mrs Claire Blackie enjoy awell-earned rest at the Reeling Evening

Left: Ball ChairmanJames Fairbairn withHelen Flannigan andpartner Paddy ScottHogg, who gave the‘Immortal Memory’

Below: Top table guests

Left: Some people would doanything for a pay rise; SecretaryIan Campbell and Bluebeard theMaintenance Man at the StaffChristmas Party

Right: Raffle-winning motleycrew

Left: Membersserving thepirate crew at theStaff Party

L-r: Ian Menzies, George Gillon, Colin Buchanan, Rt Hon Lord Dalhousie (President),Grahame Young, Ranald Munro (Chairman), Ian Campbell (Secretary), Alex Wilson

Reeling Evening March 2012Great fun was had by all at the Club’s Reeling Evenings.

This year’s Vice Presidents’ Dinner was held on 27 March

VICE PRESIDENTS’ DINNER

Children’sPantomime 2011

Staff Christmas Party

Members’ Christmas Lunch 2011

Albert Cowie (2nd from right)with Steven Lane (left) and family

at the Childrens’ Pantomime on 19 December

With skills carefully honed during our

excellent clay calendar, our game guns

sallied forth into the 2011/12 season.

So to Hampshire and our first day, and the

first arranged for us by Roxtons. All eight

pegs occupied, and with one esteemed

guest we made a good account of early mixed

targets, recording a fair shot average with

Gun Grant in particular

enjoying himself

immensely.

Then, with coordinates

set in our satnav systems, we

made our way to Suffolk for

two tremendous days with

Andrew Brown, where nine

guns made good some very

challenging shooting indeed with a duck

drive excluding all but our expert shots. We

lodged in Long Melford at The Bull Hotel; a

favourite of Gun Shankland who was most

comfortably accommodated.

To finish the 2011 particle of our diary,

and as is now our custom we spent two

splendid days at Newlands in Dumfriesshire,

and although the winds of change have

blown through, we were made very

comfortable with the new and the familiar.

Our tally for the two days was a credit to us

and happy,we broke for the festive season.

January 2012 saw us make our way to

Deeside – to Glenbuchet to shoot the estate of

Gun Sole for two days. Gun Cooper was most

encouraged to be shooting in the snow and we

had fabulous shooting in the most spectacular

countryside.

Our schedule for 2012/13 is being created as

I write so please join with us to shoot this year.

Alan J Wallace

Please contact:David BaldenT 020 7333 8730E [email protected]

CLUB SOCIETIES


Scattered guns SHOOTING SOCIETY

December saw our fourth reciprocal club triptake place as we visited the Royal Bachelors’Club of Gothenburg for its Younger MembersChristmas Lunch. During the eight hour lunchour Swedish companions were treated to a finepiping performance by Struan Malcolm forwhich the Society is very grateful.

Weeks later our own Younger Memberssqueezed into the Selkirk Room for our ChristmasLunch. Encouragingly, the attendance was overthree times larger than our first ChristmasLunch back in 2009. A special thanks is owed toPaul Rodgers for pulling together such amemorable event.

We have hosted the Inter-Club group twicein recent months: an Inter-Club ceilidh withpiping courtesy of Member Neil Gillies, and inFebruary the Inter-Club Whisky Tasting inassociation with Philip Nickson of MorrisonBowmore Distillers. Both confirmed our Club’spopularity in the wider ‘clubland’.

Looking to the future, we have our annualWine Tasting in July to look forward to, as wellas an ambitious reciprocal club trip to New Yorkscheduled for September. This is of course notforgetting our ever-popular monthly drinks on

the last Wednesday of every month, to whichall Members are welcome; meet in the Bar asusual from 7pm.

Andrew J Fraser, Chairman, YMS Committee

YOUNGER MEMBERS SOCIETY

David Grant, Ian Menzies and Lt Gen John Cooper at Newlands, Dumfries

Alan Wallace & Jeff Fergus…coiled springs ready for the shoot at Newlands

Amy Nichole Banner and Caroline Roddis (member ofthe Royal & Overseas League) at the Inter-Club Ceilidh,26th November 2011

Philip Nickson of Morrison Bowmore Distillers andAndrew Fraser at the Inter-Club Whisky Tasting, 23rd February 2012

Start spreading the news

Despite a pleasing start, and five last-

minute defeats away from home, the

sheer physicality of the Championship

held us back.

At the time of writing we enter the

relegation play-off pool with Esher, Plymouth

and Moseley. We have beaten them all so

remain optimistic about retaining our status.

Off the field we were delighted that David

Reid, Chairman, was knighted in the New Year

Honours List and that Her Royal Highness

The Princess Royal became our Patron.

No matter how it turns out, the rallying

cry will always be… “C’mon Scottish!”

Jock Meikle

PS: We stay up!

