Calling All Milkmen

We just love this excerpt from our 'Visitor Book'...

1.Where are you from? Scotland
Where did you hear about us? I delivered the milk here as a boy

2. Where are you from? England
Where did you hear about us? My Dad (milkman)

3. Where are your from? England
Where did you hear about us? I live with the old milkboy!

4. Where are you from? England
Where did you hear about us? From the MILKMAN!!

As well as delivering milk, milkmen can deliver visitors to your door.

Merry Christmas from all at Glamis Castle

Christmas Carol Concerts

Ten years ago, when disaster struck Nicaragua and a plea of help was sent around the world, we decided at Glamis to do a charity concert to raise funds for the cause. The event was a resounding success in many ways: money was sent to the disaster fund, lives were helped and a real sense of fraternity developed as a result.

A decade on, we continue to hold the carol concerts (now three) and part of the proceeds are still donated to selected charities.

This weekend we welcomed Chansons and the Strathmore Singers for the evening performances - both local based choirs who sung their hearts out much to the joy of the audience.

Were you there?

What visitors can do for you....

Our Maureen has been a guide at Glamis for almost 25 years and it's fair to say she's met some super people during that time and helped create wonderful memories for them.

It's nice, therefore, when visitors return the favour and that's exactly what happened today. As Maureen ended the tour she offered each of our Welsh guests a glass of mulled wine to get them into the spirit of Christmas.

Jokingly she asked that they sing 'Land of my Father'. Well, in true Welsh fashion (great singers!) they kindly obliged and the spirits of everyone, including Maureen, were well and truly lifted.

Thank you to Maureen for being a 'natural' at her job and thank you to our Welsh guests for making her day.

Technology

When Glamis Castle was given to the Lyon family in 1372 I'm sure Sir John had no idea of how the castle would develop and evolve over the years. All he could do was add a little bit to it and pass it on to the next generation.

Well, six hundred and thirty six years later we are still adding bits on and leaving a legacy for generations to come. In 2008, the Queen Mother Memorial Gates were installed thus 'connecting' the castle to Glamis Village for the first time in history. A further memorial was erected in memory of HRH The Princess Margaret and a new fountain was added to enhance the visual aspect of the castle grounds.

Perhaps the fastest changes have been on technology. The website is now a key promotional tool for us and we're enjoying getting to grips with the world of blogs, social networks etc.

We are, however, fairly new at this game so if anybody out there wants to give us a hand or wants to give us some things to discuss then we want to hear from you.

Off to learn more about technology!

Halloween - the spookiest night of the year

It is said that Glamis is one of the most haunted castles in Scotland, if not the United Kingdom. Now that's a claim our visitors on 31st October will be very aware of!

We've invited children and parents along to experience a spooky evening of myths, mysteries and ghostly tales and frankly, the demand for spaces has been overwhelming.

We staff have had great fun planning and preparing for the night and we can't wait to get going. We also had a pumpkin competition between the departments - congratulations to the Guides for their winning effort.

See you (maybe) after the 31st!

Words of encouragement

It's always nice to hear back from our visitors especially if they tell us their visit has made a lasting impression. This is what Sarah, who visited in September, wanted to share with us:

Dear all,

I just wanted to write in to say how impressed i was by my visit to Glamis Castle on 22nd September. All were really kind and the tour was especially impressive, the lady guide was very informative and allowed us a relaxing yet stimulating tour around such a magnificant castle. The day was glorious outside and the grounds were wonderful. As a keen nature photographer, I adored the experience of the woodland and saw a wild hare as well as lots of your red squirrels and pheasant. The abundance of bees and butterflies in the Italian garden was stunning. I can only say keep us the fantastic work and I will dream of returning to visit again.

Many thanks,
Sarah Sturley

'The Duchess' and the Countess

‘The Duchess’ and the Countess

On a recent visit to the cinema to see the latest Hollywood blockbuster, The Duchess, starring Keira Knightly, some of our staff couldn't help but be reminded of the life and times of a Glamis lady - Mary Eleanor Bowes. Here's a bit of background about Mary Eleanor along with some of parallels we made to the film.

The Bowes

George Bowes, a very wealthy landowner and coal baron from the north east of England (it is said that in 1760 his income from land and coal amounted to over £4000 per week) had stipulated that anyone who married his only child, Mary Eleanor, would have to change their name to his. In 1767 the ninth Earl of Strathmore & Kinghorne addressed Parliament in order that he might obtain a change of family name from Lyon to Bowes thus enabling him to marry Ms Bowes. Still today the Earl’s family name is Bowes Lyon.

