I have to report a single honour as one of the representatives of Clan
Sinclair here in Otta for the annual Pillarguri Days, commemorating the
1612 Battle of Kringen. Yesterday evening I was asked to join the
Pillarguri Committee in the "Sinclair Stue" (Sinclair Corner) in the
Norlandia Otta Hotel. Syvver Bakken made a short speech in Norwegian and
Inge Leif Larsen translated it, advising that their Scottish Guest was to
be made a Member of Sinclair's Club. He pinned the badge on my lapel. The
badge is silver, of the man riding backwards on his horse, part of the
tradition of the battle. The next to receive the award was Jurgen, who
made the Memorial that our Chief unveiled last year. There are six members
of the Pillarguri Committee, who wear the badge in gold, and now just 4
members of Sinclair's Club, Pål Bruun, Chris Maile, and now Jurgen and
I. I have asked for a copy of the Statutes of the Club, which are kept in
a "budstikke" in a display cabinet in the "Sinclair Stue".
The display cabinet has been built since we were here last year to house
the Pillarguri's valuables and to explain its connections. Pride of place
is Niven's Millenium Sword, presented by Niven and our Chief here last year.
I will post photographs on return next Monday on our website, which already
has this year's outline programme in the Norway section.
Yours aye
Iain, your correspondent in Otta
www.iain.laird.btinternet.co.uk
[ This is the Sinclair family discussion list, sinclair@mids.org
[ To get off or on the list, see http://www.mids.org/sinclair/list.html