New arrivalfrom Dundee “The concert was a dream! I don’t

think I’ve ever heard such virtuoso

playing at such close quarters…”

The above quote is part of a letter to the Clubfrom distinguished guest Elizabeth Nussbaum,following the concert given on 21 February 2012by the Russian pianist Oxana Shevchenko whopoured high praise on the Club’s Bösendorfer pianoand promised a return on 24 September 2013.

The much publicised ‘one to watch’ pianistIvana Gavrić will play Schubert, Liszt and theSonata in E minor Op.7 of Grieg on 18 September.

Our 80th Gala Musical Evening features, fromHong Kong, Mary Wu (piano) with a programmeof Messiaen, Chopin and Liszt on 23 October.

Following a sabbatical to give birth to herfirst child, Christina Lawrie (piano) from Dundeegives her debutconcert at theClub on 23Novemberfeaturing, toquote Beethoven,the “sheer genius”of Schubert.Christina will play theWandererfantasie.

Membersand guests aremost welcome. The format of theevening is achampagne reception at 6.45pm, followed by aconcert for one hour and a buffet supper, all ata very reasonable cost.

Albert Cowie, Chairman, Music Society

MUSIC SOCIETY


In a different leagueThat old cliché turned out to be accurate for Scottish on our return to

the second tier of English rugby.

LONDON SCOTTISH FC

Musical Evening18 September features Ivana Gavrić,seen here playing in Grieg’s home

Christina Lawrie fromDundee who will perform

for us on 23 November

BRIDGE SOCIETY

...for bothsocietiesThe Bridge Society meets on Mondayevenings. We arrange fours in advance,ensuring all play throughout the session.However, when we cannot make completefours the odd ones miss out.

More available players would help, thuswe invite other Members to join us. It is notnecessary to commit to playing every week.

The standard is good but not extreme;we endeavour simply to enjoy the bridgeand one another’s company.

Contact: The Secretary’s office or Philip Craig E [email protected]

SNOOKER SOCIETY

Players welcome...Members are encouragedto make use of theClub’s excellent SnookerRoom. It is large enoughto include a private barif you wish to hire it for a private function.

We are also always looking for newplayers to join the Club team to compete inthe Inter-Club Tournament.

Contact: David Balden T 020 7333 8730 E [email protected]

…and celebratingscoring against localrivals London Welsh

London Scottish in action againstNottingham…

CLUB SOCIETIES


NUMBER 9 SOCIETY

A new golfingseason beginsOur 2011 season ended with finals of the BoaseQuaich and the Boase Plate. Alan Orr won theQuaich (for a second time) and Ed Alford the Plate.In mid-November Bruce Leith & David Smith wonthe Donald Black foursomes at Denham when JennyBlack joined us for lunch to present the trophies.

The AGM and Annual Dinner in November wasa great success; some went as far as to describe it as”as the best for a long time”. There was an excellentspeech by Donald Steel and splendid response onbehalf of the guests by Member Gavin Hastings.

At the AGM, we elected Tim Paterson-Brownas our Captain, Ross Gibbons as President andCharlie Stewart as our Vice Captain for 2012.

Helped by regular glasses of Kummel, 48Members and guests enjoyed the Social Evening inFebruary. This year the event was organised by MikeRoss with a quiz by Colin McCosh. It was an eveningof great fun, and our thanks go to them, and to staffmembers Hishge and Alison Davis who do all the

score cards for the night, for a great deal of hardwork. Thanks too to Members who donatedputters, it helped to ensure the evening ran on time.

We had a splendid weekend in Edinburgh inFebruary, to watch Scotland vs France and to playgolf at Muirfield. A number of us attended the “TheVoice of Rugby” Charity Dinner for the Bill McLarenFoundation at Prestonfield, Edinburgh: another greatnight with excellent speakers. Roll on Paris 2013.

The Past Captains vs Captain’s match took placeat Woking in March. It was well attended and veryclosely contested with the result being an honorablehalf. The Spring Meeting was at the Captain’s club atDenham and our annual match against The ReformClub will be at Hankley Common in early May.

The Summer Meeting at the end of June willsee a major change with a visit to Royal Dornoch,Brora and Castle Stuart. We had an amazingresponse with 40 Members wishing to play andnow have a waiting list. It has all the makings ofone of the best Summer Meetings for many years.

The Autumn Meeting will be held at Worplesdon,and the AGM and Annual Dinner at the Club on31st October and we are looking forward to anothergreat season at good courses in fine company.

Our Membership continues to increase. We start2012 with over 100 Members, with another sixjoining this year already. If you are a golfer and wouldlike to join, please contact Anne Rowland at the Club.

Bill McDermott, Honorary Secretary

GOLF SOCIETY

Founded in 1997, theSociety’s guest speakerthat November wasDonald Dewar MP,‘Father’ of the ScottishParliament. ColinBuchanan & AnthonyWestnedge tell us more.

