Newsletter

NORTH COUNTY SCOTS
Newsletter
September 2011
Volume 7
Openings for Piping
Students
Ages 7 through 14
No experience necessary
Classes held in Vista on
Monday evenings
For more information call
(858) 592-9228
Piper’s Corner
Or E-mail:
CNaismith@aol.com
For background
on instructor Campbell
Naismith
Go to:
Vortexstreetmusic.com
Issue 9
President’s Message
Our annual general meeting will be on Sunday, September 18 at noon.
This is a potluck/picnic event. The North County Scots will provide the
meat and drinks, please brings a dish to share. There will be a short
meeting at about 1 pm, during which new officers will be elected. If you
are interested in being on the board of the North County Scots, please
contact me. If you want to vote, you must be a member in good
standing. There will also be a silent auction.
Other upcoming events will be the Kirkin of the Tartan on November 20
at 10:30 am at the First Presbyterian church in Oceanside; our Christmas
Party in December, and the Burns Dinner in January.
Mike Hamnquist
Here are the results for the Monterey Games:
Cameron Hamquist - Grade 3, 1st in 2/4 March, 2nd in Strathspey
& Reel, 3rd in Piobaireachd, and 5th in Jig. Congratulations!
The North County Scots sponsored the College of Piping and
received thank you’s from Chin Thomson and André Powell.
“Dear North County Scots,
Thank you for your generous sponsorship. Going to
the Piping College is one of the highlights of my
summer, and this year I would not have been able to
afford it without your help.
In many ways it was a wonderful graduation present,
as I was not only able to attend the college, but I was
given a new set of pipes as well.
Each year at the college is better than the last, and this
year was no exception.
I would also like to thank you for sponsoring the
second place prize in Kitchen Piping at the Vista Games.
It was my first Kitchen Piping competition and I was
blessed to do so well.
Thank you again for all your generosity.
Chin Thomson”
“Dear friends,
I want to thank you all from the depths of my heart for your
unforeseen kindness and generosity in awarding me a scholarship
that helped me attend the 40th annual Seumas MacNeill California
Summer School of Piping and Drumming in Carlsbad, California.
The art and music of bagpiping has an important place in my
heart akin to water, air and the laughter of my children. Thus the
thought of forgoing the pleasure of attending the school, economic
concerns being what they are, was heavy on my heart. You cannot
imagine the impact of your unlooked for and unsolicited gift. It left
me speechless and reaffirmed that though, ‘…in every life some
rain must fall…’ sometimes good things happen too. I cannot
begin to thank you enough.
The school’s quality tuition, its world renowned teachers, and
challenging course of study, not ot mention its unique sense of
camaraderie and esprit de corps, is bar none and allowed me to
access with greater accomplishment and satisfaction my deep
seeded love of the bagpipe and its music.
Thank you again for your generosity. Yours Aye, André Powell”
Tartan of the Month
Your Board of Directors
- Agnew
PRESIDENT
Mike Hamnquist
(760) 758-8096
There are at least two possible derivations of this name.
Firstly, from the Norman French barony of d'Agneux, via
England and Liddesdale in the Scottish Borders. Secondly,
from a branch of O'Gnimh, who were the hereditary poets
of the O'Neils in Antrim, Ireland. The name was written in
English as O'Gnive, then O'Gnyw and later O'Gnew.
VICE PRESIDENT
Rob McLintock
(760) 726-3691
SECRETARY
Barbara Lee
(760) 630-5108
TREASURER
Janette McLintock
(760) 726-3691
Whatever its origins, the family became established in Wigtownshire in southwest Scotland. Andrew Agnew was appointed hereditary Sheriff of Wigtown
in 1451 and his descendants hold that office to this day. Lochnaw Castle was
their base with another branch in Lochryan. Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw was
killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547.
MEMBERSHIP
Ginger Kullman
(760) 745-6633
The family prospered and there were a number of judicious marriages with
other wealthy families in the area. The 5th Baronet, Sir Andrew, commanded a
regiment at the Battle of Dettingen, Bavaria in 1743, when King George II
commanded the English and Hanoverian troops against the French (the last
monarch to do so directly). When the king commented on the way the French
cavalry had penetrated Sir Andrew's troops he replied "Yes, please your
Majesty, but they didna win back again". Sir Andrew later held Blair Castle in
Perthshire against the Jacobite forces.
