> > July 6 1747 - John Paul Jones, hero of the US Navy, born Kirkbean, > > Dumfries. > > July 6 1875 - Institute of Bankers in Scotland formed, the first > > professional association of bankers in the world. > > July 6 1919 - Airship R34, constructed by Glasgow's Beardmore Engineering > > Co., landed Long Island, USA after the first Trans-Atlantic airship flight > > - from East Fortune, East Lothian. It took 108 hours. > > July 6 1988 - Explosion aboard North Sea oil rig Piper Alpha, 167 lives > > lost. > > July 7 1548 - Treaty of Haddington, between France and Scotland, > confirming > > the betrothal of Mary Queen of Scots and Dauphin of France. > > July 7 1925 - Original Kelvin Hall exhibition building in Glasgow, > > destroyed by fire. > > July 7 1930 - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle author of the Sherlock Holmes > > detective stories, died. > > July 8 1249 - King Alexander II died on Isle of Kerrara, Oban Bay. > > July 8 1296 - King John Balliol abdicated at Montrose. > > July 8 1822 - Sir Henry Raeburn, portrait painter, died. > > July 9 1867 - Queen's Park Football Club, first senior football (soccer) > > club in Scotland formed. > > July 9 1938 - Gas masks issued to the civilian population in anticipation > > of the Second World War. > > July 10 1451 - King James III born at Stirling. > > July 10 1576 - First Bible (New Testament) printed in Scotland by > > Bassandyne. > > July 10 1633 - Sailing ship "Blessing of Burntisland" carrying gold, > > jewellery and silver plate belonging to King Charles I, sank in the Firth > > of Forth. > > July 11 1274 - Robert the Bruce born at Turnberry Castle. > > July 11 1924 - Eric Liddell (later famous as a result of the film > "Chariots > > of Fire") won Olympic 400 metres sprint in Paris. > > July 12 1690 - William III defeated James VII in the Battle of the Boyne, > > Ireland. > > July 12 1698 - Darien expedition left Leith for Panama. > > The Tartan Army > > > > Here we come... > > Stottin' down the street... > > We get the funniest looks > > >From everyone we meet. > > > > Hey, hey, we're the Tartan Army > > And people say we fanny around. > > But we're too busy singing > > To put anybody down. > > > > We're just trying to be friendly; > > We like to sing and play. > > We're the famous Tartan Army > > And we've got something to say. > > > > Hey, hey, we're the Tartan Army > > And people say we fanny around. > > But we're too busy singing > > To put anybody down. > > > > Meaning of unusual words: > > Stottin'=stagger, totter > > fanny around=mess around > > > > *************************** > > SCOTTISH HUMOUR > > *************************** > > Mixed Foursomes > > Husband and wife Jimmy and Maisie McFlannel were playing a mixed foursomes > > against another couple and it was all square at the last hole. It was > > Jimmy's turn to tee off and he hit a sweet drive straight down the > fairway, > > 20 yards further than their opponents and in a perfect lie. It was now > > Maisie's turn to strike the ball but instead of hitting it cleanly, she > > topped the ball and it dribbled only a few feet forward. "Bad luck, > > partner" said Jimmy, with gritted teeth. But his next shot was a dream > iron > > which struck the pin, nearly went in the hole but bounced back a few > > inches. It should really have been a "gimme" but their opponents were on > > the green in three also and were hoping to at least halve the hole. In the > > event, they two putted and it was left to Maisie to sink the four inch > putt > > and win the match. But she struck the ball too firmly, it swung round the > > lip of the cup and out again - finishing a foot away from the cup. "Hard > > luck Maisie" said Jimmy, barely managing to control his frustration. But > he > > settled down and put a perfect putt into the hole to at least square the > > match. As they walked off the green towards the clubhouse, however, he > > could not restrain himself from saying to Maisie "Pity we had to take five > > strokes on that last hole." Maisie looked up and replied "Yes - and YOU > > played THREE of them!" > > >