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the ramparts a soldier explained about the ill-fated siege in 1746, when the castle was under Jacobite attack.
‘The Great Hall was the setting for our musical extravaganza; minstrels played from the gallery; daintily attired girls wove their magic in dance and a song bird entranced the listening guests with haunting melodies and lullabies. The costumes, thanks to the generosity of Pitlochry Festival Theatre, were truly amazing and one only needed to look into the eyes of the awe-struck children to see that the costumes truly helped the characters weave their magic. Our friend, Willie McEwan from Historic Scotland, was fulsome in his praise and wandered around his domain, beaming with delight blazing a path for members of the press who followed in his wake.’
In 2002 some 12 different tours were organised with guests ranging in age from 11 to 98.
Primary children from Craigmuir School, secondary pupils from Boroughmuir, handicapped students from Stevenson College, veterans and old people from homes in Edinburgh and Musselburgh were taken on panoramic and science tours round Edinburgh. Over in Glasgow Maggie McCann and other members of the branch staged ‘Four Weldings and a Urinal’ which naturally attracted press and interest. Guidelines reported: ‘Guests, mainly from the travel trade were treated to a walking tour led by Compton MacLeod and on coach tours, Wilhemina and Winifred, the women welders, introduced various characters including recently arrived Irish immigrants; James Watt who explained his invention of the condenser; Henry Bell who waxed lyrical about his Comet; and Thomas Lipton – the world’s greatest grocer – who gave prizes to winners to his competition to guess the weight of a cheese.
‘The day ended with a session of Parliamo Glasgow and a chorus of The Song of the Clyde.’
The following year Glasgow branch staged another event with the theme of ‘Glasgow’s Trading Places’, based on the prosperous cotton, linen and tobacco trade in the Merchant City and around the banks of the Clyde.
Over 90 invitees, mainly from the travel industry, and 30 guides met for coffee and shortbread in the Satinwood Suite at Glasgow City Chambers and a video was shown of a typical coach tour of the Highlands and display boards illustrated various events from the previous season.
Jan Philip, Chairman of the Glasgow Branch then welcomed the guests and Sandra Middleton, Public Relations Officer, gave a short presentation on proposed Glasgow City Walks for 2002 and Brian Houston, VisitScotland Board Member, gave a few words of encouragement about the forthcoming season.
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