Whereas Georgiana (1757-1806) was born an aristocrat Mary Eleanor (1749-1800) was born a commoner but she was the richest heiress in Europe. Georgiana married the 5th Duke of Devonshire and, of course, Mary Eleanor married the 9th Earl of Strathmore & Kinghorne. Although both marriages seemed very fortunate ones both were to prove less than happy. The ladies were quite different from their husbands temperamentally (clash of personalities – we might say today) and both saw themselves as serious patrons of the arts. The Countess’ tombstone is in Poets’ Corner, Westminster Abbey and the Duchess entertained at her many ‘salons’. But, whereas the Countess’ other hobby was botany (which she took very seriously even sponsoring voyages to South Africa for plant specimens), the Duchess was heavily into Whig politics including women’s suffrage).

The Countess retired to a quiet country life moving from St Paul’s Walden Bury in Hertfordshire to a newly acquired estate in Hampshire and became a well loved and respected landlady. The Duchess, it is said, died deeply in debt through her lifelong obsession - gambling.

The film should prove to be an insight into a fascinating period in Britain’s social history including the life and times of a Glamis lady - Mary Eleanor Bowes.

German Tribute to Glamis

It's always good to hear what our visitors think and this little poem left by some German visitors who came here on the 4th August is particularly heart-warming:

A Sad Farewell......

We came here being very keen
On finding out about the Queen
Where finally her roots did lay
If we had time we'd like to stay
Alas, we have to take our leave
The farewell fills our hearts with grief.

In return, we would like to say to our German friends, 'haste ye back'.

**Did you know? Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was born on 4th August 1900.

A bit of fun

Saturday night was party night as staff and their friends / partners came together for the annual barbeque and games challenge.

'Challenge' is the word because there's usually a football match that looks similar to something you see in a school playground where a ball gets kicked and swarms of people chase it around until someone eventually toe-pokes it into the goal! Mike the Forester turned 'poacher' for the evening but thanks to him the castle team managed to save face.

A welcome addition to this year's event was live music from Sandy Ingram (fiddle) and Alan Morrison (accordian). It looked like all the staff thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the dances - especially 'Strip the Willow'. As Stuart (Head Guide) said, 'For as long as I live I will never forget the look on Gary's face as his feet lifted off the ground during the spinning part of the dance. It was a look of absolute surprise, shock and fear.'

The weather was kind to us, the food was first class and the camaraderie of the team here at Glamis was reinforced once again.

Peter Pan flies into Glamis

Castle staff entered the spirit of the occasion as they dressed up in final preparation for the forthcoming Peter Plan play at Glamis. Tuesday 15th July will see Heartbreak Productions present a powerful adaptation of JM Barrie’s classic tale.

Facepainters will be around during the afternoon and evening of the 15th to offer their services free of charge to children. There is also free admission to grounds for those with Peter Pan tickets and don’t forget, we’d love to see as many kids dressed up as pirates, lost boys / girls, Wendy, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook and of course Peter Pan.

Outdoor Picnic Play - Peter Pan - Tuesday 15th July

Start Date: 15/07/2008

All aboard the Jolly Roger and fasten your belts for a fast and furious journey back to your childhood.

Now's your chance to become a member of the gang of Lost Boys, Indians or Fairies and let your imagination run riot in the Heartbreak playground of fun and danger.

Come with us as Peter Pan brings the dastardly villain, Captain Hook to justice and play to your heart's content.

Tickets available from our online shop. 
Special Offer: Show your Peter Pan ticket and receive admission to Barrie's Birthplace  for just £1.50 per person. Valid for whole of 2008.

The Pipers' Trail Visits Glamis Castle

The Pipers’ Trail, which runs over 470 miles from Lerwick to Ayr, visited Glamis Castle today and treated visitors to a musical and theatrical spectacle. The trail sets out to celebrate the music of Pipes and Drums and to encourage participation from a broad cross-section of society. Public performances are planned throughout Scotland and with The Pipers’ trail show incorporates a mix of music, dance, parades and a theatrical performance.


The Pipers were on route to Arbroath but gave visitors of Glamis Castle a preview of the full performance which is being demonstrated around the country along with parades and workshops where first class instructors aim to develop the skills of pipers and drummers of all ages and standards.


More information, including dates of performances, can be found on the trail at www.thepiperstrail.com

Helicopter Tactical Crew Visit Glamis

Flight Lieutenant Andrew Hodge of 28 Sqn RAF Benson introduced himself and colleagues to staff at Glamis and shed some light on the helicopters which had been flying over the castle.

The Aircraft in the photo is a 28 Sqn Merlin which was used in The Qualified Helicopter Tactics Instructor Course and is held each year in various parts of the UK.

This year 28 squadron were flying out of RAF Leuchars.