The AGM weekend will be just coming to an end, and hopefully everyone has had a good day at Stirling Castle as the heavy rains of Friday and part of Saturday thankfully made way for a bit of sun.
I very nearly didn’t make the weekend at all. Away at a wedding last weekend I picked up a virus and spent the week in bed – worried that I wouldn’t be able to give my scheduled talk on Marthe on Saturday morning. As it turned out I made it, but it was a very close run thing and I had to skip the Friday night opening meal to ensure I was sufficiently recovered for the Saturday.
The first two Saturday speakers gave us talks on the archaeological work that’s been done at Stirling Castle – useful preparation for the Sunday excursion – and then after a short coffee break it was my turn. Fortunately my voice held up sufficiently to get through it and I was happy to hear plenty of good feedback. It remains to be seen whether I converted anyone to my point of view since most people seemed to start with fairly negative views of Marthe, though a couple did say they would be reconsidering their opinions on their next read. I’ll be posting the text of my talk here soon so you can all judge for yourselves.
The afternoon talk was by Dr Jennifer Scarce on Ottoman Dress and how it was used to differentiate the various levels of society. Shortly before the end I found the effects of the virus catching up on me and headed for home for a couple of hours of much-needed sleep so I could return for the evening meal, and only just woke up in time to make it back. An excellent meal and stimulating conversation, along with a short talk by Judith Wilt and presentations to Simon Hedges and Olive Millward brought the day to a satisfying close; well a least once Ann McMillan, Simon and I had indulged in our now-traditional discussion on politics in the bar afterwards. 😉
Simon and Olive
I must say a few words about these two stalwarts of the society. Olive, having organised many AGMs previously, responded to the call and stepped in again this year with her usual efficiency and flair. She’s even managed to sort out next year by persuading Kathy Lewis into taking on the job.
Simon was stepping down as Chairman after a very successful tenure. A long standing committee member he had previously been Secretary, always a difficult job in any organisation, before following me when I decided to step down due to insufficient time. During his chairmanship the society has moved forward substantially and, while all the committee members deserve credit, much of that is due to his stewardship. How he’s managed to combine it with the very complex organisation of the Dunnett Siege of Istanbul which is due to occur later this year I don’t know, (Olive is of course involved there too) but it’s been an astonishing effort and he will certainly be missed. All our thanks are due to them both for many years of sterling work.
The last few months have been so busy for me that I was horrified to realise during the dinner that I hadn’t contributed to Simon’s book of thanks, so I hope he’ll accept this as my way of saying thanks for all his work for the cause of Dunnettry.
As always, thanks Billl,
As you know Jerry and I had planned to attended, but could not. I am glad all went well, but then when did a Dunnett gathering go bad. (g)
Hugs,
Mickey
Would it be possible for you to upload the text of the various talks given–the archaeological discoveries, Ottoman dress, the character of Marthe, etc–on the blog? A lot of us who enjoy Ms. Dunnett’s work might not be able to travel to the UK or attend the AGM, however much we might want to, but we would really be interested to know more.
Secondly, I’ve been recommending Ms. Dunnett’s books to a lot of people I got to know online–I got interested in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, which is set in a fantasy world modelled on the Wars of the Roses period. It’s very gritty and realistic–you have a knight of the Kingsguard, who’s supposed to be chaste, carrying on an incestous affair with his sister, the Queen (shades of Gabriel and Joleta?). When they are discovered in the act by a seven year old boy, they throw him off a tower, thus setting off an assassination, an execution and civil war. It’s an engrossing read, very like the Lymond/Niccolo books–I still recall sitting up to 5 a.m. in the morning, finishing the one set in Mali. And I will never forget the climax of the second book in the Lymond series, or the begginging of Disorderly Knights, which had me in splits. Poor Will Scott! Are these Scotts the ancestors of Sir Walter Scott?
Hi Mickey. You were missed of course. Though as it turned out I wouldn’t have been able to meet you both for the visit to the NLS or for a meal as I was stuck in bed, and that would have been a disappointment too. Never mind, when you do get a chance to come over again we’ll do all that and more.
much love
Bill
Hi Devaki and welcome.
I have no control over the other talks I’m afraid. It’s possible they will appear in Whispering Gallery magazine depending on the arrangement that the DDS came to with the speakers. I don’t know what that was offhand as I’m no longer on the committee, though I will try and find out. However the talk on Marthe is mine and will appear here very shortly.
Thanks for the recommendation, readers are always looking for worthwhile books, as reading Dorothy puts most others in the shade.
Yes, the start of DK is wonderfully funny despite the serious events in the background, and as I was just saying in conversation on Saturday it’s one of the few instances when the Crawford brothers are seen working closely together, which is a lovely sight. Re the Scotts, they are part of the same family, though the direct descendent is the current Duke of Buccleuch and Sir Walter Scott’s line was a branch I believe.