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December 5, 2003 - Capt Sir Walter Stirling of Faskine |
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November 27, 2003 - Clan Stirling Mail List News |
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Clan-Stirling-L@rootsweb.com (you must have subscribed to the list first) To subscribe to the Clan Stirling Mail List send an email with just subscribe in the body to ... Clan-Stirling-L-request@rootsweb.com To unsubscribe to the Clan Stirling Mail List send an email with just unsubscribe in the body to ... Clan-Stirling-L-request@rootsweb.com There are currently about 90 Sterling/Stirling/Starling cousins on our mail list. |
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September 13, 2003 - Ancient Boat of Stirling |
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The title printed under this engraving is Ancient boat found in the bed of the River Forth at Stirling. This is an original wood block engraving published in the Illustrated London News on 6 June 1874. The engraving has been skilfully hand tinted with artist watercolour to enhance the engraving's appeal. The engraving measures 9¼x6¼ inches on paper 10¾x7½ inches approx. There is text printed on the reverse. The Illustrated London News was the world's first newspaper to include pictures, starting publication in 1842 as a weekly paper. Due to the paper's immense cost some subscribers would collect all their copies and then send them to a binder every 6 months to make into a historical record. |
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August 30, 2003 - In Loving Memory of our Friend Bob McCutcheon |
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August 24, 2003 - Sterling Family Holds 68th Family Reunion |
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The 68th Sterling Family Reunion was held on Sunday, August 3rd, 2003 at Highland Park in Endicott, N.Y. hosted by Paul, Sue, and Kate Wilcox, Beverly Skillings asked he blessing and the 32 members and guests enjoyed a delicious covered dish dinner. The business meeting was brought to order by president Rod Millard. The secretary and treasurer's reports were read and approved. The births of Paige Wilcox, Carter Wilcox, Lauren Traylor and Olivia Parke Dunne were announced. They are all great-granchildren of Alice Wilcox and the late Carlton Wilcox. The marriage of Brian and Jessica Skillings was announced. During the last year Edward Grow, Wayne Campbell and Albert Russell passed away. Paul and Sue Wilcox generously donated the meat and beverages at this years reunion. They were given a round of applause. Cards were signed and sent to Ethel Mae Warriner and Dorothy Sterling who were unable to attend. Elections of officers was held for next year's reunion with the following results. President: Kent Sterling Those attending included: Scranton: Kent and Janice Sterling Windsor: Joan and Keith Royer - Marvin Russell, Jr. South Montrose: Kathyrn Sterling - Viginia Karakas Tunkhannock: Shelly Sterling Montrose: Rose Sterling DeGroat - Tiara, Destiny and Jacen Sterling Sayre: Mike, Beth, John and Michael Shaw Wyalusing: Rod and Alita Millard - Colin and Adrielle Blemle Camptown: Loring and Beverly Skillings Endwell: Isabelle Wilcox Bainbridge: Alice Wilcox - Nancy Wilcox Brubaker Binghamton: Jim, Kim and Cathy Wilcox - Paul, Sue and Kate Wilcox Lawton: Denise Campbell Published August 14, 2003 in "THE ROCKET-COURIER" transcribed by Rick Stirling |
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August 18, 2003 - 2003 Piping World Chamions |
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No one in the world will ever forget the first time they heard the sound of bagpipes. I was just a young boy when our family went to Canada for the first time. We were waiting at the Ferry Terminal to take the ferry over to Vancouver Island, when an older gentleman in full reglia walked up to the front of the que got out his pipes, stood at attention and started to play. It's an experience I've never forgotten! Each year pipers from all over the world gather to compete, and decide how is the best in the world. The House of Edgar-Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band of Scotland are the 2003 World Pipe Band Champions August 16, 2003, Glasgow Green. Field Marshal Montgomery of Ulster finished second on an MSR Other results are posted below. Grade 1 Medley judges: MSR judges: None of the six bands that qualified earlier in the day made the prize list. The six bands that qualified for the final after an MSR competition were: 1st St. Laurence O'Toole (Eire) The rest of the qualifier result was: 7th Western Australia Police (Australia) The qualifier event was judged by Piping: Nat Russell (Australia), David Clark (Scotland); Drumming: W. Dunlop (Scotland); Ensemble: C. Mordaunt (Eire) The pre-qualified bands not in the prize list were ScottishPower (Scotland) and Vale of Atholl SScotland). Clan Gregor of Scotland won the Grade 2 contest, which saw more than 30 bands vie for the title in a contest run straight through. Grade 2 Judges: Piping: Ed Neigh (Canada), John Wilson (Scotland); Drumming: J. Geddis (Scotland); Ensemble: Bob Shepherd (Scotland) Grade 3A Judges: Piping: Bob Worrall (Canada), Denver Cardwell (Ulster); Drumming: Iain Mathieson (Ulster); Ensemble: John Kennedy (Scotland) Grade 3B Judges: Piping: Matt McConnell (Scotland), Harry McNulty (Scotland); Drumming: Joe Noble (Scotland); Ensemble: Wilson Young (Scotland) Juvenile Judges: as for Grade 1 qualifier Grade 4A Judges: Piping: Malcolm MacKenzie (Scotland), Iain Wood (Scotland); Drumming: Alistair Dowling (Scotland); Ensemble: J. MacInnes (Scotland) Grade 4B Judges: Piping: Harry Stevenson (Ulster), Trevor Dear (Scotland); Drumming: Gordon Reid (Scotland); Ensemble: Alistair Aitken (Scotland) Novice Juvenile |
