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 A T I

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 Past-President 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 Robertreid111@hotmail.com with a tentative RSVP. That night—Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013 is actually—Saint Andrew’s Day!!!

In This Issue:St. X—Great Event!!! 1St. X Photo Montage 2,9-13*Schedule of Events 2Burns Night 2013 3CSHD 3Cinti Highld Dancers 3The Wee Link 4St. X 2013 Plan Ahead 4*Resource List 4Out of the Sporran 5Views of the Kilted 5H.M. Hghld. Servant 6-7*Email PDF Issue only*

Victoria = Mrs. Brown 8*

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 45212-4036If you have any questions please contact Mike at:739-3326 or 7393326@gmail.com

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Issue DeadlinesIf you have something you want to put in The Gazette, your materials must be received by:Spring March 1stSummer June 15thFall September 1stWinter December 1st

We solicit any and all articles about the Scottish Culture and

Organizations

Bill Parsons, Editor6504 Shadewater DriveHilliard, OH 43026513-476-1112wparsons1@att.net

Everyone 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

Make Your Plans for Burns Night—Jan 26th at Receptions in Loveland, Ohio!!!

A rearrangement of where the Seven Sharps bandstand was, provided a more centered area of at-tention for the entire program. WKRC 12 was there filming vari-ous areas of interest at this outstanding St. Andrew’s Ball!!!!

St. Andrews Ball—A Study In GREAT!!!

ISSUE 18 / WINTER ’12

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Dancing, Haggis, Bands, and Fun... was a the standard practice at this magical night;

and was the climax of the year—2012!

All Saint Andrew’s photo’s courtesy of Eve Brooks

This continues on Pgs. 9-13 in the Cyber-Gazette.

St. Andrews Ball—Extended Photo Montage!!!

The 2013 Caledonian Calendar

Jan 5 Annual General Meeting—Members www.caledoniansociety.org at Great Scott Restaurant, Oakley, OHJan 26 Burns Night-Receptions, Loveland, OH www.caledoniansociety.orgFeb 1 OVSS Dine for Dancers, Grand Finale Rest. 513-771-5925 for ReservationsMar 9-10 Celtic Lands Festival, Union Terminal, Cinti. www.cincymuseum.org/events/passport/celticMar 17 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, Downtown Cinti. cincinnatisaintpatrickparade1.netfirms.com/Mar 23 tentative Easter at Shriners Burns Project Cinti., OH www.caledoniansociety.orgTBA Spring Mtg.-TBA www.caledoniansociety.orgApr 13 CP&D Band Ceilidh, Sycamore Sr. Ctr., OH www.cincypipesanddrums.orgApr 1 3 Cinti. Indr Highld Dance Cmpt, Above Location www.ovss.orgNov 30 St. Andrew’s Ball, HofM, Neth. Omni, Cinti. www.caledoniansociety.org (2013’s Ball is on St. Andrew’s Day)

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The 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

For instruction or performance information, contact Missy Gentry at 859-466-7937.

2012 Recap

The 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 LouiseLReid@hotmail.com.

Cincinnati Highland DancersCincinnati 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!

Madison Williams, Katie Craig and Lauren Ballard at St. Andrew’s Night.

The Caledonian Society of Cincinnati Celebrates Rabbie Burns on Jan 26th!

Once again we will becelebrating 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

Come join the FUN with the Cincinnati Scots Highland Dancers!

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Our 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 be- fore Christmas! Scottish Gourmet USA has off-ices 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

Scottish Gourmet USA LLC 43 Davis Street

South Plainfield, NJ 07080-1429

877-814-3663 toll-free908-754-7447Fax—908-754-3880*Provided by Mike Brooks

Scottish Gourmet USAContact Mike Brooks at (513) 739-3326 for further information. Your Dues Need To BE CURRENT, So You Can Particpate @ The AGM.

