Newsletter - January 2005
The death on 25th December of my cousin
James, the owner of the estate and the inspiration of all who belong
here, has overshadowed everything since that day. Before he died he made
clear his hope that Blairquhan should continue its ‘business as usual’.
With that as our goal, the estate office led by Kate Anderson continues
to accept bookings for weddings, accommodation and other events. Click
[here] for a short
obituary article.
The most exciting event in the autumn
of the old year was that, competing against the rest of the United
Kingdom, Blairquhan won 4th Prize in the 2004 Purdey Awards for Game and
Conservation.
Patrick, Euan and James |
|
Deputising for James, I was honoured to receive the prize
at the hand of the Duke of Edinburgh at James Purdey and Sons in London.
Euan Anderson, our keeper, won a special award of £250 in recognition of
his ‘exceptional individual effort on behalf of game conservation’ here.
James presented Euan with his cheque at Blairquhan on 23rd November. |
December’s visitors were headed by
Charles and Ilana Reich, after their New York wedding, spending three
days of their honeymoon here. They pony-trekked, they shot at Clay
Pigeons and, on their last evening, they dined at Wilding’s Restaurant,
in nearby Maidens, who looked after them well. Then the Howse family
celebrated a 50th birthday here, filling the castle for a weekend. They
enjoyed walking in the policies and danced the night away here, on the
Saturday, after dinner.
A two-day conference was held here by 25 staff
of the Royal Bank of Scotland who flew from London. This was their first
visit and they were ‘most impressed’ by Blairquhan.
Ken Bibby's Shooting Party
Our shooting season, just ended, comprised 20
shooting days with our regular overnight clients enjoying the usual
pheasant and partridge shooting, and duck flighting. All days were
successful, Ken Bibby’s group in fact setting a record for a daily bag.
On Friday 21st January I was able to
act as host here for the first time, welcoming a political lunch party
assembled to be addressed by their party Head.
Patrick Hunter Blair |
|
My work and home
currently are in Northern Ireland. My wife is Marguerite and our
five children’s ages range from 14 to 5. Travelling to Blairquhan,
which we do regularly, is easy but has to be subject to our jobs’
demands.
Thus I missed, on the 25th, the
Burns Supper held here. Our chef Paul provided a splendid haggis and
its usual accompaniment.
~
Patrick Hunter Blair ~ |
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Previous newsletters:
Aug 2006 • Feb 2006 • Oct 2005 • Jul 2005 • Apr 2005 • Jan 2005 • Oct 2004 • Jul 2004 • Apr 2004 • Jan 2004 • Oct 2003 |
