Speaker - Mr Ian Low Tartans

Tartan was the theme of the talk at the Rotary Club of South Queensferry on Thursday 12th February. Speaker Ian Low is head guide at Hopetoun House and spent many years in the textile and clothing business, which ideally qualifies him to explain the colourful and often surprising history of Scotland's national fabric. In a well- illustrated presentation, Ian traced the history of tartan from its ancient origins in hand-woven cloth and vegetable dyes through its amazing popularity during Victorian times (significantly encouraged by Sir Walter Scott) to its current status as a high-end fashion item and low-end symbol of Scottish identity as familiar on the catwalks of New York and Milan as on the terraces of  football grounds visited by the Tartan Army.

Ian was introduced by Kate Gibb. The vote of thanks was proposed by Lorna Prentice.