1st MARQUIS OF MONTROSE SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

A period of rather autumnal weather was not

enough to dampen the spirits of 18 society

members as we gathered at Fort George on

Friday 26 August for the society weekend trip

to Auldearn and Alford.

The group was once again well represented

from south of the border with several members

having travelled a long way to meet up for the

trip.

The mini-bus arrangements worked very well

with several members being collected at

Edinburgh and Perth for the journey north.

Following an interesting trip round the

impressive fortress which is Fort George we

then continued on to our base for the weekend

at the Gordon Arms Hotel, Huntly.

The Saturday morning saw us with an early

start as we had a busy day ahead of us. A visit

to Boath Doocot and Auldearn battlefield was

followed by lunch at the nearby Covenanter

Inn. To our great consternation, we observed

signs of development at ‘Montrose’s Hollow’ at

Auldearn. More about this can be read later in

this newsletter.

Following lunch the group made its way to

Bellie Churchyard at Fochabers for the

highlight of the weekend which was to be the

unveiling of the memorial to Lord John Graham.

A group of around 20 ‘Friends of Bellie Church-

yard’ met us at Bellie for the unveiling of the

memorial. The assembled group was addressed

first of all by Bruce Bishop of the Moray Burial

Grounds Research Group. Bruce described the

circumstances of Lord Graham’s internment at

Bellie and confirmed that Lord Graham would

have been laid to rest within the walls of the old

church building.

The memorial was then unveiled by General

Bernard Gordon. A prayer of dedication was

given by the Rev. Frances Forshaw before our

own chairman Malcolm McVittie addressed the

group to thank everyone who had helped to

make this unveiling possible.

The Friends of Bellie Churchyard have for some

time been supported by Baxter’s Food group, a

major employer in the area and a great

supporter of the Moray community. Baxter's was

represented at the event by Kay Jackson,

personal assistant to Mr Gordon Baxter. Kay

had been a great help to this society in

organising the unveiling event and she had also

arranged tea and cakes at Baxter’s Village,

Fochabers following the unveiling.

Cont. page 2

October 2011

AUTUMN WEEKEND OUTING I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Autumn trip 2

Tippermuir Talk 3

Auldearn Development Threat

3

Quatercentenary Celebration Update

4

Venture Faire Entries

4

I S T M A R Q U I S O F M O N T R O S E S O C I E T Y

Events

Dates

Contacts

Communication

Members pose for a

picture at Boath Doocot,

Auldearn

Registered Charity no. SC 041559

I s t Marquis of Montrose Society Page 2

C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 1 .

G E N E R A L B E R N A R D G O R D O N ( L E F T ) U N V E I L S T H E S T O N E , W A T C H E D B Y T H E R E V . F O R S H A W ,

S O C I E T Y C H A I R M A N M A L C O L M M C V I T T I E A N D P I P E R A N D S O C I E T Y M E M B E R C O L I N G R A H A M .

above Alford was cancelled and we had to be contend to view it

through the windscreens of our vehicles.

The rain did stop long enough however to allow us a walk from the

Murray Park car park to view the ‘Gordon Stane’ which the society

marked a few years ago with a plaque.

Malcolm McVittie once again conducted the battlefield tour and

members appreciated greatly his interpretation of the events of

the battle, described with his usual enthusiasm and his keen

military eye.

Lunch was enjoyed by the

members at an Alford Hotel

before the group said its

goodbyes and departed for

home.

This was without doubt yet

another excellent society

weekend with so much

enjoyment for those present

and with so much being

achieved, in the form of yet

another memorial, by the

society.

I f t h e r e w a s o n e

disappointment over the

weekend however it may

have been that, consistent

with previous similar events,

so many members failed to

make the effort to support it.

The forecast for Saturday had been very poor, with wind and

heavy rain expected, but in fact the gods had been kind to us

and the day stayed dry. Thus it was a well fed and satisfied

group which made its way back in high spirits to Huntly.

Saturday evening saw the group enjoy a society dinner in the

Gordon Arms Hotel where once again we were treated to the

piping of Colin Graham.

In windy and wet conditions we set off on the Sunday morning

for our visit to Alford battlefield. A walk to the Hangman’s Hill

Society members and ‘Friends

of Bellie Churchyard’ gather at

Baxter’s Village for tea and

cakes after the ceremony.

I s t Marquis of Montrose Society

On Sunday 2nd September society

member Paul Philippou and friend Rob

Hands addressed a group of historical

enthusiasts at Tibbermore Churchyard

to give a talk on the Battle of

Tippermuir.

