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THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY OF LOS ANGELES

NEW PODCASTS

The World's leading Economist, Sir Angus Deaton

discusses happiness, poverty, and capitalism in the United States, Scotland and around the world.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 16th at Raleigh Studios, Hollwood:

U.S. Movie Premiere of

"My Old School"

Starring: Alan Cumming

Directed and Written by: Jono McLeod

Join us at 4:00 pm at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood for an exclusive screening and live Q&A with Jono McLeod!

Includes a VIP After Party!

BUY MEMBER TICKETS

BUY NON-MEMBER TICKETS

THANK YOU

Scottish Fest USA 2022 was a huge success!

Thank you to everyone who participated in making it

such a great event!

And a huge congratulations to the City of Angels Pipe Band who won their first competition at their debut at Scottish Fest! We are so proud of you!

THE QUEEN'S PLATINUM JUBILEE

If you couldn't be in London to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, the BABC LA and BritWeek will be hosting a celebration event Sunday, July 10th at the Fairmont Hotel in Santa Monica. Click below for more information!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Blair Mowat

Blair was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, until the age of 18 before studying Music at Durham University followed by an MA in Composition for Film and TV from The University of Bristol. Blair is a BAFTA-nominated composer for film and television who has built up an impressive career over the last 15 years. In 2012 he was nominated for a Creative Scotland Award for 'Best New Talent in the Scottish Arts'. Previously based in London, he recently relocated to Los Angeles, and having just built a recording studio there, is looking forward to taking the next step in his career and making new connections in LA.

In late 2021 Blair was the first composer to work with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in their new recording space Scotland's Studio, conducting and recording the score to a remake of the 1972 feature film The Amazing Mr Blunden, directed and adapted by Mark Gatiss. He has composed the music for many shows such as Class, a spin-off from Doctor Who, and McDonald & Dodds - a hit British TV show available on BritBox in the US.

His mother was brought up in Forres, Morayshire, and his father was born in Lanark. He is a proud Scot, with a large single malt collection, and still frequently visits the homeland where many of his family and friends still live. It doesn't take much to convince him to get the kilt out, so members can expect to see him sauntering in some tartan at a members' event soon!

IN MEMORIAM

Alex Beaton

July 1944 - May 2022

Last month we lost Alex Beaton, who was one of the best known Scottish folksinger's around. He made more than 35 concert appearances yearly at various events across the United States (primarily highland games). Beaton had been called "the country's most popular Scottish folk singer," and he was also known for his keen knowledge of Scotland's history. Beaton had over 21 albums to his credit.

Alex was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to a Scottish father and an Irish mother, and began his musical career as a member of The Cumberland Three, one of Britain's top folk groups in the early 1960s. Alex emigrated to the United States in 1965 and then served in the US Army, entertaining troops. He launched his solo music career in New York in 1969. He pioneered folk music at Scottish Festivals and his popularity grew opening doors for other Entertainers to follow.

In 2011 Alex was paralyzed from the neck down due to a severely compressed cervical disc. After that, he was not able to perform, but would still visit different festivals from time to time.

Per Alex's request, he was cremated and his ashes have now been taken back to Scotland. He also requested that there be no funeral or memorial service as he'd like everyone to remember him in their own way. He will be sorely missed!

~ Rest in Peace ~

BOOK CORNER

In The Clanlands Almanac, Sam and Graham turn tour guides once again to bring readers more epic tales in this seasonal meander through the wilds of Scotland. From First Footing to Samhain, Fringe Festival follies to whisky lore, these beloved Scottish actors guide readers through a year of Scottish legends, locations, traditions, and historical and contemporary events, sharing stories and tips as only these two chalk-and-cheese friends can.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

WHISKY SPOTLIGHT

Father's Day is this weekend! Why not treat him to a bottle of Glenfiddich's Grand Cru!

This exclusive Glenfiddich expression has been matured for 23 years in American and European oak casks and elegantly finished in rare French Cuvee casks.

The finest flavors from Scotland and France have been fused together through the art of experimentation, to redefine moments of celebration and create a new and extraordinary drinking experience.

