Society Gatherings
For the first time in since early 2020, the CSA will be holding a monthly gathering in the Irish Cultural Center, our regular meeting spot for several years before that date. Our return to the ICC happily coincides with St. Andrew’s Day, so it can be something of a double celebration.
The diary date is Wednesday 30 November, at 6 pm. The plan is to have an informal evening with some good Scottish music, some stories, good company, and of course a nod to St Andrew and the story of how an apostle of Jesus became the Patron Saint of Scotland.
More details about the event will emerge during the month and be posted on the CSA website. But it would be great to see as many Society members as possible – old and new – come along and enjoy what we hope will be a welcome return to our old haunt.
There will be a licensed bar provided by the Cultural Center.
October Gathering Report
A highly successful movie afternoon was staged on Saturday 29 October at the Tempe Pollack cinema and attended by members of the CSA and the Daughters of Scotia.
The film provided for us by the theater was Mary Queen of Scots, starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie. It traces the story of a young Queen Mary in the years after she returned from exile in France to rule over Scotland.
While some of the historical accuracy was a little dubious, there could be no complaints about the standard of the acting – both lead women were first-class – and of course the scenic beauty of the Scottish outdoor locations was breathtaking.
Between 50 and 60 people attended from all over the Valley and it was a very encouraging event.
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Bruce Gandy Piping Concert
Piping enthusiasts may be keen to attend a concert in the Irish Cultural Center on Sunday 4 December between 2 and 4pm.
The event will be headlined by Bruce Gandy, one of the best-known and most successful pipers of the last few decades, both as a band member and a soloist. Based in Canada, he has been one of the dominant performers on the world scene for more than 20 years, and has won top awards in Scotland. He was a member of the 1987 World Champion 78th Fraser Highlanders band.
Supporting Bruce in Phoenix will be members of the Arizona Small Pipes Society, and performers from the Arizona Academy of Highland Dance.
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It Happened This Month - 1850
It is one of the most popular tourist attractions for visitors to Edinburgh – the statue of a Skye terrier who kept watch over his master’s grave for 14 years. Tens of thousands of people every year rub the nose of the statue of Greyfriars Bobby, the little dog whose statue was unveiled on 15 November 1873. The following is from the website www.historic-uk.com.
In 1850 a gardener called John Gray, together with his wife Jess and son John, arrived in Edinburgh. Unable to find work as a gardener he avoided the workhouse by joining the Edinburgh Police Force as a night watchman. To keep him company through the long winter nights John took on a partner, a diminutive Skye Terrier, his ‘watchdog’ called Bobby. Together John and Bobby became a familiar sight trudging through the old cobbled streets of Edinburgh.
Through thick and thin, winter and summer, they were faithful friends. The years on the streets appear to have taken their toll on John, as he was treated by the Police Surgeon for tuberculosis. John eventually died of the disease on 15 February 1858 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby soon touched the hearts of the local residents when he refused to leave his master’s grave, even in the worst weather conditions.
The gardener and keeper of Greyfriars tried on many occasions to evict Bobby from the Kirkyard. In the end he gave up and provided a shelter for Bobby by placing sacking beneath two table stones at the side of John Gray’s grave. Bobby’s fame spread throughout Edinburgh. It is reported that almost on a daily basis the crowds would gather at the entrance of the Kirkyard waiting for the one o’clock gun that would signal the appearance of Bobby leaving the grave for his midday meal.
Bobby would follow William Dow, a local joiner and cabinet maker to the same Coffee House that he had frequented with his now dead master, where he was given a meal. In 1867 a new bye-law was passed that required all dogs to be licensed in the city or they would be destroyed. Sir William Chambers (The Lord Provost of Edinburgh) decided to pay Bobby’s licence and presented him with a collar with a brass inscription “Greyfriars Bobby from the Lord Provost 1867 licensed”. This can be seen at the Museum of Edinburgh.
