What is it that links people as disparate as footballers Duncan Ferguson and Billy Bremner*; King James VI of Scotland and I of England#; jockey Willie Carson*; journalist Kirsty Young § and former Liberal Prime Minister Henry Campbell-Bannerman≠?
All have a deep association with the ancient Royal Burgh, and now city, of Stirling in central Scotland. Traditionally thought of as the place that bridges the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, its strategic importance meant that the town was a key battle site in the Wars of Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. (Notably, the ‘Battle of Stirling’ depicted in the quasi-historical romp Braveheart correctly recorded a Scottish victory on the day but substituted almost every other detail from a much later battle.)
I’ll be visiting Stirling tomorrow, to take part in the annual conference held by the Research Society for Victorian Periodicals (RSVP) – although we’ll be based at the university campus, so outside of Stirling proper. Still, I’m looking forward to going back to Scotland and to a part of the country I haven’t visited previously. How much I’ll get to see of the city and its environs is debateable; the conference programme is packed and I’m heading home straight after the conference ends. Still, the journey there and back should be scenic at least. I’m always struck, when travelling north of the border that, outside of the big cities, there is a more civilised pace and tone to life compared with much of England; less traffic, less pollution, less crowding altogether.
Thinking about the theme of the forthcoming conference – Place – it highlights how much RSVP is a truly international research society, bringing together periodicals scholars from the UK, Europe and North America (and beyond) – acting as a bridge for sharing knowledge. So, Stirling is an inspired choice for this year’s conference venue. My paper is going to discuss the influence of various events in the USA on the launch and life of a short-lived illustrated London-based newspaper in the mid-nineteenth century. Look out for the next post sharing some highlights from the conference itself.
KEY TO STIRLING ASSOCIATIONS
* – born in Stirling
# – crowned King of Scotland in Stirling
§ – educated in Stirling
≠ – represented Stirling (Burghs) in Parliament
I really enjoyed reading this post and the link was a really informative and interesting lead into the conference you will be attending in Stirling. I will admit to trying to identify a link myself before reading the whole post but without success.
I will now look forward to your next post as the mention of the influences of various events in the USA on London papers is intriguing and certainly wets the appetite for wanting to know more.