Tour Scotland photographs and videos from my tours of Scotland. Photography and videography, both old and new, from beautiful Scotland, Scottish castles, seascapes, rivers, islands, landscapes, standing stones, lochs and glens.
Old photograph of John Gibson Paton in Glasgow, Scotland. John, born 24 May 1824, died 28 January 1907, was a Protestant missionary to the New Hebrides Islands of the South Pacific. He was born in a farm cottage at Braehead, Kirkmahoe, Dumfriesshire. He was the eldest of the 11 children of James and Janet Paton. From the age of 12, he started learning the trade of his stocking manufacturing father and, for fourteen hours a day, he manipulated one of the six stocking frames in his father's workshop. During his youth Paton felt called by God to serve overseas as a missionary. Eventually he moved to Glasgow where he undertook theological and medical studies. He was ordained by the Reformed Presbyterian Church on 23 March 1858. On 2 April, in Coldstream, Berwickshire, Scotland John G. Paton married Mary Ann Robson and 14 days later, on 16 April, accompanied by Mr. Joseph Copeland, they both sailed from Scotland to the South Pacific. John and Mary Paton landed on the island of Tanna, in the southern part of the New Hebrides, on 5 November 1858 and built a small house at Port Resolution. Three months after their arrival, a son, Peter Robert Robson, was born on 12 February 1859. But just 19 days later, Mary died from tropical fever soon to be followed to the grave by the newly born Peter at 36 days of age. Despite these devastating bereavements, Paton continued unfailingly with his missionary work in spite of constant animosity from the natives and many attempts on his life. During one attack, a ship arrived just in time to rescue him and take him and missionaries from another part of the island, Mr. and Mrs. Mathieson, to safety at Aneityum. From Aneityum, he went first to Australia, then back to Scotland, to arouse greater interest in the work of the New Hebrides, to recruit new missionaries. During this time in Scotland, on 17 June 1864, in Edinburgh, he married Margaret Whitecross, a descendant of the so called " Whitecross Knights ". Arriving back in the New Hebrides in August 1866, John and his new wife Maggie established a new Mission station on Aniwa Island. Enduring many years of deprivation, danger from natives and disease, they continued with their work and after many years of patient ministry, the entire island of Aniwa professed Christianity. In 1899 he saw his Aniwa New Testament printed and the establishment of missionaries on twenty five of the thirty islands of the New Hebrides. Maggie Whitecross Paton died at the age of 64 on 16 May 1905. Paton survived his wife by nearly two years, dying at the age of 82 on 28 Jan 1907 at Cross St, Canterbury, Victoria, Australia.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of a World War One Red Cross nurse in Paisley by Glasgow, Scotland. During World War One branches of the Red Cross had groups of volunteers called Voluntary Aid Detachments, often abbreviated to VAD. Voluntary Aid Detachment members themselves came to be known simply as VADs. Famous women who volunteered for the Red Cross during the war include: Agatha Christie who served as a VAD nurse at a hospital in Torquay, England. Enid Bagnold, author of National Velvet and The Chalk Garden. She served in London as a VAD.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Frank Richard Stranahan on the Old Royal and Ancient Golf Course in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Frank, born August 5, 1922, died June 23, 2013, was an American sportsman. He had significant success in both amateur and professional golf. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, into a very wealthy family; his father, R. A. Stranahan, was the founder of the highly successful Champion Spark Plug company. Frank's father's millions allowed Frank to concentrate on golf, and while in his teens he set a goal of becoming the best golfer in the world. He grew up playing the famous Inverness Club in Toledo, and won several club championships there. During his amateur golf career, spanning from 1936 to 1954, Stranahan won over 70 amateur tournaments, and several Open events as well, competing against professionals. Stranahan was able to remain amateur by forgoing the prize money he could have won as a professional, due to his family wealth. His greatest accomplishments included appearing as a finalist in over a dozen national championships, winning seven. He won two major championships (as they were counted at the time): the 1948 and 1950 British Amateurs. Stranahan was runner-up in five other major championships, including the British Amateur, the Masters Tournament, The Open Championship, and the U.S. Amateur. He won the Canadian Amateur Championship in 1947 and 1948. He won the Tam O'Shanter All-American Amateur six consecutive years from 1948 to 1953; this was a significant extravaganza hosted by impresario George S. May. His globetrotting allowed him to compete in over 200 tournaments across three continents during his amateur career. Stranahan died June 23, 2013, aged 90, at his home in Miami Beach, Florida, where he had lived for many years.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
