Newsletter -
Autumn 2003
 First
- APOLOGIES! For delayed letter. I will endeavour, in future, to keep up
to date every 3 months, without fail.
A lot has happened in 9 months. On 23rd
December 2002 the Dool Tree (hanging tree) here was singled out as one
of the 100 heritage trees of Scotland chosen by an expert panel of
Judges appointed by the Forestry Commission.
The shooting season ended with the
Keepers shooting a total of 225 cock pheasants in two days.
Joram Smit has been taken on as
Underkeeper - the first here since the War.
The Stables roof is being renewed at a
cost of, about, £60,000.
There have been six Weddings - two took
place outdoors in the Gardens. (Photo courtesy of The Ayrshire Post)
 There
have been many Society visits - one was a party of 98 from the West
Coast branch of the Friends of the National Trust in Northern Ireland.
Events in the house have included a
Russian Bass singing Burns songs, the Schubert Ensemble, and a Revue put
on by the Fingask players.
During our 26 day house-opening we had
2063 visitors. They enjoyed weekend events such as battle enactments,
pipe bands, a jazz band, model aeroplane flying, model boats - and
parachuting teddy bears!
From "The Scotsman" Monday 21st April
2003:
"Picnics in Scotland in April are better
than the best. Busy brown rivers, carpets of wood anemones, dog violets,
stitchworts, cuckoo flowers and primroses can all be enjoyed without the
attention of the midge.
This week we have been in deepest
Ayrshire, at Blairquhan, one of the greatest country holiday spots
Scotland has to offer. The sun has been unremitting - unlike, however,
the mobile phone connection, which has caused some teenage withdrawal
symptoms.
Our oldest wanders from room to room in
our castle eyrie, ostensibly exclaiming about the wallpaper and glorious
views, but all the while sneaking sideways glances at her Nokia to see
if, like a hound scenting a fox, it can pick up any signal. It can't.
What an unexpected bonus! South Ayrshire may be off the beaten track,
but it turns out to be one of the last bastions of domestic
civilisation."
James Hunter Blair
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