THE KILWINNING CLUB OF BOSTON’S TRIP 

TO SCOTLAND & ICELAND

On April 22, 2004 the Kilwinning Club of Boston made trip to Kilwinning, Scotland. Our main purpose was to visit Kilwinning Lodge No. 0. We were there to allow us to visit the lodge and to present a Degree,  to demonstrate to their members the way it is done in Boston. 

Included in the party were Frank Porter (President and a member of Sandwich Chapter), Richard and Harriet Olgilvie,  David  Macdonald,  Malcolm and Barbara Romans (member of Samoset Chapter), Elliot and Dianna Gillard (members of Contentment and Samoset Chapters), Robert and Janet Huke, Richard and Isabel Burke (member of Braintree Chapter), Gordon and Thelma Mackay (members of Contentment Chapter), Peter and Janice Macdonald  (members of Contentment Chapter) and John Young. Included in the visitation was attendance at ceremonies by our Eastern Star contingent and attendance of some of our group at a Mark Mason degree.

L-R Dick, Isabella, Thelma, David, Limo Driver, (unknown person who was passing by), Gordon, Elliot and Dianna

    Thursday, 22 April, 2004, we gathered at Logan airport in the early evening for our trip to Scotland. I was surprised to find there was very little seating for the number of flights out of this terminal. Some of our group had dinner at a nearby restaurant and eventually we were packed into the aircraft to prepare for take off. When I say packed, I mean packed.  I don’t believe there was a single empty seat. The meal service was lasagna with a meat sauce, edible but not great.  Icelandair seems to favor this dish;  I have had it before on previous trips. After four plus hours we landed in Iceland. The weather was cold and rainy, but since we were just passing through there was no time for exploring. A quick check through customs and we went down a level to wait for the aircraft, for the next leg of the journey. From the relative comfort of the waiting area we were jammed into a smaller space, and waited for boarding. Eventually we were loaded aboard. This aircraft was much less crowded and seemed more comfortable. I was seated next to very pleasant Icelandic girl and she and I had a discussion about the naming system in Iceland.  She told me that the women do not take their husbands family name when they marry but rather retain their own, so it is very easy to determine family history and connections.

 Early Friday morning we landed at Glasgow Airport. After a simple passport and customs check we collected our luggage and waited to rent our transportation. Frank Porter and Gordon MacKay, volunteered to drive and went up to collect the vans we had reserved.

       Frank led the way and Gordon followed.  As we drove round the airport, looking for the A737, a woman stopped suddenly to ask a jogger for directions.  Frank had to brake hard to avoid an accident and Gordon caught by surprise, had to brake very hard and just avoided rear ending Frank by inches. 

Claremont Guest House B&B

 Despite our less than smooth start we continued along to Kilwinning with no further incident.  In the small town of Kilwinning, Frank suddenly turned off onto a little dirt road, which led to a dirt parking area and stopped.  I was not impressed.  It seemed to be a very seedy looking building, not at all what I had been expecting.  I checked with Frank and he said this is the place. We went inside and were pleasantly surprised.  It was large and roomy and very well kept.  We chose our rooms and hauled our baggage upstairs.  It seems we were to be split up into three parties. Frank, Murray and Barbara Romans, Elliot and Dianna Gillard, Dave MacDonald and John Young were to stay here and the rest were to stay at B&B’s further out in the country. 

 Lockwood Farms B & B

I accompanied Frank as he led the rest of the party to their quarters.  It was a distance away out into the countryside; in fact it was on a working farm.  We traveled a distance on a single lane farm road with many twists and turns with hedgerows hiding any surprises that might be coming the other way.  I heard some reservations expressed as we looked about for the owner. Again as soon as we were inside we were again pleasantly surprised.  It was very well kept and the young woman who owned it was very well organized.  In fact it turned out that she was related by marriage to Isabel Burke. Talk about coincidences.

We all got busy settling in and started our education.  No one would cash travelers check. We stopped  by the lodge and there was a small hospitality room adjacent to the lode where we met some of the members.  We were given a tour of the lodges museum, a small room packed with memorabilia by its curator John Little John.  Luckily Frank had some cash so some of us borrowed from him to tide us over until we could sort things out.  The post office took care of our conversion problems the next morning, so we were flush again.

L - R Elliot, David, Murray, Barbara, Frank, John and two members of Kiwinning Lodge No. 0

    Saturday afternoon, at three o’clock, we had a rehearsal for the 5 o’clock presentation.  Mark MacKay had flown in from France to participate and Ian Forsythe, one of our honorary members, came down from Hamilton to join us.