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August 16, 2003 - Color Print of Stirling Castle |
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August 5, 2003 - Sherrifmuir & Wallace Monument |
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July 24, 2003 - Join the Sterling Y-DNA Project |
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JOIN THE STERLING Y-CHROMOSOME DNA PROJECT
The restrictions are two-fold:
A site has been set up with the results and additional information. You can submit a request to join the project here: http://www.familytreedna.com/surname_join.asp?code=Q12782Please consider joining! The more participants, the better the results. Rick Stirling, St*rling DNA Project Administrator |
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July 15, 2003 - Stirling The Gateway To The Highlands |
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This historic poster showing The Battle of Stirling Bridge was done by Maurice Greiffenhagen about 1925. The original is held at the National Railway Museum in York, England. The poster collection at the museum is one of the largest in the world. The poster represents many things to our family and the peoples of Scotland, but it also shows and represents the golden age of poster art spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. If you enjoy poster art, you must visit the museum! |
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July 6, 2003 - Dunblane - Over 2,000 Years of History. |
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Dunblane Cathedral is less than three miles from the Stirling Family Estates of Kippendavie, Kippenross, Aird, Keir, and others. The North Chapel at the Cathedral is dedicated to our Stirling Family. Dunblane's Christian history dates from the 8th century, but there is ample evidence the Romans kept a camp nearby. Because of it's fertile soil and ample water supply, there have been people living in the area for a very long time indeed. There are many historical accounts, prints, pictures, and stories on Clan Stirling Online about Dunblane. We encourage you to check out the search page, and take a tour through the postings about Dunblane at Clan Stirling Online. If you visit Stirling, you MUST venture over to Dunblane. The charm to the right is available at the Cathedral. There are a number of excellent books about Dunblane, one of the best histories of the town was first published in 1944 by Alex B. Barty, B.Sc, LL.B. It's titled "The History of Dunblane." |
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June 19, 2003 - Stirling Names From University Records |
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Some books are of great genealogical interest even though they were not originally written for the sake of The book was printed at Glasgow University Press by Robert Maclehose & Company Ltd. for James Maclehose and Sons, Publishers to the University of Glasgow in 1913. It contains the matriculation information for graduates from the University from 1728 to 1858. More importantly from a genealogical standpoint is the names are cross referenced by family, so if a persons brothers, father, grandfather and in some cases up to 2nd Great grandfather matriculated from the school, their information is here too, and cross referenced. It's very interesting to see what subjects and other information are printed for your ancestor. For example here is the first (oldest) entry for a member of the Stirling family, Gulielmus Stirling, who was born in 1717, and graduated in 1730. 174 GULIELMUS STIRLING F. Joannis Stirling Mercatoris Glasguensis Viri Consularis Born 1717. Founder of the still existing calico-printing firm of William Stirling & Sons. Died at Glasgow, 3d May, 1777. Cousin of 564; father of 2559, 2560; father-in-law of 2959; grandfather of 5344, 5583, 6069, 6156, 6502, 7642, 8745, 10285; great-grandfather of 15768. Page 5; 1730 A.D. As you can see there is a great deal of information about Gulielmus , including information about his father-in-law! We owe a great deal of special thanks to CSO volunteer Beverly Jex, she extracted and typed by hand all members of the family of STIRLING from the book and published them in a pdf file for the Scottish Genealogical & Historical Research Trust. The file has been made available to Clan Stirling Online. The trust plans to publish this extremely rare book in it's entirety in the near future. It's a wonderful look into Scotlands past, and is a great research aide. No genealogical library or historical society should be without one. ABOUT THE AUTHOR William Innes Addison was born in the parish of Brechin in Forfarshire on the 22nd of March, 1857. He was the In 1875 he joined the staff of Mr. A. Kirk Mackie, SSC. In 1879 he removed to Glasgow and took many Arts, Humanity, English Literature and Moral Philosophy classes during this time. He was married in 1885. In 1887 he began working for the university of Glasgow in the Clerk of Senate's Office in the Matriculation department. In Oct 1905 he was appointed Registrar of the General Council, which he highly prized because it kept him in contact with the graduates whose careers he had watched with interest from their earliest student days. In 1911 the department, which had grown tremendously was reorganized, Mr. Addison was placed at the head of the general clerical staff and given the title Registrar of the University. Mr Addison consulted with thousands of people to prepare this book. He also consulted many other reference materials and historical books, there are well over 150 titles listed in the bibliograhy. In his self written biograpy his sense of humor was also well documented. For recreaction is said: "editing, indexing, and annotating University Records." Sadly he died as this book went to press on the 15th of October 1912. This book is a lasting legacy to a man that spent countless hours indexing, cross referencing and annotating a book this is of great value to Scottish Genealogists. |
