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statue there was not a dry eye on the coach, even the driver was busy wiping his eyes on his sleeve.
‘One of the strangest things that I was asked was about eight years ago when again I had left the Castle and we were on our way to the Marriott Hotel. We turned down the Mound and turned left onto Princess Street when an American lady called out "Keith what is that big building on the hill to the left." I could not believe my ears and as I didn't want to make her feel stupid I answered “On the left you can see one of the most beautiful views of Edinburgh Castle rarely seen with the moon just rising behind it. I am glad you pointed that out as I have only seen that view once back in the 1980s.” At the hotel her husband smiled at me and said thank you, you made her day and slipped me a fiver. That lady will go home and always remember her trip to Edinburgh.
‘One of the funniest things that I can recall is on a walking tour from the Castle down the Mile with a small group of 12 people all from America. We arrived at the corner at Deacon Brodie's Tavern and after telling the tale of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde, I said to them “we are now going to cross the road so please stay together and cross with me."
‘As soon as the lights changed I started to move and said let's go. One loud mouthed lady said "Keith what's that beeping noise" I replied "oh that's for the blind people" and I heard her say "Gee Elmer they let blind people drive in this country." I nearly choked with laughter.
Reunion at Dunrobin Castle
By Fiona Maxwell
‘Early in my guiding career I took a group of Swiss tourists to Dunrobin Castle, seat of the Sutherland Clan. Long before reaching Golspie the towering 76’ high column with the 24’ high statue of the notorious 1st Duke of Sutherland’s statute atop, comes into view. As everyone knows it dominates the landscape for miles around.
‘I was just about to tell the group of the atrocities committed against the crofters during the 19th century Clearances by the Duke, Duchess and their Factor, the infamous Patrick Sellar, when a lady sitting behind me tapped me on the shoulder and asked if she could use the microphone as she had an interesting story to tell. Her name was Michelle and she said when she was in her late teens she had worked as an au pair girl for the 24th Countess of Sutherland and her children. The Countess, who inherited the Castle and Estate from her uncle the 5th Duke (he had no issue) lived in London but often came to Dunrobin with her children in the holidays. Michelle remembered Alastair, Lord Strathnaver, the
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