The kind folk of Edinburgh took good care of Bobby, but still he remained loyal to his master. For fourteen years the dead man’s faithful dog kept constant watch and guard over the grave until his own death in 1872.
Baroness Angelia Georgina Burdett-Coutts, President of the Ladies Committee of the RSPCA, was so deeply moved by his story that she asked the City Council for permission to erect a granite fountain with a statue of Bobby placed on top. William Brody sculptured the statue from life, and it was unveiled without ceremony in November 1873, opposite Greyfriars Kirkyard. And it is with that, that Scotland’s Capital city will always remember its most famous and faithful dog.
Bobby’s headstone reads “Greyfriars Bobby – died 14th January 1872 – aged 16 years – Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all”.
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Meet the Members - Nikki Schuller
TCSA member Nikki Schuller was recently appointed as a regional convener for the Clan Crawford, from which she is descended. She is responsible for the US Mountain area, which takes in eight western States. Here she tells how she ended up with the job.
It all started because my hubby found out the William Wallace's father married a Crawford! We went to the Queen Mary Games in Long Beach to find the Wallace convener and there wasn't one, I emailed them and asked why there wasn't a convener, to my dismay I was told he had passed away and did I want to take over.
I later befriended Bob and Lois Wallace, who are conveners and assisted/attended games in the southwest and California. After a trip to Washington, DC I found out that the statue of a goddess on top of the Capitol in DC was designed by a Crawford. Being a studious learner, I started researching my Crawford heritage.
Contacting the Crawford clan association online introduced me to Joanne Crawford who is a huge presence in the Crawford world, and she not only helped me starting out as a convener, but also supplied me with items for my tent.
She wanted me to be a representative with the Clan and take over from her after moving to Arizona. At first it seemed a scary responsibility, but it gives me the opportunity to travel (which hubby loves) and to also show my family our heritage.
My region of responsibility - US Mountain - comprises Idaho, Utah, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Wyoming, and will be for three years, I am hoping to attend at least one Games in the other states that I haven't been to before.
Luckily my first solo Highland Games as Crawford convener was at the Phoenix games and had half a dozen Crawfords who were excited to see our clan represented. The clan association has done their research and managed to trace back 1,000 years in lineage.
My hubby has continued supplying me with more books and I learn something new about the Crawfords with each one. I enjoy being a member of not only the CSA but Daughters of Scotia and invite everyone to inquire about how they can represent their clans heritage.
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Favorite Songs
When asked for his favourite Scottish song or poem, Society member Bob Wallace chose one close to his Scottish heritage. The opening line of the Robert Burns composition, Scots Wha Hae, says it all – ‘Scots wha hae wi’ Wallace Bled’. It once served as an unofficial Scottish national anthem and is one of the country’s most stirring tunes.
Scots, wha hae wi Wallace bled
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led
Welcome to your gory bed
Or to victorie!
Now's the day, and now's the hour
See the front o battle lour
See approach proud Edward's power -
Chains and slaverie!
Wha wad be a traitor knave?
Wha can fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Let him turn and flee!
Wha for Scotland's King and Law
Freedom's sword wad strongly draw
Freeman stand or freeman fa',
Let him follow me!
By Oppression's woes and pains
By your sons in servile chains
We will drain our dearest veins
But they shall be free!
Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow!
Let us do, or dee!
And here is the song performed by The Corries
The Corries --- Scots Wha Hae - YouTube
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November Whisky & Hike
Join us for a hike in and out of South Mountain beginning from The Warrander’s home in Ahwatukee.
There will be 3 hikes to choose from varying in difficulty and distance. The furthest being approximately 2.5 miles and the shortest 1.5 miles. The hikes will be led by one of our experienced hikers/walkers.
If you choose not to hike/walk you may join us for the Whisky at 11:00 a.m.
Brian Dverot of ImpEX Beverages will be supplying tastings of their Scotch Whisky selection along with other spirits.
Brian will also have information of where to purchase the products after tasting.
NOTE: There will be light snacks and beverages provided.
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