Paul and Rob have recently published

an excellent book (available on

Amazon) entit led ‘Batt leground

Perthshire’ which naturally includes a

section on the Battle of Tippermuir.

They have both spent many years

researching this battle, and many

others in the area, and this was

evident in the quality of their

presentation, which was appreciated

by the assembled group.

Our society was represented by

members Norman and Rebecca King

and society secretary Brian Robertson.

Page 3

T I P P E R M U I R BA TT L E F I E L D TA L K

‘MONTROSE’S HOLLOW’ THREATENED BY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

Paul and Rob (right of centre) give their

presentation.

During our recent visit to Auldearn battlefield society members

were shocked and saddened to see that part of the battlefield,

Montrose’s Hollow’, has recently been developed upon and a

number of houses (phase 1) now cover the eastern part of the

area. The developing body is the Albyn Housing Society,

supported by the Scottish Government.

Montrose’s Hollow was significant in the battle because it was

from this concealed position where Montrose and the Gordon

Horse sprang to inflict a crushing blow on the right flank of the

Covenant army. This manoeuvre proved decisive and the

resulting victory for the Royalists inflicted a severe blow on the

Covenant movement in Scotland.

During 2009 and 2010 our society took part in the consultative

process, under the direction of Historic Scotland, which was to

form the cornerstone of a new Scottish Historical Environment

Policy (SHEP). This policy was formed specifically to give

instruction on the protection of battlefields and other historical

sites in Scotland. SHEP has received the endorsement of

ministers of the Scottish Parliament.

At the end of 2010 Historic Scotland produced an initial list of

17 sites which were to be protected under the new SHEP

policy, and Auldearn battlefield is on that list.

The Scottish Government would seem to be acting in a

contradictory manner by supporting the SHEP policy, whilst at

the same time backing a development by the Albyn Housing

Society which is constructing houses on a site which the

Government says should receive special protection.

The society has made representation to Highland Council;

Historic Scotland and the local MSP Fergus Ewing in an

attempt to find out how this development was allowed to

proceed and what, if anything, can be done to halt it.

Montrose’s Hollow is perhaps one of the most significant sites

associated with the 1st Marquis. Every effort must be made to

prevent its destruction by this development.

Montrose’s Hollow prior to the development.

Society Chairman:

Malcolm McVittie

16 Market Place

Lauder

TD2 6SR

Phone: 01578 718776

E-Mail:

malcolm@biscuit46.co.uk

1st MARQUI S OF MONTROSE SOCIET Y

(April-June) - Exhibition in Stirling

(July-Sept) - Exhibition in Montrose

Museum.

(Sept) - Society weekend in

Montrose to include activities and

excursions.

A special feature in the Edinburgh Military

tattoo was planned but may not now

happen. Other activities may be brought

into the programme as time and cost

permits.

More information will be made available

to members in the next issue of Venture

Faire which will be issued as usual at the

end of the year.

Our chairman Malcolm McVittie continues

to work tirelessly in pursuit of next year’s

arrangements to celebrate the 400th

anniversary of Montrose’s birth.

The funding application to the Heritage

Lottery Fund is submitted and we await

word on its success or otherwise.

Much of next year’s activities will depend

on this application and no definite

arrangements can be made until the

outcome of this is known.

Other funding applications have also

been submitted to other bodies but these

are smaller applications and the Heritage

Lottery Fund is by far the most significant.

Still planned for next year are:

(May) - Service of Commemoration

at St Giles.

2 0 1 2 Q U A T E R C E N T E N A R Y C E L E B R A T I O N S U P D A T E

Society Secretary:

Brian Robertson

14 Silverknowes Bank

EDINBURGH

EH4 5PB

Phone: 0131 336 4039

E-Mail:

Robs14@blueyonder.co.uk

Society Treasurer:

Mrs Jo Woolley

Mountboy By MONTROSE

Angus DD10 9YR

Phone: 01674 820234

E-Mail: jw@targetowing.co.uk

Website:

www.montrose-

society.org.uk

Entries required for Venture Faire

Entries are now sought for this winter’s issue of Venture Faire. Items

(preferably of a historical nature) should ideally be in electronic ‘Word’ format

and consist of anything up to 4 or 5 pages of typed script, including

photographs. Small interesting snippets, or poems etc., are also welcome. This

is YOUR chance to contribute to YOUR magazine, so don’t miss it! Any entries

to the secretary please by 15 November latest.

Is t Marquis of Montrose Society Page 4

Society Chairman:

Malcolm McVittie

16 Market Place

Lauder

TD2 6SR

Phone: 01578 718776

E-Mail:

malcolm@biscuit46.co.uk

Colin Graham treats the diners to a medley of pipe tunes at the society dinner.