Our commitment to political neutrality

was continued in February by our

131st speaker, Angus Robertson MP,

the Scottish National Party’s referendum

campaign director, who introduced us to his

party’s position in favour of independence.

Our autumn lunches were enlivened by

learning of developments in funding the right

care and support for everyone from Tom

Hughes-Hallett, CEO of Marie Curie Cancer

Care, followed in October by Alistair

Buchanan CBE, CEO of power regulator

Ofgem, on the widespread challenges facing

us in the provision of national power supplies,

a questioner bringing the house down by his

recalling the Dad’s Army catch phrase “we’re

all doomed”, which clearly we were not.

Next came the superlative team of Rear

Admiral John Lippiett and his wife in

presenting a video-aided talk and a range of

personal artefacts recovered from King

Henry VIII’s flagship Mary Rose. The wreck,

which had lain on the sands off Portsmouth

from 1545 until raised in 1982, having

subsequently been restored is now in the

Naval Base in a controlled atmosphere. It is

to be moved this summer to a £35 million

museum erected nearby and funded by the

charity www.maryrose.org.

2011 was closed in fine style before

Christmas by A Boyd Tunnock CBE whose

hugely successful family bakery business,

founded in 1890 and employing 550 staff at

Uddingston, makes and distributes

worldwide their unique range of Scottish

icons including Caramel Wafers, Caramel

Logs and Snowballs. He entertained us

royally with his descriptions of his very

personal methods of doing business, based

on the highest traditional Scottish standards.

All present and Club Staff greatly

appreciated the Tunnocks products he had

generously brought with him.

The speaker on 3rd April was Bernard

Hogan-Howe QPM, the Commissioner of

Metropolitan Police, who gave a highly

entertaining speech ‘The present and looking

forward to the future of the Met’. The next

event lunch is on 8th May with Deirdre

Kinloch Anderson on ‘What tartan means to

Scotland today’, then, on 12th June, with

Daniel Moylan, Deputy Chairman of

Transport for London.

15 years and goingstrong

YOUR CONTACT FORALL CLUB EVENTS

For information on allClub-arranged events,please contact Mrs HishgeBatbold, Events andMarketing Executive.

T 020 7201 1509 F 020 7201 1500E [email protected]

The 19th Hole at Luffness New Club

VIce Presidents Alex W Wilson and Colin Buchananwith (centre) A Boyd Tunnock CBE

Ian Menzies, Alastair Buchanan CBE, his father Colin and Club Secretary Ian Campbell at the Number 9 Lunch October

RACING SOCIETY

OBITUARY John MunroIt is with sadness we report the sudden deathin February of John Munro, a recent Trusteeof the Society. His support and input to theSociety has been much appreciated, and ourthoughts are with his wife Lesley and family.


WELLSUMMERS STUD

Wellsummers Stud Farm visitWellsummers is an established and successful family-owned 60 acre thoroughbred stud inMarlborough, Wiltshire, run by Member James Stewart and his wife Marie Dominique. Foals and yearlings by some of Europe’s leading sires are currently on the farm.

James has kindlyagreed to host a visitby the Racing Society,and this has beenarranged for theafternoon ofWednesday, 23rd May.A report on theouting will appear inthe next issue.

Register now for Gold Cup The 2012 season will soon be upon us,

and our two horses Caledonian Lad

and Port Charlotte will have been in

action by the time of publication.

Our trainer, Hughie Morrison reports

that both horses benefited from their

winter rest and have been in training

at Summerdown. They are progressing well,

and Port Charlotte in particular has filled out

and is looking very different from the young

filly withdrawn last autumn in order to allow

her to develop naturally. We have hopes for

a good season ahead now that both are

more mature.

Last November the Society enjoyed a

well-supported Annual Dinner at the Club and

much appreciated our speaker

Adrian McGlynn of Weatherbys.

In April the Social Evening

and AGM/Dinner were well

attended and we welcomed our

new Members.

Future events will include a visit

to Club Member James Stewart’s

Wellsummers Stud, evening races at

Windsor on Monday, 11th June and

the Society’s Summerdown Stables

visit on Saturday, 14th July followed

by racing at Newbury. Following last

year’s day at Goodwood, the event

is being repeated on 25th August,

and the season will close with our

Annual Dinner in November.

We also intend to canvas Club Members

for possible support in taking a restaurant

table at the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday, 22nd

September. We hope both local and visiting

Club Members may be interested.

