Guardian Address – Lanark 2007-11-05

I was born in The Royal and Ancient Burgh of Stirling. From the window of the tenement flat I grew up in, we had a fantastic view of The Ochil Hills sweeping round to The Abbey Craig with The National Wallace Monument sitting high above it overlooking Stirling Bridge. From our kitchen window, I could see Stirling Castle – ok, so I had to stand in the sink with my head out of the window to actually see it, but it was there nevertheless. Less than two miles up the road lay the fields of Bannockburn. A triangle of three of the most important sites in Scottish history, and I was fortunate enough to be born in the middle of it.
          Unfortunately, when I went to school, I can honestly say I found no subject as boring as history. They taught us about the Romans, Norman the Conqueror and the Tudor Kings of England. Subjects which held no relevance to me – strange names and strange places. Football was much more interesting. I switched off. All I managed to remember was that Henry the Eighth had six wives (or maybe it was Henry the Sixth that had eight wives) but I just presumed you probably had to go through quite a few English women to find a good one.
          As I grew, I began to become curious about the ancient buildings around me and started to pick up bits and pieces about a history that did interest me. My history.
I was lucky. I lived in Stirling. I could walk to these places. I could touch the stones. I could stand where Wallace and Bruce stood. Stirling at that time had approximately 20,000 residents. Scotland had 5 million who couldn’t as easily do these things.


If you deny a nation it’s history, you deny that nation it’s future.

          For hundreds of years, our nation’s history (and culture) has been intentionally suppressed by the unionist establishment – remember the banning of the tartan and bagpipes. If you have any doubt it still goes on, then why was Dougie McLean’s “Caledonia” banned by the BBC? Why have the Jacobite broadswords from Culloden which are engraved with “Prosperity to Scotland and no union” been removed from public show in Glasgow’s museums? Why do you never hear The Corries on national radio? When I wrote “Scottish Dawn” – a historical song about the Battle of Bannockburn - I was told by a Radio Scotland producer that “That song will never be played on Radio Scotland because it is too patriotic” Can you imagine an American ever being told by his establishment that he was too patriotic?
          But these days are numbered. It was possible to control the media when it was just BBC, ITV and the unionist press. Now the airwaves and television are open to virtually anyone and the internet means you can bring information on any subject into your own livingroom within a few seconds. It is now possible to get the background and both sides of any debate to allow you to make your own informed judgement.
It also seems, at last, that Scottish History is beginning to get its rightful place in the school curriculum. Our children are growing with a knowledge of their own country that past generations were denied.
With that knowledge comes pride. Pride in our country and it’s culture. Pride in all Scotland’s sons and daughters have achieved over the centuries throughout the world. Pride in those patriots who over the years gave their lives so that our nation could live on.
More importantly, with that knowledge comes belief. Belief that we can stand financially and politically side by side with all the other free nations of the world. Belief in our own people and our own decisions. Belief in our history. Belief in our future.

One man had that pride and belief in Scotland more than any other. We are here today to honour him. “The Guardian of Scotland” lives on in each and every one of us who calls themselves a Scot, regardless of our individual politics, because without Wallace and his inspiration there would be no Scotland.
And as our nation once again walks down the road to independence, striding proudly out in front of us all is the spirit of William Wallace.

For Scotland, St.Andrew and Freedom.

04-10-2007

Sorry it's been a couple of months since last update - but what a couple of months! At last I have managed to get the album out and on sale and so far it's selling well. Some of your comments have been very favourable so hopefully you feel you have got good value for your tenner. Christmas is on the horizon - you could always buy one (each) for ALL your friends. Loads more gigs under my belt and I honestly enjoy every one of them. I never fail to feel priveleged at meeting so many great people.

I have to mention the Stirling Brig Commemoration as it was the first of what will be an annual event to remember William Wallace at the site of his greatest victory. An impressive turnout for a memorable night. The Red Hot Chili Pipers were superb. Another first was The Prestonpans commemoration. Again, a huge success - thanks to Marti who put a lot of work into this one. The social part of the evening I shared with Kevin Wilson. It was a welcome chance to listen to a fine writer and performer. I especially enjoyed the last half hour jam playing with Kev.

How about Scotland's football team? Two victories last month including beating France (again!) in Paris and now sitting proudly on top of their qualifying group for the European Championships. I realise there may be a few of you reading this who don't understand the significance of that achievement but, trust me, it feels good right now to be a part of The Tartan Army. One hundred and eighty of the Larbert TA certainly revelled in it at their function last month - a cracking night.