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June 3, 2003 - Admiral James Stirling |
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Man of action, naval officer, able administrator, skilled diplomat—James Stirling’s distinguished and multi-faceted career carried him to the four corners of the nineteenth century world. See PDF file announcing publication of this book by Pamela Statham-Drew |
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May 6, 2003 - Meet The Hebe Ochracea! |
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Meet The Hebe Ochracea! Over the span of many years more than one hundred people with the name "James Stirling" have been identified. This wonderful plant is known as the Hebe Ochracea, or 'James Stirling' At this point we don't know how the plant got it's nickname. More information: Do you have other "Stirling" Plants???? |
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April 24, 2003 - Comentarios para el ENCUENTRO FAMILIAR |
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The Stirlings in Uruguay are gathering on the 26th of April for a FAMILY REUNION!
The original message in spanish follows, after that is a loosely translated version in English. Hola toda la familia. De ello dependerán muchas decisiones que debo tomar y sobretodo las compras que previamente deberé hacer. No quiero que nadie se quede con hambre... 3) La invitación es extensiva a todos los miembros de cada núcleo familiar. Los nombres a los cuales me dirijo son un medio de contacto hacia todos. Y si alguien quiere hacer participar a alguien más: bienvenido! Me pasarán nombre, apellido, edad y la confirmación de participación. 4) MOTIVOS POR LOS CUALES SUGIERO PARTICIPAR: 5) demostrémonos que no necesitamos casamientos o velorios 6) y la última: cuantos más seamos; menos nos costará a cada uno... No tendremos hora real de comienzo (ni de término). Y si alguien cae con un Scotch o un Martini bajo'el brazo...habrá hielo! Bienvenidos estos aportes, que también serán afichados, anunciados, aplaudidos y consumidos inmediatamente por la multitud!! -------------------- English Translation (via Internet Translator...) Hello all the family. Important commentaries for the FAMILY REUNION on 26 of April of 2003: We will share: 1) Garlic sausages and ??colitas of cuadril??. We will have a professional ????: Mr. Julio Lopez (of the Nautilus Club) and his assistants. 6) For the "hour of you" (social hour), each one takes what wants already...(there)are cakes, galletitas, scons, Colet, Nescau, tea, milk, kills, tereré....etc. I bring extras that to enjoy and that will be announced. When: acclaimed by the multitude when arriving the 5 from afternoon!(when everyone gets here about 5 PM ) We will enjoy: 1) A while of a group of music varied with guitars and song. And perhaps to We will take: 1) the pleasant satisfaction to have shared a time of our life in family and who to many of them history in case single it has not allowed us to as much enjoy them... We will be: 1) Those that we confirm (great and small) the pero participation..., come ALL!... dale!..va to be "salty"! 2) Same those that already confirmed to me in last November (66), it would thank for a simple reiteration to them. Thanks. (If you came last November just let me know, I already have your 3) the invitation is extensive to all the members of each family group. The names to which I go are contact means towards all. And if somebody wants to make participate somebody more: welcome! They will pass name, last name, age and the confirmation to me of participation. (Everyone is welcome - if you have someone I didn't invite just give me the particulars) 4) REASONS BY WHICH I SUGGEST TO PARTICIPATE: 5) Shows that we did not need marriages or other (formal occasions) to share a day with family... 6) and the last one: (It will cost less for us to pool our resources together) We will pay: 1) Shared cost (... those that can ..of course) Notes: Them memory that we will not suspend it by bad weather. (Come rain or come shine) It will be in the Center Protection of Choferes of Montevideo in the Avenue Instructions. In the Enramadas 7C and 7D. Its capacity is of something more than 300....Last time we had more than 250 ??Nobody would have to let come!?? The premises already rented will be to our disposition from the 8 in the morning to the average night (all day 26). We will not have real hour of beginning (nor of term). They are possible to be ringing closer when they want... with somebody are had to find... and while: they are tasting wines and being surprised with the arrivals. How exciting! And if somebody falls with a Scotch or a Martini bajóel arm... will be ice! Welcome these contributions, that also will be donations, announced, applauded immediately and consumed by the multitude! The idea is "to be cutting" towards the 12:30. Comprennez vous? If somebody has some Guillermo |
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April 8, 2003 - This Old Stirling House |
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This Old Stirling House 08 Apr 2003 - This edition of "This Old Stirling House" was Kindly submited by Elspeth Flood. The house is located in British Columbia, Canada - in Elspeth's own words: "Here are pix from my Granny Nina Stirling's album (album compiled from 1906, when Granny was 9 until 1920, when she got married). They are CJR Stirling's house in Salmon Arm, B.C. and a view of the orchard from the house. Unfortunately the pix are very faded - Granny developed many of them herself."
