The celebration of the 90th anniversary of the creation of the Saltire Society began in style at the Royal Society. After a welcome from Convenor Susan Garnsworthy and a personal reminiscence from Magnus Linklater, members were treated to poetry from Stewart Conn and songs from Gerda Stevenson and Gillebrìde Mac ‘IlleMhaoil, before a wine and canape reception.
A special highlight of the evening was the presentation of Honorary Saltire Lifetime Memberships to Sir Charles and Lady Ann Fraser in recognition of their remarkable joint and individual contributions to Scottish culture. Jointly they have created the wonderful Shepherd House Garden at Inveresk. Lady Ann is Scotland’s leading botanical artist whose stunningly beautiful artworks are represented in many private collections in the UK and USA. Sir Charles has also won many awards for his horticultural excellence, while his business interests included being a director of Scottish Media Group (formerly Scottish Television). In public life, he served from 1969 to 1988 as Purse Bearer to the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly, chaired Lothian and Borders Enterprise from 1991 to 1994, and from 1995 chaired the Dynamic Earth Charitable Trust, leading to the opening of that wonderful initiative in 1999. As if that were not all enough for one person, since he turned 90 he has written poetry. The evening concluded with a reading by Jameela Muneer of Alexander McCall Smith’s poem The Saltire Society.