Alec Moir, Chairman

Contact: Hishge BatboldE [email protected] 020 7201 1509

Speaker Adrian McGlynn and Racing TrusteeDr Ian Galbraith at the Dinner November 2011

Dr William McDerment, Ronald McArthur, Mrs Lilimore McDermentand David Coughtrie at the Annual Dinner, November 2011

Racing Dinner November 2011

Mrs Maggie Boucher and Mrs Liz Jones at the Racing Dinner Nov 2011

MEMBER INTERVIEW


Fifty year old David Sole has been a Member since 2002.Educated at Glenalmond and Exeter University, he playedloose head prop at club level for Edinburgh Accies andBath, going on to win 44 International caps, an all timerecord 25 times as captain, not to mention Lions toursand Barbarians. He famously slow marched the ScottishXV onto the Murrayfield turf in single file in 1990 to winour third ever Grand Slam 13-7. Following a career withUnited Distillers and Diageo he has become a very highlysuccessful executive coach, after dinner speaker, andAberdeen Angus cattle breeder. He spoke to televisionjournalist and Club Member, Bill Kerr Elliott.

BKE: What’s your post-mortem on the Six Nations?

DS: Very disappointing for Scotland. In the last two games they were

very poor, but in the first three they showed enough promise and had

enough of each game to win it. But for poor decision making and

execution when it really counts they could have been three games ahead.

They should certainly have beaten England by a bucketful, should have

beaten the French, and but for a couple of sin bins and silly mistakes

would have been very competitive against Wales. I’m a great backer of

coach Andy Robinson and I hope he sticks with it though he must be

going through some pretty dark places at the moment.

BKE: How much did it mean to you to pull on that navy bluejersey with the white thistle?

DS : I’ve always said it’s probably the closest thing you can do without

going to war for your country. There was always that incredible

sense of pride and you recognised that there were five and a half

million Scots who would happily have cut off their right arm

to change places with you, not to mention millions of ex-pats

around the world whose entire focus was on your performance

on the Saturday afternoon.

Since I retired in 1992, I’ve understood even more about

what it means to play for Scotland and if I had known then

what I know now, I would have been a gibbering wreck

with the stress.

BKE: What do you think of today’s Scottish strip?

DS : I don’t find it particularly attractive but

I suppose it’s fit for purpose in the modern

era, although to be honest I would much

rather see the old cotton jersey with a white

collar rather than the modern one with all

the branding and gold bits, but I’m a bit of a

traditionalist.

BKE: Your own trademark white headband. Was that somethingof a statement?

DS : It was purely vanity. I started doing it when I was at school when

my mum said I must put a headband on or I’d get cauliflower ears in

the scrum. These were wise words as while my ears are maybe not the

bonniest, they’re certainly not vegetable-like, which is a great relief.

BKE: March 17th 1990. The Calcutta Cup and Grand Slam at Murrayfield!

DS : Everyone predicted that England just had to turn up. All media

focus was on England and to be perfectly honest this pissed us off.

If they were going to win a Grand Slam they were going to have to get

past 15 pretty determined Jocks. We had to make a bit of a statement,

that’s why I personally took the decision to march our side onto the

field. That set the scene. The atmosphere, the roar, Flower of Scotland,

everything was incredible and even now, just talking about it, the

hairs are standing up on the back of my neck.

BKE: Now, how did success in International rugby translate acrossto success in executive coaching.

DS : I had been with very successful teams where coaching was an

integral part of performance but I didn’t appreciate that there were

models and methodologies which one could adapt and use in business

so I deployed that with a lot of people I worked with and saw them

develop their potential far faster. I’ve just set up a new venture, School

for CEOs in Edinburgh which I’m very excited about.

BKE: How much does it mean to be a Member here?

DS : While I fully understand the need for functions, it should primarily

be a Club for Members. It’s a fine balance and I sometimes feel it’s

maybe going the wrong way. I’m enormously fond of the

Club and it’s a home from home. The staff know you, it’s

very friendly and

welcoming, the

facilities are

fantastic, and

it’s a wonderful

location.

IN CONVERSATION WITH…

Left: David Sole, with Bill Kerr Elliott

I’m enormously fond

of the Club and it’s a home

from home. The staff know

you, it’s very friendly and

welcoming, the facilities

are fantastic.David Sole OBE

We Only Do What’s Best for the Boys

Merchiston is one of the top UK Independent Schools and is theonly boys' independent boarding school in Scotland.

We take pride in specializing in the education of boys and preparing them for the world, as we have for over 175 years.