Please send in pictures of your Stirling house! |
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April 3, 2003 - Chief of Clan Gregor passes on. |
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Brigadier Sir Gregor MacGregor of MacGregor, 6th Baronet and 23rd Chief of Clan Gregor, has died at the age of 78. Sir Gregor, who is succeeded by his son Major Malcolm MacGregor, died in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, on Sunday after a short illness. He lived at the family home Bannatyne, at Newtyle. Born in Edinburgh in 1925, the son of Captain Sir Malcolm MacGregor and Gylla Lady MacGregor of MacGregor OBE, he was educated at Eton and was commissioned in the Scots Guards in 1944. He saw active service in north-west Europe during the second world war and later served in Palestine, Malaya and Borneo, and was also a member of the Royal Company of Archers (Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland). He was also Brigade Major, 16th Parachute Brigade and rose through the ranks to become Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion Scots Guards and Lt. Colonel commanding Scots Guards. Following a two-year spell at Fort Benning in the USA, Sir Gregor became Defence and Military Attache at the British Embassy in Athens between 1975 and 1978, before becoming Commander of the regiment's Lowlands Battalion, based at Edinburgh Castle until 1980. In his civilian life he was also Grand Master Mason of Scotland 1988-93. Since becoming Clan Chief in 1958, Sir Gregor had travelled extensively to MacGregor gatherings, in particular to America and Canada, and was seen as a guiding hand to the clan throughout his tenure. In 1975 he oversaw the 200th anniversary of the lifting of the Act of Proscription, imposed in 1693 by William of Orange, which outlawed the clan name. The Act was finally repealed in 1775. Sir Gregor is also survived by his wife Fanny and younger son Ninian. The funeral will be held at Newtyle on Friday, 4th April 2003. From the Dundee Courier, April 1, 2003 |
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March 20, 2003 - Stirling Family In Space |
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STIRLINGS IN SPACE
The Stardust mission was launched into space in early February 1999. Its destination - Comet Wild 2 (pronounced Vilt 2 after its Swiss named founder) its mission, to capture cometary materials before returning to earth in 2006 via the Sample Return Module. The Stardust spacecraft will remain in orbit around the sun for all time. Stardust will encounter Comet Wild 2 in 2004, while nearly 390 million kilometers (242 million miles) from earth. En route to the comet, the spacecraft will collect interstellar dust particles. These samples will provide a window into the distant past, helping scientists around the world to unravel mysteries surrounding the birth and evolution of our Solar System. During October-November, 1997, over 136,000 names were collected, and the names were etched on the microchip in December 1997. The chip was then delivered to Denver, Colorado where the spacecraft was being assembled. The microchip was inserted inside the Sample Return Capsule where it currently resides. A second copy of the chip was placed on the spacecraft body.
