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‘With badges and bearing colourful pennants aloft, each group was welcomed by our alchemist from the Renaissance court of James IV, who urged each visitor to don his 'imagination' cap before entering the portals of the castle. Our lion-handler told them lurid tales about prisoners and the royal menagerie of the 16th century. Urbane courtiers, seductive ladies-in-waiting and voluptuous serving wenches re-enacted famous scenes from history and an ethereal ghost, who bore a striking resemblance to Miss Haversham, haunted the Queen's Chambers. In the chapel, a deliciously intriguing ambassador's secretary related, amongst other things, the story of the baptism of Prince James in 1566, and over in one corner a beguiling artisan instructed people not only in the art of donning the kilt, but also entertained with renditions of lusty songs.
‘Nearby in the Douglas Garden, our Machiavellian gardener bore witness, (in open sandals) to the gruesome murder of James II, whilst on 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.
Two coach tours and guided walks were offered. The coaches did a tour of Merchant City,
including Glasgow Green where they met the colourful Maggie Mciver of the Barras, with her
horse and cart. Bell Geordie, the Town Crier, interspersed the tour with headlines from the
history of the late 18th century and the Andrew Cunninghame, Tobacco Lord extraordinaire,
made an appearance. The guests had a short stop at the famous Babbity Bowsters, an 18th
century inn, where they heard from the wife of Rab Ha, Glasgow's infamous glutton. In total,
ten guides took part in the historical tableau, complete with wigs, props, authentic costumes
and historically accurate scripts.
Guides didn’t just promote themselves on International Tourist Guiding Day. In April 2000
tourists may have been rather puzzled by the appearance of a couple of 18th century
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