1980

Our President in 1980/81 was:

W.E.K. Anderson

He proposed the Toast to Sir Walter at our 73rd Annual Dinner on Friday 6th March 1981 in The North British Hotel

Summary of the Speech:

Sir Eric Anderson’s address is structured around three compelling reasons for continuing to read Sir Walter Scott: Scott as a novelist, Scott as a Scot, and Scott the man. It is a sophisticated, often humorous, and deeply insightful tribute.

1. Scott as a Novelist

• Anderson resists a literary analysis of Scott’s novels, noting that others before him have done this ably, and citing a request for brevity.
• Nevertheless, he affirms Scott’s greatness as a novelist: free from literary rules, embracing a broad stylistic spectrum from Fielding to Austen.
• He praises Scott’s storytelling, describing his work as sane, commonsensical, and resonant with a wide vision of life.
• Scott’s prose—especially in his Scottish characters—is compared to Chaucer and Shakespeare for its muscularity and music.

2. Scott as a Scot

• Scott’s Scottish identity is key. He was proud of his Berwickshire burr and his use of “Scotch” as a vigorous, authentic language.
• Anecdotes include his miswritings of “date” and “debt” due to pronunciation, and his substitution of “Perils” for “pearls” when describing Maltese jewellery.
• His use of Scots is not decorative but natural and effective—never forced, unlike the “Kailyard” or “Lallans” writers.
• Anderson describes the wide-reaching cultural effect of The Lady of the Lake and Scott’s influence on European perceptions of Scotland, including Parisian fashion.
• The 1822 visit of George IV to Scotland, orchestrated by Scott, made tartan a national symbol. The detailed bill for the King’s Highland dress adds humour and extravagance.
• Characters like Andrew Fairservice, Jonathan Oldbuck, and Baillie Jarvie reflect authentic Scots types. Saunders Fairford, modelled on Scott’s father, embodies Edinburgh rectitude.

3. Scott the Man

• Anderson praises the unprecedented archival access we have to Scott’s life: letters, journals, and contemporary accounts allow us to understand him intimately.
• He dismisses the idea of scandal or sensationalism in Scott’s correspondence. Instead, it reveals a man of integrity, humour, generosity, and sensibility.
• Scott’s famed anonymity is explored as a sign of deep sensitivity. He dreaded criticism—describing it as “internment in an ants’ nest”—and adopted anonymity to preserve peace of mind.
• The Journal reveals his emotional depth and imagination: a man moved by beauty, full of daydreams, and sensitive to the feelings of others.
• His family saw little of his inner world. His outer self was a practical man of action, public duty, and kindness.
• Even in awkward family circumstances (e.g., dealing with the overbearing Mrs Jobson), Scott maintained tact and restraint.
• Anderson ends by portraying Scott as a man whose life modelled the virtues of sensibility, effort, public service, and kindness—a figure not just to admire but to love.

Interesting Points Worth Noting

• Humour & Humanity: The speech is filled with subtle humour, especially in family anecdotes and descriptions of Scott’s character portrayals.
• Sociocultural Commentary: The discussion on tartan, Edinburgh values, and Scott’s role in shaping Scottish identity offers a rich cultural lens.
• Psychological Insight: Anderson perceptively explores Scott’s inner life—his fears, stoicism, and literary sensibility—as revealed through his Journal.
• Stylistic Elegance: This is not just a toast but a finely crafted essay, demonstrating Anderson’s rhetorical skill and personal admiration for Scott.