A second name collection effort was performed from May-August 1998. For the second microchip, they found a location on the back of the arm holding the dust collector for the chip to reside. They collected over 1 million names for the second chip. Like with the first microchip, two copies were made, with one inside the Sample Return Capsule, and the other copy on the spacecraft body. Names with a military rank in parens are from the Viet Nam War Memorial Wall. The Stirling/Sterling/Starlings on board in Chip 1 are ... BRENT STERLING, CHRISTIAN STERLING, DANA STERLING, DAVID R. STERLING, JOHN W. STERLING, MARK STERLING, MICHAEL STERLING, The Stirling/Sterling/Starlings on board in Chip 2 are ... DAVID WALTER STERLING (1LT/MARINE CORPS), ROBERT ALLEN STERLING (BM3/NAVY), JOHN CHARLES STERLING (CPL/ARMY), ROBERT JAMES STERLING (SP4/ARMY), CHARLES WESLEY STERLING (SSG/ARMY), RICHARD JOE STERLING (SSGT/AIR FORCE), SARAH STERLING-O'NEIL, ACE C STERLING, |
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March 14, 2003 - The Ones We Must Remember |
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The Stirlings We Must Remember. The following was sent to Clan Stirling Online by one of our supporters in Texas. We've been asked a number of times what the clan's political view on the worlds current events are. Simply and honestly, this is not the place to discuss that. Besides our family is represented by members in over 70 countries around the world. What is important to remember is there are many Stirlings serving in the armed forces for quite a number of nations involved. This message, sent by a friend of Clan Stirling Online, gives a sincere and honest look at the Stirling Family members we should honor and support, regardless of how we feel about the world situation at this time. If you have family members serving or working in harms way, we all hope and pray for their safe return to their loved ones. Sincerely, "I took the family to our favorite after-church restaurant this morning. The food is great, the service is excellent, and the prices are quite reasonable, so as to be expected, we had a short wait for a table. While enjoying the warm California sunshine out on the sidewalk, my wife and I saw an elderly lady wearing a Longhorn sweatshirt enter and add her name to the waiting list. As she came back outside, she was met by her husband, a 70-something man with a slow but steady gait. Perched atop his gray hair was a black ball cap with a B-17 embroidered on it. Never ones to miss an opportunity to talk with fellow Longhorns, my wife and I steered our two kids in their direction, and we introduced ourselves. The conversation began as one might expect: My wife inquired about the sweatshirt, and we were told their son had earned his Ph D in physics at UT 2 years earlier. I described my years on the Forty Acres and explained that I was a captain in the Air Force. Immediately, the gentleman thrust his hand forward and said, “Congratulations. I was a Lieutenant. I would’ve made captain if the war had lasted longer, but then I’d also probably be dead.”
I turned to my son and explained to him that, as a communications officer who had originally enlisted after Desert Storm, I was unlikely to ever face what this man had. I also reminded him that there were no cruise missiles or Global Positioning Satellites during World War II. This gentleman’s job had been to visit death upon a determined enemy by flying hundreds of miles over heavily defended territory, relying on a map and a handful of instruments to prevent him from losing his way, while cramped into a cold, noisy, smelly metal crate for a period of time longer than a school day at his high school. I then commented how sad it was that by the time my children reached my age, there would be no World War II veterans still alive. He nodded slowly, and said simply, “About a thousand a day.” I knew instantly what he meant. He told me about the reunions he attends -- the last one in St. Louis, the next one in Salt Lake City -- where the five remaining survivors of his original 10-man crew get together. His voice had softened now, and his eyes grew misty, as though he were conducting a mental roll call of those still remaining -- and those who’d already flown away on their final mission. There, too, was the knowledge that one day his turn would come, when he’d have to don one last time that musty, worn leather flight jacket and silk scarf, yellowed with age, but still proudly bearing the “Hap” Arnold Army Air Corp wings embroidered at each end. But just as quickly as they had softened, his eyes grew sharp and began to sparkle, and with a defiant smile, he stated: “But they’re not gonna get me!” At this, the hostess called my name, and as my wife and kids said their goodbyes and headed inside, I took the gentleman’s hand one last time and told him, “Words cannot express what my generation owes yours.” Surprised, he said, “I don’t hear that much these days.” To which I replied, “You should, Sir.” There was no question at all about picking up their bill. They were seated shortly after we were, and our waitress, who just happened to be waiting on them as well, eagerly joined the conspiracy, smiling discreetly in our direction each time she stopped to check on them; the generous tip we left her was well earned indeed. Of course we left before our treachery was discovered, but my wife and I both knew we had an unassailable defense had we been found out: I learned a small amount of German as a young ‘un because my mother is from Bavaria; this gentleman, and those like him, kept me from having to learn it -- as my native tongue! An order of bacon, eggs, and pancakes, a chicken Caesar salad, a cup of coffee, and a glass of ice tea was but a pittance by comparison. This tale is true, and like most tales, has a moral. We live in uncertain times. We don’t know what will happen in Iraq, or in North Korea, or in Afghanistan. But regardless about how you may personally feel about U.S. foreign policy, or President Bush, or the military in general, never forget that wars are fought and won by individuals -- individuals who have infinitely more at stake than a few percentage points in a Gallup political poll. If you choose to protest a particular military action, please have the decency to thank those who protect your freedom to do so. And if you meet a war veteran, tell them “thank you” before they, too, answer their final roll call." |
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March 8, 2003 - Condolences to Clan Brodie |
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Clan Stirling wishes to pass our sincere thoughts and condolences to Clan Brodie. Thier Chieftian Ninian Brodie, passed away on March 7th. The following is from the Associated Press.
