Let Freedom Reign

Back in June 2004 I was watching the TV news and the first item showed NATO leaders holding a summit meeting in Turkey. During that meeting, President Bush was handed a note saying that sovereignty had been restored in Iraq. He wrote the words "Let Freedom Reign" on the piece of paper and handed it on. The following clip showed the leaders and their wives laughing and joking while enjoying a champagne cocktail dinner party. The next item of news reported that a 19 year soldier, Gordon Gentles from Glasgow, had been killed in Iraq. At that moment, the unfairness of it all struck me deeply and the song began to materialise. The following year, right on our doorstep here in Blackford, Gleneagles hosted the G8 summit. So much was promised to help "Make Poverty History". Again I was touched by the unfairness of it all … leaders signing agreements, shaking hands and holding photo calls for the World's media at their five star luxury hotel and starving people in some remote far off land with nothing at all. Make our world a better place for all … "maybe one day this will happen"

Do They Know

Like so much of rural Scotland, there have been many changes to the local landscape in recent years. I'm concerned that as the wonderful scenery and open spaces become cluttered with developments, the natural beauty of these areas will be eroded away. The worry is that more and more windfarms will just appear as less and less controls are enforced because green is seen as clean! 200 feet steel turbines springing up everywhere around us is not my vision of a better and environmentally friendly place to belong! Of course we must do more to preserve our environment but just who and where are the people who reap the huge financial benefits of these massive developments? We are in danger of destroying the precious landscape that we're trying to protect!

 Doune

The village of Doune is where I was born and brought up. I have wonderful memories of my home life and the people and places of the village. Some of these which come to mind are the old primary school, Kilmadock Church and hall, Dr.Finlay's Casebook, Shops - Danny's, Calders and  McClures sweeties, cubs and scouts, putting in Moray Park, the pitty yard, gasworks and much more!  (maybe a book is the next project!) My dear mum still lives in the house where I was born on Christmas Eve nineteen hundred and some time ago!!

Only Time Can Tell

A song of feelings on how time links us together.

Ten Tae One

I stumbled across this story about a Dunblane serving maid and Bonnie Prince Charlie and was intrigued with her support for the Young Pretender by her warning to him "Though hundred's follow at your word, there's ten tae one against you"!  Although the authenticity of this story may be questioned, one thing is real. Unknown to me at the time and only discovered some time afterwards, I actually wrote the song on the eve of the 260^th anniversary of the battle at Prestonpans and this is the story!

"Prince Charlie and the Dunblane serving girl"   There is the story of the serving girl in Dunblane who spent the whole night watching over Prince Charles and polishing his boots as he lay asleep in Balhaldie House on his way south with his Highlanders in 1745. As he awoke in the morning he stretched out his hand in a princely gesture to the girl, but she, overcome with emotion, kissed his boots instead and with tears streaming down her cheeks cried out, “Oh my Prince, my Prince, but there’s ten to one against you.”  The whole incident seems inherently unlikely but there is no doubt that the Prince did command intense devotion from his followers, especially his female followers. After the retreat from Derby the Prince’s army moved north followed by the Duke of Cumberland. The Duke stayed at Dunblane for the night of February 4th 1746. Next morning as he rode down Millrow in Dunblane on his grey charger a young girl appeared at the window of an old mansion house. In her hand was a pail of boiling water which she flung down upon horse and rider. It missed the Duke but struck his horse which reared up in fright and pain throwing the Duke to the ground. He was not badly hurt and was later able to make his way north. His soldiers rushed into the house but by this time the girl had left from the back and entered the underground culvert which carried the Minnie Burn beneath the town to the Allan Water. Here she finally emerged and made her escape. She is later reputed to have married a local farmer. But then she would, wouldn’t she? There is an even more unlikely twist to the tale. Some months later a male child was born. He was named James Steuart and in due course became Minister of Anderson Relief Church in Glasgow. He was believed to be of royal descent, which rather flattering rumour he never bothered to deny. His congregation even presented him with a pulpit beautifully carved with Jacobite roses. It has to be said that all the historical evidence is that, particularly at that time in his career, the Prince was far more concerned with gaining a throne than with more amorous pursuits. But if he should have felt the need for a little feminine company in Dunblane that night, the serving girl was certainly in the right place at the right time.

 Voice of Holyrood