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10th Anniversary Reception

SLD display banners

At the end of May SLD hosted a reception in the historic town of Linlithgow, to celebrate our 10th anniversary and to thank our supporters. We were joined by many of our members, friends and colleagues in the beautiful Burgh Halls, and were delighted that Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages, was able to attend. We were also assisted by four local youngsters who act as guides to Linlithgow Palace, who came dressed in medieval costume.

The hall provided an ideal stage to show off our new display banners for the first time. These were paid for out of our recently-launched 'seed-corn' fund, and they will be used at other events and exhibitions. We also took the opportunity to display many of the imaginative birthday cards that we received from schools all over Scotland. You can see a selection of these in our Scuilwab.

Cutting the cake
Our president Dr. Margaret Mackay welcomed everyone to the event in an opening address, following which our Convener Professor Christian Kay gave a brief history of SLD and its parent organisations.

Dr. Mackay then introduced the Minister, who spoke warmly about the work of SLD and told us a little about his own family’s use of Scots. We are funded by the Scottish Government and are always pleased to involve them in our undertakings. Dr. Allan was then invited to cut our birthday cake – presumably one of his less onerous ministerial duties.

Next we heard from Iseabail Macleod and Derrick McClure, editors of the newly published volume Scotland in Definition: a history of Scottish dictionaries, copies of which were on sale. (Go to our Buik Neuk page for more details.) This book features chapters by a variety of writers with an involvement or interest in lexicography. Christian Kay presented the Minister with two copies of the book, along with two copies of Perspectives on the Older Scottish Tongue, edited by herself and Margaret Mackay.

photo Margaret Mackay
Margaret Mackay
photo Christian Kay
Christian Kay
photo Alasdair Allan
Alasdair Allan
photo Iseabail Macleod
Iseabail Macleod
photo Derrick McClure
Derrick McClure

Birthday cake
Our helpers
The birthday cake was then distributed to all the guests by our costumed helpers. Towards the end of the event they were each presented with a scroll and book token by Elaine Webster, our Outreach and Education Officer, who thanked them for their contribution to the smooth running of the day.

At various times throughout the afternoon we were entertained on fiddle and guitar by Scottish music duo Rosie Munro and Chris Amer, who provided a relaxing ambiance.

All in all the celebration was very enjoyable, and a fitting marker of SLD's ten-year milestone. We have an anonymous donor to thank for meeting the cost of the event and we are all very grateful for this kind generosity.

Photos by Henry Gratwick