Ninian Brodie, the Scottish chief who split his aristocratic clan when he sold its castle to the National Trust, a conservation group, died on Monday in Elgin, Scotland. He was 90. The property, Brodie Castle, is now owned by the trust. Mr. Brodie, whose formal title was Brodie of Brodie of that Ilk, was chief of the Brodie clan and its 25th laird, a Scottish Title. He was descended from a Scottish nobleman who was granted lands in the Elgin area by King Malcolm IV in the 12th century. Born in Brodie Castle near Inverness in northeastern Scotland, Mr. Brodie inherited the title after his two older brothers died. The Brodie family lived at Brodie for almost eight centuries, until the 25th laird sold the crumbling castle and more than 170 acres in 1978 to the National Trust for Scotland for $208,000. He retained a small apartment on the estate. Last year, three of his grandchildren, claiming the property was theirs, unsuccessfully petitioned the Scottish courts to have the sale overturned. Mr. Brodie was educated at Eton College, Oxford, and later the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and worked at the Perth Repertory Theater. In 1939, he married the Welsh actress Helena Budgeon. Mr. Brodie served in the Royal Artillery in World War II. Afterward, he returned home to help his recently widowed mother run the estate until her death. Mr. Brodie, who continued acting, was known locally for reciting risqué limericks and breeding daffodils, as his father had worried that he lacked the resources to keep the dilapidated castle open to the public, he decided to sell it. After restoration, the castle reopened in 1980. Mr. Brodie is survived by his son Alastair, who becomes the 26th clan chief, and his daughter Juliet. |
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February 27, 2003 - Rev. James Stirling (1935-2003) |
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The Rev James Stirling (1935-2003) JAMES Stirling died on the morning of Sunday, February 2, 2003. His passing, after a period of illness, brought to a close the life of a man who was dedicated to the service of Jesus Christ and His Church. Jim was born at Kirkintilloch on January 6 in 1935. He was educated at Lenzie Academy and at the University of Glasgow, from which he graduated in 1958 with an Honours degree in pure science. Called to the ministry, Jim then studied divinity at Trinity College, graduating as a Bachelor of divinity in 1961, the year in which he was licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow. It was on October 23, 1962, that Jim was ordained by the Presbytery of Stirling and Dunblane and inducted to the then pastoral charge of Alloa St. Andrews. There he made his mark as a gifted and conscientious young minister. On June 4, 1969, Jim was translated to the large pastoral charge of St Ninians Old in Stirling. He worked tirelessly for the cause and from there he retired on February 28, 1998, his early retirement being brought about by the onset of Alzheimer’s. To this day, Jim is remembered by his former congregations with love and affection. He had a deep and enduring faith which he made it his life’s work to share. Jim was an able preacher who approached the worship of God with great dignity and solemnity. He also had a deep and genuine pastoral concern that often went beyond the rigorous demands for his vocation. Indeed, numerous people will testify to the outstanding support they received from Jim, not least in times of sickness or sorrow. Truly, he was one who shared in both the highs and lows of this earthly life and in Jim, his people knew they had a true friend and support, his wise council always being listened to and valued. A familiar figure in the parish and unlike a number of ministers today always smartly turned out in his clerical collar, Jim was also unstinting in his service in the courts of the church. He was active on various Assembly Committees and in the Presbytery of Stirling where he served for a time as Assistant Presbytery Clerk and as Convener of the Maintenance of the Ministry Committee and of the Business Committee. He also served as Moderator of the Presbytery from 1975-1976. One of Jim Stirling’s great gifts was his sharp and incisive mind. He had an amazing ability to think on his feet and I am told that often he helped the presbytery to clarify its position on a number of difficult issues. His voice was indeed a welcome voice, for those who heard Jim speak realised that he did not do so in order to attract attention to himself, but always because he was concerned for the good name of the church and the spiritual well-being of its members. In his life, Jim touched the lives of a great many people. He had a delightful pawky sense of humour; he had a real concern for people and an abiding interest in the church and its history. He was a man who said what he believed and believed what he said. People would not always agree with him, but I believe they respected him as an individual of unquestionable integrity and one who brought to bear on all his work, a deep sense of dedication and devotion; truly the hallmarks of a good and gracious man of God. As well as being well known in church and community, Jim being a member and past chairman of the Board of Trustees of William Simpson Home in Plean was truly a family man. He was a devoted husband to Jessie whom he married in 1961. He was a loving father to Gregor, Rhona and Fraser. He was also a loving grandfather and a dear brother to Jane. In them Jim experienced real happiness and from them he derived the strength that he needed in order to give so freely of his time to others. Members of Jim’s former congregations in Alloa and St Ninians and his many friends, join with the family in gratitude for the life of a good and upright man, a man with a strong living faith that has surely won him the well-merited approbation: Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord. |
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February 13, 2003 - Laird Is Fined Over Castle Demolition |
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LAIRD IS FINED OVER CASTLE DEMOLITION Stirling, Scotland - Landowner Alistair Dickson was fined a paltry £1000 after being found guilty of ordering historic Lanrick Castle near Doune to be destroyed without permission. Lanrick Castle, which is situated four miles north west of Doune in Perthshire, on the banks of the River Teith, was once the home of the Haldanes. In 1776, General John Murray bought the property after making a fortune in India. General Murray was a Macgregor and after the prohibition of the name was repelaed in 1774, General Murray became chief of Clan Gregor. In the 1790s, Murray commissioned Scottish architect James Gillespie Graham to design the new property around the original tower and call it Clan Gregor Castle. In 1840's the castle was sold by Murray's son and the property eventually became vacant in the 1960s and fell into disrepair. Dickson, (53) who is a local property developer paid contractors to destroy the B-listed historic site, claiming storms last year made the building structurally unsafe. He had denied the charge unauthorised demolition under the Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas (Scotland) Act relying on the statutory defence that demolishing the castle was the minimum he could have done to remove the danger of it collapsing and killing someone.