The lodge was packed.  We were informed that they had 142 attendees and had requests for over 200 but had to turn them away.  The lodge was small and packed to the gunnels.  It was difficult to maneuver around, but the Degree Team did very well and performed an impressive degree. The provincial Grand Master, David Wilson was very complimentary as were the other dignitaries attending.

After the degree, we were invited to a catered dinner upstairs.  After the dinner, a solo flautist entertained us, by the name of William Young. He played what appeared to be a golden flute and the sound quality and tone was absolutely magnificent.  He played tunes familiar to the locals who were deeply moved by them.  I only recognized the theme from Brave Heart, but all the music he played was superb. When he had finished there was a disk jockey for dancing who also entertained us with jokes and anecdotes.  I must say the Kilwinning Club did themselves proud on the dance floor and, a good time was had by all.

L-R Dianna Gillard, Isabella Burke, Barbara Romans, Jean MacDonald, Thelma MacKay, WM, WP, Peter MacDonald, Elliot Gillard, Gordon MacKay and Frank Porter, 

Monday evening the Eastern Star contingent went to the lodge had an opportunity to visit and meet with their sisters. and  brothers.  As the Grand Representative of Scotland, Dianna Gillard was invited to sit in the East behind the Worthy Matron as well as Gordon and Thelma MacKay who are in the East this year in Contentment Chapter.  Kilwinning Chapter No. 55 had a candidate to receive the degrees, as well as an affiliate.  Dianna, Thelma and Gordon brought Greetings from Massachusetts.  The Worthy Grand Matron, Claire Wilder, letter was read and was very much appreciated.  Everyone got a kick out of Dianna’s greetings…. “Stand up to be seen, talk loud to be heard and sit down to be appreciated”.  

Following the meeting everyone went upstairs for a fantastic collation.  What was strange is that in Scotland lodges have a well stock bar.  Strange to have a drink at a collation!  

Tuesday night the Mark Mason Degree was held. 

L-R Elliot, David, Frank

on the Brig O'Doon

    During the day we busied our selves by visiting such places as the Robert Burns cottage and the Brig O’ Doon.  Contrary to American viewers of the movie Brigadoon, the bridge locally was more associated with the tale of Tam O’Shanter and his escape from the witch.  (note: Dianna’s friend, Johann Birrell, said her husband, the late Thomas Birrell, PDWGP, was the piper in Brigadoon).

Kilwinnng Station

We took the train to Glasgow to view a craft fair, which was like a mini home show, and crafts combined.  On the way to Glasgow we met up with a man on the train who talked endlessly to us, but his Glaswegian accent was so strong I couldn’t understand one word out of three of course the fact he was eating a sandwich at the time did not help either.  I wish I had paid closer attention; it would have saved us a very long walk.  I later realized he was trying to tell us there was a subway train at Glasgow Central, which would have taken right to the exhibition. Luckily we met up with some of our party who had gotten there earlier and they showed us the way back by subway. 

Having our "tea"

Now it was full bore tourist time. We headed south to visit Culzean Castle a well-restored castle and grounds.  At one time the original Lords owned the land for miles in any direction.  Unfortunately death duties other forms of British taxation and rampant spending on improvements by John Adams eventually broke the purse and the castle was given to the crown.  It was built just a few yards up from the beach and had all the necessary armament to fend of unwelcome visitors. One of the owners was George Washington’s cousin who wisely sold his holdings and slipped out of the “colonies” just before the war started.  Although the previous owners took their furniture with them, it had been refurbished with period pieces and was similar to the original look. One room was devoted to weapons from cutlasses to muskets, huge quantities covering the walls.  In each room there was an interpreter to answer any questions you may have, and talk about the room and it’s accessories. One interesting anecdote was about the masks the women wore to protect their faces from the heat of the fireplaces as well as the sun. The masks were painted white but, unfortunately with white lead which eventually killed them. In fact several pictures showed women with blue faces indicating advanced lead poisoning.  There were a couple of boat shaped baby cradles made by the local boatyard workers.  Magnificent sweeping spiral staircases were featured and a series of Adams fire places. And in the kitchen a spit rotated by the exhaust gasses of the fireplace. As well as props showing the actual workings of the kitchen.

 Outside there were many walking trails to out buildings. There was even a deer park with a herd of deer.

The next day we were of to visit Rosslyn Chapel. Dianna’s friends from England, Kathy Tyson, AGM and Johan Birrell joined us for this trip.  This is to be the longest ride yet, almost into Edinburgh, about two hours through the scenic countryside. Murray took a ribbing every time we passed a flock of sheep. An inside joke that amused us and made the trip more enjoyable.  So if you ever hear us saying Baaaaaurray, you know we are addressing Murray. 