AGM2013Annual General Meeting

Saturday, January 5th

Great Scott Restaurantin Oakley530pm Cocktails begin630pm Fish & Chips or Shepard’s Pie730pm AGM Begins

Caledonian Societywww.caledoniansociety.orgSecretary: Mike Brooks 739-3326 7393326@gmail.com** Gazette Newsletter: Bill Parsons 476-1112wparsons1@att.net

Pipe BandsCaledonian Pipe Band: Rob’t. Reid 444-4920 www.cccpandd.com/H. C. Sheriff: Stephen Watt 946-2296Emerald Society: Kyle Hess 616-7518

Country Dancing (RSCDS)Cincinnati Branch: Jill Cole 631-2429 Flying Ghilles: Doreen Bernstein 937-845-0310Heather & Thistle: Laura Russell 614-447-0620www.rscdscincinnati.orgNon-RSCDS: John Southcombe 872-2222

Highland Dancing and InstructionCHD: Louise Reid 528-5578louiselreid@hotmail.com CSHD: Melissa Gentry 859-356-5889mdgentry@fuse.net

Solo Pipers: Contact any pipe band

*Your Caledonian Resource Guide

Radio Programs of Celtic MusicWed: WOBO* (88.7 FM) 12 - 3 p.m. 724-3939Hosted by Jesse Andrews Sun: WNKU (89.7 FM), 4 - 6 p.m. 859-572-6500Hosted by Cathy CostelloSun: WOBO* (88.7 FM), 6 - 9 p.m. 724-3939Hosted by J. D. McEwans—Celtic Fusion*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.

(Clip and Save!)

www.scottishgourmetusa.com

The Wee Link: *A Society Member Acknowledged Link - Outside of Our Area for Review

St. Andrew’s 2013 Please read! As a response is being requested!

Oreparations 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—robertreid111@hotmail.com Or call 513-444-4920

Out of the Sporran: Wojtek Memorial Dedicated in Edinburgh Park

inLoveland, OhioJanuary 26

Robert Burns Night

Scottish Fun... Music... Dance... Entertainment... Pipes & Haggis

$24 for Adults $12 for Children (>12)Includes—Appetizers, Buffet meal

(Round of Beef-Grilled Chicken

Breast-Pasta ala Caprious) Vegetable

Bouquet, Buttered Parsley Potatoes,

Salad, Baked Rolls, Cake dessert,

Non alcoholic beverages

Extra—Cash Bar available

MEMBERS, FRIENDS & GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED

The £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.

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-be-commemorated.html

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Views of the KiltedPiper Don Neil’s Wife Passed Due to Cancer. He Organized a Memorial Benefit and Raised Over $10,000 for the Livestrong Foundation.

It’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.

Thanks again for your support,

Don Neildbneilpiper@gmail.comCell: 205-492-5157

Polish veterans units were presnt at the un-veiling of Wojtek’s monument. Pipers marked Scottish zoo-visitors love for the bear.

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

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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.

Her Majesty’s Faithful Servant

After 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

by Ursula Grosser Dixon, “Ursula’s Web History—www.nevermore.tripod.com/urshist2.htm

Her Majesty’s Faithful ServantThis is the Story of Queen Victoria’s Highland Servant—John Brown

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”.

...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.

8

...published diaries

provide the most

compelling evidence yet that Queen

Victoria married

John Brown.

Recently 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 sharp-eyed 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 Campbell-Bannerman 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

Victoria: ‘did become Mrs. Brown’

by Andrew Alderson, Chief Reporter

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.

All Enjoyed and danced the night away!9

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.

If you want to see Duncan Moir’s video go to: http://youtu.be/8htdOFNTFuM

St. Andrews Ball—Montage

10

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!

High-points included the piping in of the Haggis, and Past-President Arch Ott .

St. Andrews Ball—Montage

11

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.

The Caledonian Pipes & Drums, and Our Dance Academies were a highlight!

St. Andrews Ball—Montage

12

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.

After this year... all hope we see you in 2013’s Saint Andrew’s Ball. n

St. Andrews Ball—Montage

13

bon apetite

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.

Grand Finale 3 East Sharon Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45246

Friday, February 1, 2013

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 Restaurant3 East Sharon Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio 45246(located at the corner of Sharon

and Congress Avenues)

513-771-5925

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

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 7393326@gmail.com

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 robertreid111@hotmail.com)

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

AGM2013Annual General Meeting

The Caledonian Society of Cincinnati’s

Robert Reid

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: _________