Dickson was told he could have fenced it off to make it safe while officials considered how it could be saved or its best features preserved and recorded. Giving his verdict on Friday, Sheriff Wyllie Robertson said the £1000 fine was a nominal penalty in comparison with the maximum penalty of a £20,000 fine or six month jail sentence. And he added: "It would be naive to suggest there is no financial benefit to the accused from no longer having responsibility for this ruinous structure." "However, what was lost in this case was a ruinous structure that had been in this state for many years." Dickson claimed the castle was uninhabitable and uninhabited when he took it over and he had explored every avenue to try to find a use for the building before a fire in 1995, started by intruding youths, rendered it dangerous even to enter. At the end of January 2002 storms caused two of the external walls and an internal wall to collapse, scattering debris 65 feet. Sheriff Robertson said: "I have no doubt that Mr Dickson had concerns in relation to public safety, but I find it difficult to accept that was his prime motivation." But Dickson was not the only one to have his knuckles rapped over the incident. The court heard that practices and procedures at Stirling Council, the planning body responsible for protecting the castle, could only be described as "inept" and the local authority had contributed to the castle’s demise by creating confusion and a "bureaucratic nightmare." Sheriff Robertson criticised the council’s action in issuing dangerous buildings notices requiring Dickson to begin fencing off or demolishing the castle within seven days, while at the same time telling him he couldn’t do either without official consent that could take months to obtain. And he added: "It is obvious that a far more co-ordinated approach is required when such buildings suddenly become dangerous. It frankly beggars belief that such a situation can arise." He said it had, however, been made lucidly clear to Dickson that he could not demolish the castle without consent. Stirling Council’s environmental quality chair Councillor Gillie Thomson said: "The verdict of the court is to be welcomed as a warning to landowners that they do have a responsibility of care over our heritage. We will need to consider carefully the full implications of the sheriff’s judgement." "A review has already begun of the council’s own practices and procedures, especially in building control services, which were at issue during the trial. The demolition of Lanrick Castle was unlawful and I congratulate our own council officers who carried out exhaustive research to bring this prosecution." |
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February 10, 2003 - Standing Stones |
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The Ring of Brodgar, in Orkney, is comprised of 60 stones, 27 of which are still standing. This henge monument is perfectly circular, is 125 megalithic yards (about 104 meters) in diameter, and is surrounded by a 10 foot deep, rock-cut ditch. The ring dates from the third millennium BC, and is one of the most spectacular stone circles in Scotland. There are a number of stone circles and standing stones in and around Stirlingshire. If you have more information about them, please let us know. If you have information about the standing stones that are located near Sheriffmuir, this of particular interest to us here at Clan Stirling Online! |
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February 10, 2003 - STS-107 Memorial |
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This image was done by Rick Stirling, the CSO Web Master and Photo Editor. We will always remember the ulitmate sacrifice made by the members of the STS-107's crew. |
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January 30, 2003 - 4,000,000th Visitor To Clan Stirling Online |
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4,000,000 Visits - Another Milestone! Bloomington, ID - Just before midnight on January 28th, Clan Stirling Online! hosted the 4,000,000th visitor to the website.