Baaaaaaaaurray

The weather was a bit damp although the sprinkles had just about stopped by the time we reached the Abby. I was surprised to see that the restorer had constructed a roof over the Abby both to protect it from further damage as well as to provide shelter for the workers.

 Inside the Abby it was amazing.  Seemingly every square inch had a carving inscribed upon it.  It boggled the mind.  One carving flowed into another and as soon as you focused on one area your eye would be drawn to another like the pictures on the body of a tattooed man.  The limited signage pointed out some interesting features but there was nowhere near enough. A couple in kilts and tweed monopolized the one interpreter.

Later above the entrance building, there was a room filled with Masonic things.  From pins to carvings – it demonstrated the centuries of Masonic influence in the area. There was videotape, so I played it and learned something about the Apprentice pillar I had been studying in the chapel. It seems the master carver who had been assigned to carve the pillar, decided he needed to see the original in Rome, so he set off on a pilgrimage. In the meantime his apprentice had dream, which showed it already done. So while his master was gone he carved the pillar. Instead of being pleased the master flew into a rage and killed the apprentice striking him on with a stone maul. And he later paid the penalty for the murder. There are two carving on adjacent pillars, which are said to be the apprentice and the master staring down resentfully at the pillar. 

We made a quick tour into Edinburgh. Frank found us a mall and we took full advantage of the shopping opportunity. We had planned to use the main highway into Glasgow (M8) but due to a navigation error we were again to the scenic route. It turned out just as well because the M8 is mobbed at this time of day and our route was faster.  All in all it was a grand trip. Were I to revisit the Abby, I should want to study as much as I could find to prepare me.

Tour Bus driving pass the Glasgow Cathedral

    Due to coordination problems with the other group we postponed our plans to visit the Isle of Arran.  Instead we took the train to Glasgow for a shopping trip and to see the city. Somehow Dave Macdonald and myself got separated from the group and we spent the day riding on tour busses and visiting museums. As to the rest of my groups activities they did met up with the other group and took the ferry over to the Isle of Arran.  They said it was beautiful and you really needed more than a few hours to enjoy it.  went alone to Hamilton to visit family there and met the group again at Glasgow airport for our trip to Iceland.

L-R Thelma, Isabella, Dick, Gordon, Elliot

            Iceland, a foreboding name, but if not for the Gulf Stream, an accurate one.  We landed midday in Keflavic Iceland. It was a chilly damp day about 40degrees and on the bus ride to the Hotel Loftledir the land was barren black volcanic soil. As we approached the city of Reykjavic, the land changed to grassy well-groomed landscape with a few trees. The Loftledir was a large hotel owned by the Icelandic Air, and in fact Loftledir was the original name of Icelandic Air.  

L-R  David, Dick, Harriet, Murray, Thelma

After settling in to our rooms, we got a severe case of sticker shock. The prices seemed to be extremely high.  First they were quoted in Icelandic Krona approximately 74 to the dollar. This made mental conversion difficult and pricing seems high. The hotel’s evening buffet dinner at 3500 Krona (about. $52) seemed high to me high in any currency. The majority ordered from the menu.  A cheeseburger, fries and tea came to $18.00!  Some of us were getting the feeling we were sheep about to be shorn and resented it. 

On the plus side the hotel was comfortable, clean, and the staff spoke excellent English and were very friendly.  Also an excellent breakfast buffet came with the room and many of us took full and some very full advantage. 

Several of us decided to explore the city, on foot.  It was a interesting town with a lot of hills, sliding down into the waterfront, dominated by a large church with a very high steeple.  Some of us discovered a flea market and spent some time exploring it.

Pearl Restaurant

 Blue Lagoon 

There were interesting Museums as well as other notable places but most of the signs were in Icelandic so we could have walked by the Vatican and not known about it.  Others took the 3-hour tour and visited the local churches, museums and city.  There was an 8-hour tour that would have taken us out to see the volcano and glaciers. Others took advantage of the tourist attractions and visited The Blue Lagoon and the Pearl Restaurant ($100 per person) and reported that they had a good time. I would suggest that should anyone visit there in the future they first make a Dollar to Krona conversion chart to guide them.  

At last we reached Logan Airport and we split up each to their personal destination.

John Young

Anyone who is interest in a copy of the DVD Photo Show of our trip to Scotland, please contact Dianna.