A Window In Thrums ©Louis Mair, January 2012
1. The House on the Brae
Glenprosen poster poser Kirriemuir Herald, 25 March 1993, Page 1
An Angus glen is the target of a mysterious poster campaign.
And residents are curious as to who is behind the sudden appearance of posters bearing the words “Settler Watch-Angus.”
These have been pasted or stapled onto trees, fenceposts and walls throughout Glenprosen.
Many were placed in prominent positions on the road coming up to the picturesque glen.
One resident contacted The Dispatch and Herald to see if the culprits could be unmasked.
“I have been taking these posters down as they are spoiling the beauty of the glen,” she said.
“But within two or three days they were back up.”
The poster lettering is Gothic-style, though this has not provided any further clues.
“I have asked around, but no-one seems to know who is behind Settler Watch.
“However, it is believed that the campaign is all about keeping Scotland
“But there is no ill-feeling towards anyone in this area and it’s possibly an outside organisation which has taken it upon itself to do this.”
Similar posters have recently been appearing in the small village of Westmuir
A spokesman for Tayside Police in Forfar said they knew nothing of Settler Watch and were as bemused as the residents.
©Kirriemuir Herald 1993
Helping to transform glen Kirriemuir Herald, 1 April 1993, Letters
Sir,
The glen where I make my home has also been a target for unknown poster stickers, as mentioned in last week’s “Kirrie Herald.”
I have decided that this may well be a very good thing.
The people referred to as “settlers” are hard working and well-educated people.
Slowly but surely, they are transforming an area which was on the periphery of the modern world.
The glens of Angus and Perthshire offer tremendous opportunities to those with enterprise and ambition.
Yours etc,
Geoffrey Smith, Glenisla
In with a Rolls - home on the bus! Kirriemuir Herald, 8 April 1993, Letters
Sir,
Regards Mr Geoffrey Smith’s letter of April 1.
It is precisely this air of arrogance which probably prompted SETTLER WATCH posters in the first place.
Is he really suggesting that, before the settlers arrived in our glens, we weren’t hard working and well educated people?
On the periphery of the modern world indeed!
From what I can see, and the more I see of the modern world, the less it appeals to me.
Perhaps that is the very reason these people settled in our glens in the first place.
If only they wouldn’t try to change everything and be “Lord of the Manor”.
In truth, the majority have no regard for our culture and customs, which have been practised for generations.
The Scots by nature are revered for their honesty, hard work and integrity, perhaps a little lacking in our ANGLO-SAXON NEIGHBOURS.
Quite honestly, we have ourselves to blame for being so complacent, and it is unfortunate to find yourself becoming more like them, if only to survive.
Mind you, probably the fact that we have still retained the ability to laugh at ourselves, and the fact that Mr Smith’s letter appeared on April 1, speaks volumes!
Aye, there’s mony a millionaire arrived in the glens wie a Rolls Royce an hid tae ging hame on a bus!
Yours etc.,
Poor, uneducated, hard-working, local yokel,
Glenisla.
(name and address supplied)
WARNING by The Colonial Office: The Race Relations Act has changed since 1993
You may believe that the date and the tone of the Kirrie Herald story supports the Settler Watch mythology; I canna possibly comment.
2.On the Track of the Minister
There followed four months when the name of Settler Watch did not appear in the colonial media.
You may speculate about a D-notice; I canna possibly comment.
3.Preparing to Receive Company
Late in July 1993 the Pish & Jobbies and Scrotum on Sunday began a ‘mythology of Settler Watch' series. They drew on information from a single source.
You may speculate on Grampian Police’s involvement in politics; I canna possibly comment.
4.Waiting for the Doctor
The September 1993 trial of Dr. Sonja (Vathjunker) Cameron and “the other woman” for the misdemeanour of fly-posting saw a rabid outburst of (anti-German) racism from the empire-loyalist press. Ms. Cameron had been born in Germany
You may speculate that the prolonged persecution by the media of this young woman was being encouraged by a (Secret) Colonial Office; I canna possibly comment.
5.A Humourist on his Calling
In April 1998 Dr. Ian Oliver was dismissed from his post as Grampian Chief Constable by the representatives of the Crown who were legally and constitutionally charged with this responsibility.
In February 2000 a ‘kite’ was flown in The [Glasgow
Letter to The [Glasgow] Herald published: 21 February 2000
Under the Freedom of Disinformation Act it is unlikely that we shall ever know the exact reasons for Dr. Oliver’s jotter-collecting scenario. John R. Stephen (February 18) does the Crown a disservice by mythologising on that happy event.
Louis Mair
Rayne
You may speculate that the morally weak get the imperial masters they deserve; I canna possibly comment.
6.Dead this Twenty Years
My own part in the Settler Watch scandal was to design a vehicle for raising a topic that the great and good were studiously ignoring. I did so peacefully and exposed my supporters to no greater risk (in law) than the misdemeanour of fly-posting.
Imperial powers from Kenya
7.The Statement of Fibbie Birse
9 & 10 August 1993
The boy
who never
Grew up
Mr. Blabby telt a fibbie,
He telt it tae the Filth.
Mr. Blabby and a twinnie,
The Empire gied them wealth.
Mr. Blabby shittin brickies,
Twinnie has piur health.
Louis Mair, previously published: firstfoot.com ; 6 April 2005
A Window In Thrums ©Louis Mair, 2012
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