WAYS & MEANS
Graham McGruer
(619) 425-3454
NEWSLETTER
Cherie McGruer
(619) 425-3454
PUBLICITY
Joe Fendrick
(928) 345-0682
The 6th Baronet married the daughter of the Irish Lord Kingsdale and the 7th
Baronet inherited the title and estates. He set about rebuilding Lochnaw castle
(though it is now no longer in Agnew hands). A number of Irish Agnews
emigrated to the American colonies, especially in Pennsylvania. The 11th
Baronet, Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, is one of Scotland's leading heraldic
experts and is the Rothesay Herald at the Court of the Lord Lyon.
MEMBER AT LARGE
Steve Ghio
(619) 300-5461
PHOTOGRAPHER
Jim McAuley
CHAPLAIN
Rev. Bill Brooks
The Agnew clan motto is "Consilio non impetu" which means "By wisdom,
not force".
MISSION STATEMENT
Dedicated to all things Scottish
The stated goal of the North
County Scots, as a non-profit
organization, is to sponsor
Scottish oriented youth
activities and find pleasure in
activities with other Scottish
Associations and friends.
From: http://www.rampantscotland.com/clans/blclanagnew.htm
Upcoming Events
Annual General Meeting, Brengle Terrace Park, Vista, September 18, noon.
Kirkin of the Tartan, First Presbyterian Church, Oceanside, November 20, 10:30 am.
Christmas Party, December 3 (tentative date)
Burns Dinner, January 21 (tentative date)
Traditional Scottish Recipes
- WhiskyWhisky-Mac Prawns
Whisky with green ginger is known as "Whisky-Mac" and the same ingredients can add an extra
sparkle to prawn cocktail!
Ingredients:
2 fluid ounces of blended Scotch whisky
2 fluid ounces green ginger wine
1 tablespoon of honey
A 1-inch square of peeled fresh ginger, chopped finely
2 ripe avocados
8 ounces prawns
Lettuce leaves, lemon slices and possibly a whole prawn, for garnish.
Method:
Mix the whisky, green ginger wine, honey, chopped ginger. Peel the avocados and remove the stone. Chop
the avocados into bite-size pieces, place in a dish and soak them and the prawns in the whisky mixture for
half-an-hour. Place lettuce leaves in six dishes and add the prawn mixture. Finish with a slice of lemon and
a whole prawn (if you have one).
From: http://www.rampantscotland.com/recipes/blrecipe_prawns.htm
Famous Scots
- Thomas Telford (1757-1834)
Telford was born into a poor shepherd family on August 9, 1757, at Westerkirk, Dumfriesshire. His father died soon
after his birth and, as a youngster, Telford had to herd cattle to earn money for the family. After a basic education (he
later learned chemistry, drawing and poetry) he became an apprentice stone mason. He travelled the country in
search of work and arrived in London in 1782.
A patron from Dumfries later obtained for him the post of surveyor of public works in Shropshire and his success at
that led to being appointed to be in charge of the construction of the Ellesmere Canal in 1793. His good work there
meant that in 1801 he was sent to survey the rural roads in Scotland, which were basically the military roads
constructed by General Wade after the 1745 Jacobite Uprising. In 1803 he was asked to implement his survey
proposals and became the civil engineer for a huge government scheme to improve communications in the
Highlands. In so doing, Telford built nearly a 1,000 miles of roads and 120 bridges over the next 20 years. He also
constructed the Caledonian Canal - 20 miles of canals linking 60 miles of freshwater lochs and he improved the
harbours at Wick, Aberdeen, Peterhead, Banff and Leith.
Telford also worked in England (including the famous Menai Suspension Bridge to Angelsey) and in Europe,
building roads and gaining a reputation as the finest civil engineer of his day. He was involved in the construction of
the Dean Bridge in Edinburgh and the Gotha Canal in Sweden. His nickname was "the Colossus of Roads".
In 1818 he helped to found the Institute of Civil Engineers and became its first president. Telford's aqueduct at Pont
Cysylite, on the Ellesmere canal in Cheshire, was described by Sir Walter Scott as "the most impressive work of art I
have ever seen."
Telford was a likeable and convivial man who was always ready with a story or a joke. His use of suspension bridges
was a novelty and he was always nervous about them - on the day when the chains were to take the strain he was
often found kneeling in prayer!
Telford died on 2 September, 1834 and is buried in Westminster Abbey. He continued to act as a consultant and
engineer to the end of his life. Despite his prodigious output, he left very little in the way of wealth - he had often
taken on projects for which he was not paid.
From: http://www.rampantscotland.com/famous/blfamtelford.htm
Advertise in this space for a year!
It’s time to renew or start your advertising. Simply mail in your business card and a check for $10 and you will
appear in the next publication.
North County Scots, P. O. Box 1953
Vista, CA 92085-1953
Visit us on the web at www.northcountyscots.com