By Lisa Whittemore
Loch Lomond, Scotland is considered the “gateway to the Highlands,” and is located approximately 30 miles north of Glasgow. From there one can see the infamous extinct volcano, Ben Lomond, which is iconic to the country of Scotland. In the deeply wooded valleys below is Loch Lomond, the largest body of water in Great Britain. Although 5,110 miles is a long way from Stuart Proctor’s rugged, mountainous homeland of Loch Lomond, Scotland, he still resides on a grassy cliff-side that overlooks an entirely different body of water, the Pacific Ocean in San Clemente, California. Stuart and his wife Kirsteen, a longtime sweetheart from Scotland, have raised their two children here in Orange County, but they maintain strong familial and cultural ties to their Scottish heritage. With a lilting, rough ‘round the edges brogue he relates tales of the “good craic” that the Scottish Highland Games consist of.
“I’ve been to the games here in the States four or five times, but growing up in Scotland we went every year to the ones held in Balloch. Stuart laughs mischievously, “They are a great excuse to ‘have a bevy’…any excuse is a good excuse.”
Both Stuart and Kirsteen’s families still live in Scotland. The Proctors are descendants of the MacIntyre clan. When asked how old the clan is Stuart reels his head back and replies, “Only Christ knows that!” Stuart proudly displays the two tartan kilts that he owns, they are considered regional kilts. One is a vibrant green and blue plaid from an ancient landowner named Sir Ivor Colhoun. The other kilt consists of varying shades and hues of gray from the Monarch of Argylle. “It takes like 15 minutes just to get the damn gear on. Our family clan kilt is quite ugly, all yellows and brown,” he says, shaking his head distastefully.
Loch Lomond, Scotland is considered the “gateway to the Highlands,” and is located approximately 30 miles north of Glasgow. From there one can see the infamous extinct volcano, Ben Lomond, which is iconic to the country of Scotland. In the deeply wooded valleys below is Loch Lomond, the largest body of water in Great Britain. Although 5,110 miles is a long way from Stuart Proctor’s rugged, mountainous homeland of Loch Lomond, Scotland, he still resides on a grassy cliff-side that overlooks an entirely different body of water, the Pacific Ocean in San Clemente, California. Stuart and his wife Kirsteen, a longtime sweetheart from Scotland, have raised their two children here in Orange County, but they maintain strong familial and cultural ties to their Scottish heritage. With a lilting, rough ‘round the edges brogue he relates tales of the “good craic” that the Scottish Highland Games consist of.
“I’ve been to the games here in the States four or five times, but growing up in Scotland we went every year to the ones held in Balloch. Stuart laughs mischievously, “They are a great excuse to ‘have a bevy’…any excuse is a good excuse.”
Both Stuart and Kirsteen’s families still live in Scotland. The Proctors are descendants of the MacIntyre clan. When asked how old the clan is Stuart reels his head back and replies, “Only Christ knows that!” Stuart proudly displays the two tartan kilts that he owns, they are considered regional kilts. One is a vibrant green and blue plaid from an ancient landowner named Sir Ivor Colhoun. The other kilt consists of varying shades and hues of gray from the Monarch of Argylle. “It takes like 15 minutes just to get the damn gear on. Our family clan kilt is quite ugly, all yellows and brown,” he says, shaking his head distastefully.
Perusing a photograph of a traditional Scottish participant in this year’s games Stuart gives a detailed breakdown of the entire outfit and its accoutrements.
“See this bag running across the chest? It’s called a sporran. They were always traditionally made of seal or deer fur. Well now Scotland is so fucking politically correct I got the very last remaining seal one at the shop on my last visit!” he states with pride.
“The shirt under it is called a ghillie. I own two of them myself, but I’ve lost the leather laces that thread at the neck.” Explaining further, Stuart says, “On any occasion where I put all my gear on, it goes without saying that a lot of drinking and carrying on is going to be involved, so, yeah, a few proper items for the outfit have been misplaced!”
“And this little dagger he’s got tucked in his sock? It’s called a skean dhu, mine was taken off me in an airport somewhere,” Stuart chuckles ruefully.
Stuart and Kirsteen have been together for 26 years. They met at a local youth club when he was 18, and were wed the day before Stuart immigrated to the U.S. “We weren’t married in a church though because she’s Catholic and my family is Protestant. A judge did the honors then we had a big party afterwards.” A marriage is also a “great excuse to have a bevy” they both agree. Stuart is happy to rave about Kirsteen’s traditional Scottish meat pie that she continues to make from an old family recipe. “She doesn’t put the kidneys in like mum used to, but she is generous with the Guinness ale!” The Scots are renowned for their whiskey, and Stuart reveals an impressive collection of bottles, sequestered behind glass cabinet doors.
“See this bag running across the chest? It’s called a sporran. They were always traditionally made of seal or deer fur. Well now Scotland is so fucking politically correct I got the very last remaining seal one at the shop on my last visit!” he states with pride.
“The shirt under it is called a ghillie. I own two of them myself, but I’ve lost the leather laces that thread at the neck.” Explaining further, Stuart says, “On any occasion where I put all my gear on, it goes without saying that a lot of drinking and carrying on is going to be involved, so, yeah, a few proper items for the outfit have been misplaced!”
“And this little dagger he’s got tucked in his sock? It’s called a skean dhu, mine was taken off me in an airport somewhere,” Stuart chuckles ruefully.
Stuart and Kirsteen have been together for 26 years. They met at a local youth club when he was 18, and were wed the day before Stuart immigrated to the U.S. “We weren’t married in a church though because she’s Catholic and my family is Protestant. A judge did the honors then we had a big party afterwards.” A marriage is also a “great excuse to have a bevy” they both agree. Stuart is happy to rave about Kirsteen’s traditional Scottish meat pie that she continues to make from an old family recipe. “She doesn’t put the kidneys in like mum used to, but she is generous with the Guinness ale!” The Scots are renowned for their whiskey, and Stuart reveals an impressive collection of bottles, sequestered behind glass cabinet doors.
On a more serious note, Stuart discusses his opinion regarding the impending vote for independence that Scotland is deciding on this coming September. Scotland’s independence from Great Britain would break up a union that has existed for more than 300 years, and the people of Scotland are divided on the topic. A NY Times article from June 1, 2014 states that “many business leaders and economists are concerned that an independent Scotland will not have the financial strength to prosper alone.” Stuart is extremely thoughtful on this topic. “Technically I am a citizen of Scotland, but I am not sure if I will be able to actually vote. If I am able to participate I will cast YES for independence. My family, however, is more conservative and will likely vote NO.”
On the way out the door Stuart points out a plaque that says Failte, which is Gaelic for Welcome. Next to the plaque is his mailbox with a crude rendition of the Scottish flag spray painted over the U.S Postal service emblem. “Look it that, my crazy Scottish artist friend did that recently, I told him I could be arrested for destruction of government property!” he jests. “Made him feel bad, I did.”
Good craic indeed Stuart!
On the way out the door Stuart points out a plaque that says Failte, which is Gaelic for Welcome. Next to the plaque is his mailbox with a crude rendition of the Scottish flag spray painted over the U.S Postal service emblem. “Look it that, my crazy Scottish artist friend did that recently, I told him I could be arrested for destruction of government property!” he jests. “Made him feel bad, I did.”
Good craic indeed Stuart!