One interesting episode last month: I was honoured to be asked to give the "Guardians Address" at Wallace Day in Lanark. (William Wallace was knighted and made The Guardian of Scotland at The Kirk of The Forest.) I spoke from the heart about Scotland and also about how I was taught more English history than Scottish at school. I made a quip about Henry the Eighth's six wives being one of the few things that stuck in my mind, and how I presumed he had to go through a few English women to find a good one.

The following week's Lanark Gazette had the front page story of a complaint about my English -hating , sexist speech.!!

Anyone who know's me is aware that these comments are just ridiculous and the person that made them obviously has had a humour bypass.

For the record, I have had the fortune to travel this planet making friends with every race and creed I have encountered.I don't hate anybody. Indeed, I have many very good English friends who live in a beautiful country of which they are rightly proud.

It is not, however, my country.

26/07/2007

Can't believe how quickly this year is flying in. This weekend I'm back at The Myrtle in Callander which is one of the smallest gigs I do but it is always great crack with the locals who make tourists (mainly from the caravan site across the road ) very welcome. I'ts Callander Highland games weekend too so could be just a wee bit busy. Saturday I'm in Cambusbarron in the afternoon doing a fund raiser for the "Save Gillies Hill" campaign - Gillies Hill was where the sma' folk gathered before charging into The Battle of Bannockburn in support of Bruce's troops. The plans are to quarry it out of existence. !!!
Add that to plans for huge pylons over Sherrifmuir and the Ochils, past The Wallace Monument then across The Carse and the wind farm on The Braes of Doune which is right in the middle of the view from Stirling Castle. It is time to say ENOUGH. The desecration of one of the most important historic and tourist areas of Scotland must stop. Making money for private companies does not justify vandalising our country and jeopardising the tourist income to the community . Saturday night and on to The Bonnie Banks for The Loch Lomond Folk Festival. 10pm start in The Tullie Inn for me after old mates Albannach give the crowd an experience to remember.

I have been asked to do The Guardian's Address in Lanark at their Wallace Weekend on the morning of 18th August. I'm honoured to be asked and promise I will try to stay awake given that I'm in Aberdeen the night before with Big Brian and The Bull. It means I will miss the march at Stonehaven this year but that's the problem with anniversaries - they only come once a year.

Right, I'm off to finish the new cd artwork and get it to the printers. Scott has done a great job putting it all together so hopefully I've made it sound as good as it looks.

29/06/2007

Bannockburn Day at the Tartan Arms was great. Albannach and Gaberlunzie both excelled. Jam packed and a good night was had by all. The following day the rain continued for the Scribblers Picnic in Stirling but despite the horrible conditions over 1000 people turned up. Four stages of live music kept everyone happy even when the beer tent blew away. Standard of music was very high and ranged from trad jazz to death metal. Apparently there is a dvd floating about with some highlights so will post it here if I can get a hold of it.


Albannach	Hobbits	Pablo

Ted Christopher & Bannockburn	Plenty of puddles	Gaberlunzie

18/06/2007

Just a quick offering as this week is incredibly busy with The Scribblers Picnic coming up this weekend, so as I write this there is a squad of guys knocking up roadside signs in the front shop here. Promising to be a great day.

It also gives me the rare chance to share a stage with Albannach and Gaberlunzie for two days on the trot – we are together at The Tartan Arms in Bannockburn on Saturday night.

Cd news: the album is slowly getting there and although it's taken frustratingly long hopefully you will like it. Thanks to all of you who entered the draw for a free taster and three track cds will be winging their way next week to:

Maggie Brall, Virginia, USA

Jan Birstengel, Kraupa, Germany

And

Davy Stout, Larbert Tartan Army, Scotland

Played at Blackearnside Tartan Army Ceilidh at the weekend which was a great night. Got to mention the kids - some of them hardly at primary school yet they knew every step of the Dashing White Sergeant – very impressive.

30/05/07

I have justifiably been getting a hard time from quite a few people that there have been no new recordings for ages and also that The Wallace 700 cd is sold out and no longer available. At long last I am nearly finished recording the new album - just a few overdubs to do. I t then moves on to the mixing stage before it is ready for reproduction. I've not finalised the title yet but it will contain 15 or 16 tracks. Hopefully now available for sale early July.