LEARN MORE ON GLENFIDDICH.COM

THIS MONTH IN SCOTTISH HISTORY

7 June 1329: Robert the Bruce dies aged 55. He is succeeded by his five-year-old son, David II.

8 June 793: The monastery at Lindisfarne suffers its first raid by Vikings. Others will follow, leading to the abandonment of the monastery in 875.

9 June 597: St Columba dies in his monastery at Iona.

10 June 1688: James VII/II and his wife Mary of Modena have a son, christened James Francis Edward. Many Scots - and English - are concerned by the prospect of a continuing Catholic Stewart dynasty.

11 June 1488: James III seeks to capture his eldest son, James, Duke of Rothesay, who at 15 is becoming a focus for dissent in the kingdom. Following the Battle of Sauchieburn between their supporters near Stirling, on the site of the earlier Battle of Bannockburn, the injured James III is murdered by persons unknown.

11 June 1560: The death in Edinburgh Castle of Marie de Guise, Regent of Scotland and mother of Mary, Queen of Scots.

11 June 1727: The death in Germany of King George I. He is succeeded by King George II.

11 June 1930: The liner RMS Empress of Britain is launched at John Brown's shipyard on the Clyde by HRH Prince of Wales.

11 June 1975: The first North Sea oil is pumped ashore at Sullom Voe in Shetland.

12 June 1997: The island of Eigg passes into community ownership when it is purchased by the Eigg Heritage Trust.

13 June 1625: King Charles I marries Henrietta Maria, daughter of King Henry IV of France.

14 June 1645: The New Model Army, with Oliver Cromwell as its second-in-command, wins the decisive victory of the Civil War at Naseby.

15 June 1567: Scottish nobles intent on retrieving Mary Queen of Scots from James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, meet the couple and a thousand supporters at Carberry Hill, east of Edinburgh. After a day-long stand-off, Mary agrees to the nobles' demands and sends Bothwell away. They never meet again. Mary is taken away to imprisonment in Lochleven Castle on an island in Loch Leven, near Kinross.

15 June 1945: The RMS Queen Mary leaves Gourock on the River Clyde, taking 15,000 US troops home.

16 June 1338: The English give up their siege of Dunbar Castle, whose defense is commanded by Agnes Randolph of Dunbar, after five months.

16 June 1548: A large French army lands at Leith to support the Scots following an agreement that Mary Queen of Scots, still only five, would marry Francois, eldest son of King Henri II of France.

17 June 1390: Alexander Stewart, youngest son of Robert II and younger brother of John, Earl of Carrick (now Robert III) and Robert, Earl of Fife destroys Elgin Cathedral in reprisal against Bishop Alexander Bur. He is better remembered as the "Wolf of Badenoch".

17 June 1790: The death in Canada of William Davidson, the lumber merchant, shipbuilder, and politician.

17 June 1943: The death in Gullane of Annie S. Swan, a prolific novelist who specialized in light romantic fiction.

18 June 1633: The Scottish coronation of King Charles I in St Giles Cathedral is accompanied by an Anglican service, a sign of the conflict to come.

18 June 1639: King Charles' English army reaches Berwick-upon-Tweed but when confronted with a much larger Scots army he agrees a truce, the "Pacification of Berwick".

19 June 1566: Mary Queen of Scots gives birth to a son, Charles James, at Edinburgh Castle.

24 June 1314: An English army under King Edward II sent to relieve Stirling Castle is defeated by Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn. Edward II only narrowly escapes with his life. It is the most notable single military victory in Scottish history.

24 June 1488: The coronation at the age of 15 of King James IV, arguably the first effective monarch of the House of Stewart.

26 June 1830: King George IV dies: he is succeeded by King William IV.

27 June 1746: Flora MacDonald sails "over the sea to Skye" from Benbecula with a disguised Bonnie Prince Charlie.

28 June 1491: The birth of Henry Tudor, who as King Henry VIII of England had a huge impact on Scotland.

28 June 1838: Queen Victoria is crowned in Westminster Abbey in London.

29 June 1559: John Knox preaches a sermon in St Giles' in Edinburgh that can be regarded as the real starting point of the Reformation of the Church in Scotland.

29 June 1995: The first spirit legally distilled on the Isle of Arran since 1836 flows through the spirit safe of the Isle of Arran Distillery in Lochranza.

Source: UndiscoveredScotland.com