A Few Facts About Merchiston• Set within 100 acres of grounds, the School is only 15 minutes away

from key transport links and is also only a few miles from the centreof Edinburgh, allowing ease of access to a vast range of cultural and sporting opportunities

• Sixth Form boarding pupils reside in the purpose-built Laidlaw House

• Rated ‘Excellent’ for the Quality of Care and support and quality ofEnvironment by The Care Inspectorate 2010

• Strong links with girls’ schools including academic workshops, drama,concerts and socials

• Pioneers in specialist sports education – Tennis Academy Scotlandand The Golf Academy at Merchiston

• Over 30 co-curricular activities on offer

• Impressive range of languages on offer including Mandarin, Spanishand Japanese

• Science comes alive with spectacular new junior science laboratoryand outdoor classroom – opened 2012

• Thriving Design Centre – Young Engineers for Britain Winners 2011

• Masterchef kitchen – opened September 2011

Information Morning: 15 SeptemberBig Activity Weekend: 18 –19 AugustFun Weekend: 3 – 4 NovemberPersonal tours available all year:Call 0131 312 2201

www.merchiston.co.ukTOP SCOTTISH SCHOOL

FOR A LEVELS 2011

* Daily Telegraph and Financial Times League Tables, 2011

A Boarding and Day School for Boys aged 8-18

Merchiston Castle School, Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH13 0PU, Scotland Tel. 0131 312 2200.

Recognised by the Inland Revenue as a Charity, number SC016580

4x4 range fuel consumption in mpg (ltrs/100km): Urban 28.0 – 44.1 (10.1 – 6.4), Extra Urban 37.7 – 61.4 (7.5 – 4.6), Combined 33.2 – 54.3 (8.5 – 5.2), CO

Finance plans are subject to status through

1. 0% APR Representative finance requires a 50% deposit, other offers are available – ask for details. Indemnities may be requi

Offer is only applicable in the UK (excludes NI, Channel Islands & I.O.M), subject to availability, whilst stocks last and may varies by model.

Mitsubishi range

4x4 range fuel consumption in mpg (ltrs/100km): Urban 28.0 – 44.1 (10.1 – 6.4), Extra Urban 37.7 – 61.4 (7.5 – 4.6), Combined 33.2 – 54.3 (8.5 – 5.2), CO2 emissions 224 – 138g/km.

Finance plans are subject to status through Finance Mitsubishi, 116 Cockfosters Road, Barnet, EN4 0DY1. 0% APR Representative finance requires a 50% deposit, other offers are available – ask for details. Indemnities may be requi

Offer is only applicable in the UK (excludes NI, Channel Islands & I.O.M), subject to availability, whilst stocks last and may

ange with 0% APR Representa

4x4 range fuel consumption in mpg (ltrs/100km): Urban 28.0 – 44.1 (10.1 – 6.4), Extra Urban 37.7 – 61.4 (7.5 – 4.6), Combined

Finance Mitsubishi, 116 Cockfosters Road, Barnet, EN4 0DY and are subject to status to customers aged 18 and over. Finance Mitsubishi is part of Lloyds TSB Asset Finance.

1. 0% APR Representative finance requires a 50% deposit, other offers are available – ask for details. Indemnities may be required.

Offer is only applicable in the UK (excludes NI, Channel Islands & I.O.M), subject to availability, whilst stocks last and may be amended or withdrawn at any time. Offer available between 1st April and 30th June 2012. Specification

epresentative Finance1


and are subject to status to customers aged 18 and over. Finance Mitsubishi is part of Lloyds TSB Asset Finance.

be amended or withdrawn at any time. Offer available between 1st April and 30th June 2012. Specification


and are subject to status to customers aged 18 and over. Finance Mitsubishi is part of Lloyds TSB Asset Finance.

be amended or withdrawn at any time. Offer available between 1st April and 30th June 2012. Specification

Scan me with your smartphone


John Crombie, who founded the

dynasty, was an archetypal

entrepreneur of the new industrial

age. Born into humble circumstances

in 1772, he was the illegitimate son of

a Fetternear weaver. As a teenager,

he joined Kilgour & Co, a textile

firm based in Old Deer that soon

recognised his talents: before 1800,

he moved from the shop floor into

the counting house where his career

continued to prosper. In 1805, he

and three partners set up the firm of

Crombie, Knowles & Co in

Newmachar and the concern that

would evolve into Crombie’s famous

woollen mill was born.

His two sons, James and John,

managed the business in the next

generation. They relocated the mill to

Grandholm in 1859 when it became

known as J & J Crombie Ltd.

James Crombie was a remarkable

character to whom Crombie owes

much of its subsequent success. In

1837, he married the fascinating Kitty

Forbes, whose father, Theodore, was

an East India Company agent and

younger son of the laird of Boyndlie.

Her mother was his Indian

girlfriend, the exotic Eliza Kewark.

The combination of illegitimacy and

mixed race then carried a stigma

that would be unrecognisable to us

today and it testifies to Crombie’s

sheer strength of character that this

attractive couple overcame this.

James and Kitty’s son Theodore

would, in due course, lead the

company in its next generation, but it

is through their daughter Jane that we

find their most enduring legacy. Jane’s

granddaughter Ruth Gill married the

fourth Lord Fermoy and became a

Lady in Waiting to the Queen Mother.

