Star Letter

I enjoyed reading about the National Wallace Monument in the “Friend”.

Last summer my husband and I visited Stirling and after lunch in a lovely, traditional hotel we headed for the Old Stirling Bridge. My greatgrandfather, James Marquis Chisholm, wrote a piece of music of that name, but I didn’t know its significance until our stop at the monument.

There I heard about the ceremony of the Laying of the Foundation Stone attended by thousands in 1861. My great-grandfather had been asked to compose music for the words of a poem celebrating Wallace’s victory at the bridge. The resulting song was sung on this occasion with him present as the accompanist.

Wallace was victorious in battle at what was then a narrow and wooden bridge. Today it is still narrow but made of stone and makes for a pretty photo opportunity.

There was a banquet following the Laying of the Foundation Stone which James Marquis also attended and which, to my delight, was held in the very same hotel where we had lunch on our special visit to Stirling.

Mrs S.H., Warrington.

Our Star Letter will receive a Dean’s all-butter shortbread tin worth £13.69 RRP. Consume as part of a balanced diet.

All other printed UK letters will win one of our famous tea caddies and a pack of loose tea. Our friends from overseas will receive an alternative gift of a pen.