The 2nd million visits took 1 year and three months. The third million visits took just over 8 months. The 4,000,000th visit to Clan Stirling Online took just FIVE months. The Lucky 4,000,0000th visitor was from Melbourne Australia, once again showing the global reach of this incredible family. We've now had visits to CSO from 79 countries and counting. Congrats! |
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January 24, 2003 - Condolences - Denise Carol Gregg-Sterling |
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Denise was born on 15 Sep 1954 in Yipsilanti Michigan. The couple married on the 22nd of September 2002 in Sterling, Michigan, which pleased them both greatly. The news has hit all of us here at Clan Stirling Online hard. Jon was the first distant Stirling cousin I had the chance to meet in person. In 1998 Jon and I spent a memorable weekend together traveling from his home in Connecticut to Eastern Pennsylvania visiting cemeteries, libraries, and other Stirling cousins. His big smile and warm heart burned even brighter after we received news of his pending marriage to Denise. Our hearts and prayers go out to Jon and all of his and Denise's family. The family held a private service on Thursday. Internment is to take place at Nepaug Cemetery, which is right next to Jon and Denise's house in Connecticut. You may contact the family by email at sterling15@mindspring.com |
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January 23, 2003 - Stirlings of Kippenross Home Featured |
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Some of Scotland’s most spectacular and atmospheric buildings were featured in a brochure issued on Wednesday, January 9, 2002. "Mansion Locations in Scotland" had 64 potential film locations, including the country house which appears in the popular TV drama "Monarch of the Glen", and was unveiled at Kippenross House, Dunblane, a William Adam original from the 18th century. Scottish Executive Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Elaine Murray said: "Scotland offers some of the most spectacular and intriguing locations across the globe. It is these locations, that can contribute greatly to the success of films like Braveheart and Rob Roy. "Film tourism provides a vital way to promote Scotland at an international level, creating a positive image and an enhanced awareness. A substantial increase in visitors to the Wallace Monument followed the international success of the films 'Rob Roy' and 'Braveheart'." The brochure, a joint venture between Scottish Screen and VisitScotland, supplemented a database of 500 houses available for filming. Scottish Screen also produced a separate brochure of Scottish Castles. |
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January 17, 2003 - Rosemary Stirling - Famous Australian Artist |
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Rosemary Stirling is a famous aboriginal artist in Australia. Her works are normally comprised of simple dots arranged with earth tones unique to this type of art. If you have more information about Rosemary, please let us know. In this first picture Rosemary is on the right, her husband is on the left. The following images are close up views of the artwork shown in the first photograph.
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January 11, 2003 - Stirling Library Has Obituary Information. |
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The Stirling Library holds newspaper indexes to the Stirling Observer Newpaper for the years 1820-1870, 1870-1920, and 1920-1970.
The library charges for research taking more than half an hour, but a simple lookup to see if they have an obituary or not can probably be done free. E-mail them at: libraryhq@stirling.gov.uk. There is a good section of family and local histories in the Library. The Dunblane library also has a number of good books, sources, and internet access. For more information visit the following website. Stirling Library Information - http://www.stirling.wa.gov.au/servicesFacilities/libraries/amlibweb/splash.htm |
genealogy. The Matriculation Albums of the University of Glasgow From 1728 to 1858, written in 1913 by W. Innes Addison, registrar of the University of Glasgow is one example.
eldest son in the family, but didn't take well to the idea of being a farmer like his father. He later served as an apprentice to Messrs. Shiress & Whitson, solicitors in Brechin. Later he attended the University of Edinburgh in the study of law.
JAMES STIRLING
The announcement came to us yesterday. If you are attending, please take some pictures, send us all a note, and have a great time!
It may be a surprise to some, but 133 Stirling Family Members have been launched into space! Read on:
The STARDUST spacecraft is on its way to an encounter with Comet Wild-2 in 2004, and will return comet samples back to Earth in 2006. 
As my wife and daughter pursued a less foreboding conversational path with the gentleman’s wife, my son and I listened with rapt attention as he explained that he’d been a B-17 navigator in World War II. He’d spent 21 weeks in training, then flew to England and began combat missions. His voice held that level, “matter-of-fact” tone of someone who had told the same story many times as he described taking hits and seeing the aircraft next to his explode (“just like that, 10 of my friends were dead”), but his eyes told a different tale, blurring out of focus as he replayed that haunting sequence in his mind once again. 
LONDON, March 7, 2003
The prosecution claimed that he had presided over its decline for many years after inheriting it from his mother in the 1980s, and had ignored repeated warnings that he needed listed building consent to knock it down.
The first million visits took three years and three months.
Clan Stirling Online received word this afternoon that Jon Sterling's wife of four months Denise Carol Gregg-Sterling tragically passed away on Wednesday the 22nd. Jon is the 4th Great Grandson of James Sterling of Cornwall Connecticut and Hannah May.
The elegant ancestral home of the Stirlings of Kippenross was recently the site of a Scottish Department of Tourism event:
