1982

Our President in 1982/3 was:

His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry

He proposed the Toast to Sir Walter at our 75th Annual Dinner on Friday 4th March 1983 in The North British Hotel

Summary of the Speech:

At the 75th Annual Dinner, His Grace delivered a heartfelt and rich tribute to Sir Walter. His toast masterfully blended personal family history, literary admiration, and cultural heritage.

Key Themes and Highlights:

1. Personal Honour and Legacy:
   The Duke expressed deep honour in serving as President during such a landmark year, highlighting Scott’s enduring global influence and the unique affection he continues to inspire.
2. Scott and the Buccleuch Clan:
3. The Duke offered insights into Scott’s reverence for the Dukes of Buccleuch, who he viewed as his "Clan Chiefs".
4. He quoted touching correspondence showing Scott’s affection for Charles William, 4th Duke of Buccleuch, and particularly for his Duchess, whom Scott praised with remarkable warmth and poetic admiration.
5. This familial link added a rare and intimate perspective to the tribute.
6. Historical Anecdotes and Domestic Details:
7. The Duke recounted Scott’s daily habits, such as his hearty breakfasts and his taste for traditional Scottish dishes.
8. He described the invention of "Potage à la Meg Merrilees" in Scott’s honour by Monsieur Florence, the Buccleuch chef, and quoted Florence MacCann’s humorous depiction of him.
9. Scott as Mentor and Patriot:
10. Emphasis was placed on Scott’s mentorship of young Duke Walter Francis, including letters filled with guidance and nationalistic pride.
11. Scott’s involvement in education and estate management revealed his wide influence beyond literature.
12. Carterhaugh Football Match (1815):
13. A fascinating episode was Scott’s orchestration of a proto-Rugby football match at Carterhaugh, spurred by a debate over a Border ballad.
14. With over 750 players, elaborate preparations, and the ceremonial unfurling of the Banner of Buccleuch, it was described as a pageant of Border culture.
15. The Duke drew a line from this event to modern Rugby and recounted a 1977 re-enactment he had organised during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.
16. Scott the ‘All-Rounder’:
17. The Duke challenged the idea of Scott as merely a desk-bound figure, painting him instead as a vigorous, versatile man of action, deeply embedded in the practical and cultural life of his time.
18. Family Tribute:
19. In closing, the Duke, as great-great-great-grandson of the Duchess Scott so admired, returned the compliment by praising his own daughters, Patricia and Jean, for their role in preserving Scott’s legacy and the family’s hospitable reputation.
20. Literary Ending:
21. The toast concluded with a moving recitation from The Lay of the Last Minstrel, evoking the image of the minstrel lifting his goblet to honour his patrons—a poetic metaphor for the gathering.

Noteworthy Elements:

• Rich archival quotes from letters and journals.
• First-hand aristocratic and personal connections.
• A reinterpretation of Scott’s influence beyond literature—into sports, food, politics, and education.
• One of the most personal and vivid portrayals of Scott delivered at an Annual Dinner.