In 1981 her granddaughter Diana

memorably became the Princess of

Wales, so the blood of these canny

Aberdonian businessmen runs in

the future King William’s veins.

Thomas Blake Glover, the subject

of a recent Caledonian Lecture was

the company’s agent in Japan.

It remains an iconic British brand

and the Club is proud to maintain

a close link with it.

Alan Hay, Member

MEMBER OFFER: £100 towards eachmade-to-measure suit purchased.For further information and to bookan appointment at the Clubhouse(available on third Thursdaymonthly) please call the store direct on 020 7434 2886 or visitwww.crombie.co.uk.

at La Galleria

Monday 14 - Saturday 19 MayDaily 10am-6pm Saturday 10am-2pm

nearest tubes: Piccadilly Circus and Charing Cross:British Rail: Charing Cross

La Galleria Pall Mall, 30 Royal Opera Arcade,London SW1Y 4UY

11th Annual London Exhibitionpresented by:-

www.corrymellascottgallery.co.ukcorrymella@corrymellascottgallery.co.uk

t 07763 789112

Please telephone or visit our website to view exhibition,join our mailing list or request a catalogue

A Gigha Landscape 30”x30” oil on canvas

*NEW VENUE*

The story of the iconicBritish clothing brand

SPOTLIGHT ON: The Crombie Family of Fetternear

Painted by Edinburgh-born

Adam Bruce Thomson (1885-

1976) it is the only known

full-sized copy of the original painting

by John Pettie of East Linton.

The Prince, clad in the Prince

Charles Edward Stuart tartan, is

entering the ballroom at the Palace

wearing the ribband and star of the

Order of the Garter. He is flanked

on his right by Cameron of Lochiel,

and on his left by Lord Pitsligo.

After his victory at Prestonpans,

and before he sojourned south of

the border, the Prince held court at

Holyroodhouse in 1745. Sir Walter

Scott in his novel Waverley (Chapter

XX, Vol II), provides a description

of this Ball held at Holyrood and

John Pettie captures the atmosphere

of the occasion; the Young Chevalier

is seen stepping forward, the

brilliant light striking his sash, star

and silk waistcoat, with flowers

strewn at his feet.

Cameron of Lochiel‘The Gentle Lochiel’, as Donald

Cameron of Lochiel was known, was

held in the greatest esteem in the

Highlands. He was of the opinion

that the uprising should not take place

until the arrival of troops promised

by France. It was against his better

judgement therefore that he was

persuaded to support the Prince.

Following Lochiel’s lead, other

chiefs joined the uprising and the

standard was raised on 19th August

1745 at Glenfinnan. Throughout the

uprising, Lochiel was near to the

Prince’s side, and, like Lord Pitsligo,

was one of the Inner Council. Lochiel

prevented the sacking of Glasgow

and persuaded the Prince to fine the

city magistrates instead. From that

time, if Cameron of Lochiel visits

Glasgow, the bell of the Tollbooth

must be rung in his honour. Lochiel

was wounded at Culloden, but

evaded capture and escaped to

France with the Prince. He was

appointed a Lieutenant Colonel in

the French Army and died in 1748.

Lord PitsligoAlexander Forbes, 4th Lord Pitsligo,

protested against the Union of

Parliament in 1707 and played a

significant part in the Earl of Mar’s

rising of 1715. After being abroad

for five years, he was allowed to return

to his estate in Aberdeenshire.

A nobleman of the most

irreproachable character, at the age of

68, with a squadron of 120 gentlemen

from NE Scotland, he joined the

Prince’s forces in Edinburgh just after

the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745.

He was a constant companion of the

Prince and was with him throughout

the campaign in England.

On returning to Scotland his

squadron of cavalry became foot

soldiers as their horses died of

exhaustion. After Culloden, he was

attainted and lived in concealment

until he died in 1762, aged 85. On

the death of his son the title became

dormant.

The original painting is on view

at The Palace of Holyroodhouse.

No authentic full-size portrait of the

Prince existed, so John Pettie asked

his son in law, Hamish McCunn to

dress up as Bonnie Prince Charlie

and pose for him. Incidentally,

McCunn composed the opera Jeanie

Deans and wrote the music for The

Land of the Mountain and the Flood.

The painting was exhibited at

The Royal Academy in 1892. It was

one of the last works of Pettie, who

died the following year, aged 54. The

painting was unsold at The Royal

Academy and formed part of the

sale of the artist's studio the

following year. It passed initially into

the R Wharton Private Collection

and was then acquired by Charles

Stewart of Achara who presented the

painting to King George V in 1916.

The Club’s PaintingThe Club has two outstanding

Jacobite paintings in the Sir Godfrey

Kneller of King James VII and II

(1723) and the fine copy of Prince

James Francis Edward Stuart (The

Old Pretender) and his sister Princess

Louisa Maria Theresa Stuart by

Nicholas de Largilliere (1695).