Provisional track listing:

let us raise our voices in song again
follow the wild geese home
we are
where's the river Mel?
scottish dawn
the old man's chair
every fathers song
hearts across the sea
john anderson
the lion roars
skye boat song
the auld land
freedoms flame
flower of scotland
i'm coming home

Right, here's the participation bit: I am going to produce four unique three track cd s. If you want one of these FREE just drop me an email to tedchristopher@btconnect.com listing the three tracks you would like, please write "FREE CD" in your subject line. I'll draw 4 on the 15th June and burn the requested cds. I'll then wing them 1st class post to you. I'll give you a progress report on the album mid June with details of where/ how to buy etc.

Thanks again for logging in. Hope to see you at a gig soon.

8/05/07

Well Scotland has voted and we have a very different looking political scene in the country. The SNP have a huge increase in the vote both in national and council results - not enough to gain overall control, but certainly enough to make a big difference. Those elected now have the responsibility of proving to the people of Scotland that they can govern and govern well. The next election will be about belief. These are exciting times for our nation and I wish all our politicians of all parties all the very best in their work to make Scotland a better place to live and prosper.The independence road may be a long one, and there is much to be done if we are to ensure our people walk that road together with enthusiasm and confidence.

Battle of Stirling Brig - ( that's the one where Mel Gibson lost the river , remember?) Thanks to Braveheart, Stirling Bridge is our nation's most famous battle. It took place in the middle of Stirling. Stirling is a tourist town with massive potential for attracting visitors from all over the world. Obviously, then Stirling Council have maximised the rememberance and appeal ot this important part of our history. NOT A CHANCE! I doubt if many of Stirlings residents could tell you the date of the battle. Certainly each year ( bar once at the 700th anniversary) the day slips by with no official recognition . Sad? Yes! But much more. It is gross negligence! It is a denial of our history. Even for those who care not a jot for the past, it has been ludicrous that the potential tourist income has been denied to the area. Time to do something. Hopefully our new establishment will at last see the light, but we are fed up waiting. If we, the people, can take a thousand Scots to London to give Wallace the funeral service he was denied for 700 years, then we can certainly ensure his greatest victory is no longer overlooked. At this point I should pay tribute to the small band of patriots who turn up at the bridge every year. It is to their credit that they ensured Scotland did not entirely forget. This year, we start to make a noise about it. We will have a much larger gathering at the bridge on Friday 14th September then march across the road to Stirling Rugby Club for an anniversary concert and ceilidh. Remembering the past can be loads of fun in the present. In future years hopefully the town will take on the idea of a Stirling Brig Festival for the whole week around the 11th.

Further details as soon as they are organised.

23/04/07

With great sadness and shock I learned today that a very good friend Jim Scott died at the weekend. Jim was an actor and a strongly patriotic Scot who ran a company called Steam Alba which brought hundreds of foreign students to Scotland each year. I did many Scottish Nights in Perth with Jim and others to entertain them . We did several trips to France, Germany and Belgium together and he had been enthusiastically planning more. He will be sorely missed by his many friends both here and abroad.

17/04/2007

Just back from a fabulous weekend.

Midnight gathering at Culloden was superb. Weather was great - starry sky but no moon so it was very dark. Around twenty of us were out at the cairn early, setting up the torches. We could hear the pipes in the distance slowly getting nearer but the feeling when they appeared through the darkness followed by all those Scottish banners flying was definitely a lump in the throat moment.

Official daytime service was pretty impressive. I would reckon around 1000 on the field including a fair contingent of ex-pat patriots.

We were asked to join the rebel march on the Saturday afternoon - a six mile "walk" from Tomatin to the cairn of Moy. Gorgeous weather so we readily agreed. They didn't tell us we would be up to our balls in bogland and heather, wading streams and climbing mountains but thoroughly enjoyed it nevertheless.
Magic moment when I came round a corner in the middle of nowhere to find The Bull sitting on a large boulder with a cold can of beer. A wee wifie had come out the only house for miles around to say hello and ask if he would like a drink of water because he looked so hot. "Ye dinnae hae a beer in the fridge do you?"
Brilliant.

Tomatin Inn on Saturday night we were joined by The Saints and Sinners motorbike club. What a lovely bunch of people. It was just like a TA night out. Won a bottle of Tomatin malt in the raffle and shared it with Ziggy on the walk back to the hotel in the pitch black night.( The Glenan Lodge - highly recommended). Had to follow the white line in the middle of the road to have any idea where we were going.

The morning ater the night before

Then early rise to travel across stunning countryside to The Bowlers in Arbroath for the hoolie after the Declaration march at the abbey. Again great people, great afternoon.

In whole, a weekend to stir the soul with the best of company. Once again I am reminded how lucky I am to be Scottish.

Ted Christopher