Issue 7, July 2010
Society reports
Boksburg Caledonian Society
From Chief Duncan MacDonald
It was our pleasure to host the Federation Chief, Jean Kelly and her Consort, Andrew Kelly, our Highland Chieftain, Margaret West as well as all the other visiting dignitaries including Fred (Chairman of Central Council) and Heather Brokenshire to our Federation and Provincial Official Welcome to our society.
In addition the Chief and Lady President of Eastern Johannesburg and St Andrews Societies as well as Boksburg and other society members also attended our function.
We were entertained by the dancers of the Ravel Saayman Dance Studio, who, as always provided an exceptional display.
After this energetic display we were all exhausted and were quite ready for our luncheon. The ladies, as usual, provided an excellent meal, which, to the Scottish background music, tended to make everyone contented and the conversation relaxed and subdued.
Our daughter, Beverley sent us an interesting, amusing and (absolutely true) story about the “Wah” family from Dundee, which was read by John Hanley to the amusement of all.
The story is shown below so that we can share this Scottish family humour.
The Wah Family Tree
Noah Wah – The Family Patriarch & Head of the Family
Ella Wah – wife of Noah – is more adventurous and likes travelling locally …and their offspring:-
Beena Wah – the daughter who has just returned from a journey.
Gonna Wah – son who is presently leaving on his journey.
Emma Wah – wayward daughter who wants to leave the family home.
Takka Wah – son of doubtful parentage who now owns a successful fast food Take-away outlet.
Bide Ah Wah – the son who emigrated to the Antipodes .
Steina Wah – daughter-in-law married to Bide.
Ocha Wah – dismissive son who never believes what his parents tell him
Wharra Wah – son who keeps getting lost due to an inability to read maps.
Eeza Wah – a recently deceased Jewish Cousin of the Wah family.
Farrah Wah – a somewhat distant cousin who dreams of being a film star.
Jista Wah – the son who went away only moments ago.
The surname of this Family would make you think that they may be of foreign extraction, but in fact their roots are firmly embedded in Dundee Folklore. Two of them even appear in a traditional Scottish Folksong which is a great favourite at Family Funerals, as it is guaranteed to cheer everyone up as they are having a bevvy.
Eh’m Noah Wah tae Bide Ah Wah,Eh’m Noah Wah tae lave ye.Eh’m Noah Wah tae Bide Ah Wah, Eh’ll aye come back tae see Ye!
After our substantial meal we were entertained by the piping of Stewart Third and as always the skirl of the pipes never fail to stir the Scottish blood running through the veins.
The function was ended in the usual fashion with the singing of Auld Lang Syne and We’re No Awa Tae Bide Awa. (A tribute to the Wah family)
Thank You to all who helped make this function successful.
East London Caledonian Society
From Chief Sandra Rankin
It was a great joy to have several children amongst us at the Ceilidh last month, happily participating and spontaneously contributing to a happy evening of fellowship and fun. Thanks to Cameron Middleton for the lovely venue. R260-00 was raised for Gathering funds.
Hibiscus Coast Caledonian Society
From Jack Gemmill
A huge vote of thanks to all of our hardworking committee and our visitors for making Burns’ Nicht such a grand success. Everyone enjoyed it thoroughly and many requests have come in for forthcoming functions and events.
Special thanks are due to Mary and Marlene who attended to flowers, decor, Burns’ menus and serviette rings, bookings etc, as well as to Alison and Graeme for the excellent rendition of Tam o’ Shanter and the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns.
Having the Pipe Band as well as our Provincial Chief and Consort (Molly and Noel Gould) and Durban’s Chief and members of their committee attend, made the evening very special. To have the “Star of Robbie Burns” sung by Peter Smith, accompanied by our dear friend Joy Simpkins was the cherry on the top.
Every helping hand was valued and our thanks go to all who helped in so many ways, as well as all who attended. A wonderful evening!!!
St Andrew’s Scottish Society
From Chief Tommy Soutar
Quite a few of our members, Herbert Park Members, Easterns and visitors braved the chilly morning to have what ended up a fantastic Bowls Morning. Prizes galore and superb catering really made the day. Under the watchful eye of Alan Miller, Jean and Andrew Kelly the game got under way.
News from Scotland
Fans campaign for statue to be erected of Billy Connolly in the nude
Robert Fairbairn, Sunday Mail, 11 July
A campaign has been launched calling for a nude statue of Billy Connolly to be erected in Glasgow to mark his 70th birthday.
Pals Tina Cairns and Cylina Boyle appealed for support on the social networking site Facebook and quickly attracted 144 members.
They hope that by the time the Big Yin turns 70 – on November 24, 2012 – the clamour will be so strong the authorities will be forced into action.
The friends, of Knightswood, Glasgow, believe the city’s Botanic Gardens would be the ideal venue for the naked statue which would celebrate Billy’s famous streak through London’s Piccadilly Circus to mark the first million being raised for Comic Relief in 2001.
Mum-of-three Tina, 37, said: “I think a statue is long overdue. The campaign started off as a laugh but the more we thought about it, the more appropriate it became.
“Glasgow should be celebrating one of its most famous sons as he has done a lot to put the city on the map.
“He is a good husband and father and just a funny guy. He is a real role model for the city.”
Billy is due to receive the Freedom of the City from Glasgow’s Lord Provost next month.
Plans have also been unveiled to immortalise him in a steel sculpture attached to a housing development in Anderston, where he was born.
The £50,000 statue will be suspended 40ft in the air at the gable end of a block of flats overlooking the Clydeside Expressway, close to the shipyards where the Big Yin once worked as a welder.
Housing charity Sanctuary Scotland has commissioned artist Andy Scott to deliver the sculpture next spring.
But Tina and Cylina believe the city should go a step further and erect the naked statue.
Launching the Facebook campaign they wrote: “Don’t you think it is about time we had a statue in Glasgow to celebrate one of its most famous sons? “If you close your eyes you could see a lifesize bronze of the Big Yin in his birthday suit gambolling through the flowers in the Botanic Gardens.
“We could have bulbs planted around the statue so that the flowers would bloom practically all year round.
“Billy is 67 and if we start now we could have him unveiling a statue of himself on his 70th birthday. Join the group and pass it on to everyone who has laughed along with him.”
QUIZ – D’ye ken?
- What is the proper name for the breed of cattle nick-named the ‘Oreo Cookie Cow’
- What is the link between coal bunkers and those on golf courses?
- Who was born in a Gorbals tenement, emigrated to America at 15, returned to Glasgow 5 years later and opened his first grocers shop, was a millionaire by the time he was 30 and ultimately controlled 10% of the world tea trade?
- What famous Scot was born in 1757 in the parish of Westerkirk, Dumfriesshire?
- What post in Scotland is currently held by Iain Gray?
Did ye ken?
- What are traditionally made from Ailsa Craig granite and weigh around 42 lbs? Curling stones
- Where does the ‘Braw Lad’s Gathering’, a week of festivities at the end of June, take place? Galashiels
- By what name is the sport of better known? Shinty
- What was a ‘Tappit Hen’? A large mug with a knobbed lid.
- And what was ‘the Maiden’? A form of guillotine.
Don’t forget to visit the Caledonian Federation’s website, at www.scotlandsa.co.za to get all the latest news and pictures of our Congress.
