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Summary of the Speech:

Baroness Elliot began with humour and humility, acknowledging the long list of illustrious male predecessors, from Archbishops and Chancellors to Prime Ministers. She positioned herself as a “new species of homo sapiens—a lady who is also a Lord”—a witty nod to her status as a peeress.

She candidly described her efforts to prepare, joking about the impossibility of rereading Scott’s extensive works. Nonetheless, she re-read Rob Roy, Guy Mannering, and The Minstrelsy, which reaffirmed her admiration for Scott’s storytelling and his deep connection to the Scottish Borders—her home and source of shared inspiration.

Baroness Elliot reflected on Scott’s birth into a pre-industrial world and marvelled at the historical distance between his time and the modern day, while arguing that many of Scott’s values and observations still resonated. She recounted Scott’s disdain for “causeless fear,” highlighting his courage and resilience. She noted that Scott’s shrewd observations of Scots remain strikingly accurate.

Her talk featured vivid Border anecdotes—her own hunts and the atmospheric scenes Scott described in Guy Mannering—to show the timelessness of Border life. She also highlighted Scott’s European reach, his embrace of adventure in novels like The Talisman, and his legacy abroad, including admiration from Dumas and Victor Hugo.

A particularly memorable section was her retelling of Scott’s role in presenting a Saint Andrew’s Cross to George IV in 1822, complete with the King’s delighted exclamation: “Sir Walter Scott—the man in Scotland I most wish to see!”

Baroness Elliot ended by affirming Scott’s lasting relevance. Long after passing literary trends fade, she believed people will still reach for The Heart of Midlothian, The Antiquary, and The Lay of the Last Minstrel.

Notable Points:

• Humour and Self-Deprecation: Her opening remarks gracefully blend wit with reverence.
• Border Connection: Her personal connection to the Borders mirrors Scott’s own.
• European Perspective: She sees Scott not just as a Scottish writer, but a European one, relevant to discussions about continental alliances.
• Modern Relevance: Her belief that Scott’s stories and characters remain alive today is central to her message.
• Cultural Diplomacy Anecdote: The 1822 presentation to George IV is a highlight—charming, regal, and illustrative of Scott’s stature.

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Subsidiary Toasts

The toasts of “The Queen” and “The Royal Family” were duly honoured. 

Thereafter the Rt. Hon. Ian Shearer, Q.C., The Lord Advocate, proposed the toast of “The Imperial Forces” to which Vice-Admiral A. R. Hezlet, C.B., D.S.O., D.S.C., Flag Officer Scotland, replied.

“The City of Edinburgh” was proposed by the Reverend R. Leonard Small, O.B.E., D.D., and Bailie Miss E. M. Mein, representing the Lord Provost, replied.