Page 13 - LOTN Autumn Issue 48 2021

OBITUARY

Alasdair Roberts RIP became the first editor of
Scalan News in 1990, the
biannual heritage magazine
first met Alasdair at his place of work, the Northern which he edited tor fifteen
College of Education where he was a lecturer in years. During that time,
I English — this was probably in the early 1990s. he succeeded in raising
Our shared interest in Scalan was the reason for the interest in Scalan not only
meeting. At that time my interest was mainly in the locally and throughout
history of the land, the crofts and the people of the area Scotland but also “furth of
around Scalan whereas Alasdair's was definitely Scalan Scotland” and of course
and the vital role it played in the revival and resurgence not only interest but also
of the Catholic Faith in Scotland. an increased membership
Mgr Sandy MacWilliam shared his enthusiasm and of the Scalan Association.
encyclopaedic knowledge of post- Reformation Scottish At the annual Mass held at Alasdair Roberts
Catholic history with Alasdair and on his death in 1988, Scalan every summer, he could often be heard playing
left him his books, research work and notes. Alasdair the pipes, welcoming everyone. It was during those
years that I became involved in providing light-hearted
sketches to illustrate Scalan News articles.
Alasdair was made editor of The Innes Review the
prestigious journal of the Scottish Catholic Historical
Association from 1991 to 1994 and his own writing
frequently appeared in it. When Alasdair and his wife
Deirdre moved to Morar in the West he delved with great
enthusiasm into the area’s Catholic history, publishing
books, booklets and articles, such as Chapels of the
Rough Bounds: Morar, Knoydart, Arisaig, Moidart, and
Tales of the Morar Highlands and West Highland Priests
of the Scots College, Rome.
The subjects which interested Alasdair were surprising
– a book Midgies to two books about Edinburgh schools
Crème de la Crème (girls) and Ties That Bind (boys),
and Tales of the Braes of Glenlivit, a book he enjoyed
compiling from the memories of Isobel Grant.
Alasdair enjoyed the challenge of writing 'history' for
the Light of the North and there were many phone calls
and emails between us before a suitable subject and a
Catholic parishioners wending their way down to the Church possible illustration were chosen and then the dreaded
of Our Lady Of Perpetual Succour, Chapeltown. One of Ann ‘deadline’ we had to keep!
Dean's illustrations for the Scalan News of which Alasdair
became the first editor in 1990 Ann Dean

Lanterns of the North

Lanterns of the North, published by Palladio Press/Amazon (188 pages), is an
architect’s view of eleven churches throughout the Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen,
plus the ‘Secret Seminary’ at Scalan. It includes many full colour photographs as
well as Oliver Humphries’ architectural drawings of the buildings, exterior and
interior. There is also an Appendix containing the beautiful line drawings of all our
churches, done by John R. Hume.

“Among the many satisfactions of my office as Bishop in Aberdeen (1977-2002), one
of the greatest must be the provision and care of so many beautiful churches; and
the fruitful friendship of those engaged in their design, adornment, preservation and
recording." Archbishop Emeritus, Mario Joseph Conti

Copies of the book may be obtained from Amazon, price £8.96, from St Mary's
Cathedral bookshop or direct from the publisher, Deacon Tony Schmitz. Email:
tony.schmitz@gmail.com

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