Our Club Committee in 1947

thought it right and proper that a

painting of Prince Charles Edward

Stewart should be acquired to fill an

obvious gap. On the wishes of the

Duke of Buccleuch (President), the

Secretary of the Club wrote to the

Lord Chamberlain to have a copy of

the painting at Holyroodhouse

made for the Club.

They requested the King’s

permission to allow an artist chosen

by the Director of The National

Gallery of Scotland to make the copy.

This permission was granted, and

suitable facilities were provided for

the artist, Adam Bruce Thomson.

The painting was completed in

1948. By a remarkable co-incidence,

the original painting hung close by

the Club, as Charles Stewart of

Achara’s London residence was in

Eaton Place until 1916.

Vice President, Alex Wilson

Member, Cameron of Lochielcomments “I think the Gentle Lochiel,despite his misgivings, joined the Princebecause he felt that, with the Frenchhaving left him in Lochaber, he couldn'tabandon him to his fate. It is still thecase that the Tolbooth bells in Glasgoware rung and indeed that occurred afew years ago when I and somemembers of the clan were entertainedto lunch by the Lord Provost.”


IN FOCUS: Bonnie Prince Charlie Portrait

Bonnie Prince Charlie at Holyrood

Vice President Alex Wilson pictured at the Simon Gillespie

Studios where the painting was restored

The Club’s most historical painting Prince Charles EdwardStewart was recently returned by the restorers.

Acknowledgements: Most interesting and illuminating searches were undertaken, involving a visit to Holyroodhouse, and correspondence with the Royal Archivist at Windsor Castle, andthe Royal Collection Trust at St James’s Palace. There were also discussions with Bruce Cairns of Kinloch Anderson, and many Club Members, in particular Colin Clark and the late John Scott.


SPOTLIGHT ON: Club Events

Born in China 1902 of Scottish

missionary parents, Liddell’s

early days were spent with his

family in Tianjin before being sent

to school at Eltham Collage and

subsequently matriculating at

Edinburgh University where his

ability as a sportsman and runner

took off.

His performance at the Paris

Olympiad in 1924, winning Gold in

the 400 metres, was all the more

remarkable as he had intended to run

the 100 metres but was disqualified

after refusing to take part in the

qualifying race, which was to be held

on a Sunday, in respect of his religious

upbringing. This part of his life was

immortalised in the award winning

film, Chariots of Fire.

He returned to China in 1925

working as a minister and teacher and

married a Canadian, Florence

Mackenzie, with whom he had three

daughters. He remained in China after

the outbreak of war and was interned

in a Japanese POW camp where he

died in 1945. He is buried in Tianjin.

The remarkable story of Eric,

known as Li Airui (李愛銳) in

China is told in the book by Sally

Magnusson, The Flying Scotsman.

Sally will give the Caledonian Lecture

and HE Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese

Ambassador, has been invited to

give the Chinese perspective on Li

Airui, a Scotsman still greatly revered

in China.

The Caledonian Lecture was

inaugurated in 2011 as an annual

event in the Club to honour those

Scots pioneers throughout the

world who have made a significant

contribution to their adopted country

while retaining their Scottish roots

and values. In this regard, Eric Liddell

is unique in being born in China of

Scottish parents, achieving fame and

recognition in China and in Europe.

To book, contact: Hishge BatboldT 020 7201 1509E [email protected]

The Caledonian Lecture on Tuesday 25th September

2012 will honour Eric Liddell.

The Flying Scotsman, Eric Liddell

Hogg in the limelightA great evening of Hogg’s songsInspired by Member Ian Galbraith, a Selkirk man, the Club organised a well-attended event on March 28th,focussing on the songs of JamesHogg, also known as the ‘EttrickShepherd’

The concert, followed by anexcellent dinner, was led by Dr Kirsteen McCue and sheorchestrated the musical support of her husband on the piano andDonald Stewart, fiddler.

John Sessions delivered versein truly theatrical style and Nicky

Spence sang in his usual exuberantway; a high quality group of firstclass performers.

Lord and Lady Steel, wellknown Hogg enthusiasts, lent theirsupport to the revival of one ofScotland’s best poets, songwriters,satirists and writers.

On the back of this success weare considering making a variationof this an annual event.

James FairbairnJock Meikle

Above: Presenter Dr Kirsteen McCue with fiddler Donald Stewart at the James Hogg Evening

Left: John Sessions, Nicky Spence, Dr Kirsteen McCue andJames Fairbairn at the James Hogg Evening

COMING UP


Dates in purple are a small selection of forthcoming events in and around London. Why not make a weekend of it?

Until 30-Sep London Wonderground Circus and cabaret events, Southbank Centre

8 Tue Number 9 Society Lunch Deirdre Kinloch Anderson 'What Tartan Means to Scotland Today'

8 Tue Golfing Society Match vs Reform Club, Hankley Common9-13 Wed-Sun Royal Windsor Horse Show Windsor Castle15 Tue Ball Dance Practice Johnnie Walker Room16 Wed Club AGM Smoking Room16-19 Wed-Sat Spirit of Summer Fair Olympia22-24 Tue-Thu London International Wine Fair ExCel22-26 Tue-Sat Chelsea Flower Show Chelsea Royal Hospital23 Wed Ball Dance Practice Johnnie Walker Room23 Wed Book Club Evening Library23 Wed Racing Society Visit to Wellsummers Stud 23-24 Wed-Thu Golfing Society Match vs Turf Club, Royal Porthcawl GC24 Thu Arts Group Evening Selkirk and Stuart Rooms24-26 Thu-Sat International Antiquarian Book Fair Olympia29 Tue Ball Dance Practice Johnnie Walker Room31 Thu Alba Society Bridge Game Card Room

2 Sat Investec Derby Day Epsom Downs Racecourse2-5 Sat-Tue The Queen's Diamond Jubilee weekend Various5 Tue Queen's Carriage Procession St Paul's Cathedral8 Fri Club Diamond Jubilee Ball8-15 Jul LIFT London International Festival of Theatre Various12 Tue Number 9 Society Lunch Daniel Moylan, Deputy Chairman

of Transport for London12 Tue Golfing Society Match vs East India, The Berkshire16 Sat Trooping the Colour Horse Guards Parade 18 Mon Club Open Evening Throughout the Club19-23 Tue-Sat Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse20 Wed Alba Lunch Selkirk and Stuart Rooms21-30 Thu-Sat GDIF 2012 spectacular theatre Greenwich & Docklands21-9 Sep London 2012 Festival Arts Festival running alongside

Olympics, various23-8 Jul WorldPride London Trafalgar Square25-27 Mon-Wed Golfing Society Summer Meeting, Scotland25-8 Jul Wimbledon AELTC, Church Road28 Thu Alba Society Bridge Game Card Room

3 Tue Number 9 Society Lunch Richard Moir, ‘Transnational Crimeand Tax Havens’

3-8 Tue-Sun Hampton Court Flower Show Hampton Court Palace5 Thu Cigar Dinner Oval Room and Terrace13-8 Sep BBC Proms Royal Albert Hall19 Thu Summer Olympic Barbecue Throughout the Club19-25 Nov Shakespeare: Staging the World British Museum21-22 Sat-Sun BT River of Music Various along Thames21-27 Sat-Fri Olympic Torch Relay Various26 Thu Alba Society Bridge Game Card Room27-12 Aug Olympic Games Various27-9 Sep BT London Live Big screen coverage of Olympics,

Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square

MAY

JUNE

JULY

FORTHCOMING EVENT SFor Your Diary

For further information on Club events, call 020 7201 1509

At the time of publication, accommodation was available at theClub for all of the above dates. Double rooms for Members are £160weekdays, £120 Fri-Sun (guests: £180 & £140 respectively), singles:£125 weekdays & £100 Fri-Sun (guests: £145 & £120). Price includesa hearty Scottish breakfast and VAT. Why not make a weekend of it?

JUNE: TfL DeputyChairman

Councillor

Daniel Moylan is

Chairman of

Kensington and Chelsea

Environmental Ltd and co-chairs

Urban Design London. He has

been Deputy Chairman of TfL

for London since 2009. Please

note that the June lunch will not

be on the first Tuesday as usual.

Tuesday 12th JuneE [email protected] www.caledonianclub.com

JULY:TransnationalCrime and TaxHavens

Member Richard

Moir is an

International relations, market

access and business development

specialist who advises companies

and Governments on world

trade, security and risk related

matters, with particular reference

to tax havens and ‘offshore’

jurisdictions. Richard will speak

at the lunch on Tuesday, 3rd July.

Tuesday 3rd July

Diamond Jubilee Ball in association with Johnnie Walker

Number 9 Society Lunches

Join us for the Summer Ball on

Friday, 8th June. To mark 60 years

of HM The Queen’s reign, the Club

will be Diamond Jubilee themed.

The evening starts royally with a

champagne reception at 7pm.

Club Member and partner £95,

Guests £105

Friday 8th June

E [email protected]

W www.caledonianclub.com

SummerOlympicBarbecue Our large Terrace can

accommodate over 100 guests, and

will be in full swing for this fun

event on Thursday, 19th July. Dress

is smart casual (but leave your

sports gear at the starting post).

Thursday 19th JulyE [email protected] www.caledonianclub.com

The President, Vice Presidents, Committee, Members

and staff of The Caledonian Club

send loyal greetings to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

in recognition of Her Majesty’s 60 year reign.

the caledonian club magazine spring 2012

Documents