PANALBA

After 10 days, the current Panalba poll shows that less than 10% are in favour of the Scottish government's decision to free Al-Magrahi. Governments have made far worst decisions in the past. In fact, this week we are reminded of the decision by the The United States and the British governments to invade Iraq. Tony Blair, in his newly released memoirs, firmly believes that the decision was the right one. However, I don't think that the vast majority of the British public would agree with him.

Last weekend I was invited to Dublin to help my brother present a family perspective on our great grandfather, Sir John Lavery, who played a significant role in trying to help resolve the Irish question in 1921. He did this with the help of his charismatic American born wife Hazel Lavery. Their home in London, an artist studio, became a meeting place for the conflicting parties. He was able to paint all the key players and their portraits hang in the main galleries of both Belfast and Dublin. Today, some 90 years later, a retrospective is being held in the Hugh Lane City Gallery in Dublin. The issue has still not really been resolved. The troubles continue, but the bloodshed is limited. The faces of the men who made all the key decisions are brilliantly caught on canvas. Stern, uncompromising faces they are too. Some had on their blood on their hands, others were purely ideologues, but all with the unbending conviction that their cause or view was right. The exhibition, titled Passion and Politics, runs through till the end of October and is definitely worth a visit.

Just I was about to post this blog, I heard on the news that Bill Millin, the mad piper had died. He was the extraordinarily brave piper who piped the Special Forces ashore under Lord Lovat as they landed on the D-day beaches in June 1944. He was later immortalized in the movie the Longest Day. He recalled in a television interview many years later, meeting the German Officer who had commanded the defences on that stretch of beach and had asked him why he had not been shot. The German replied that his troops thought he was mad and, I suspect, admired the courage and blind disregard for the obvious danger he was in. Bill then admitted to the interviewer that being mad had probably saved his life. It is interesting to note that the bagpipe is considered an instrument of war, and the British Army had banned the use of Pipers in action, an order ignored by Lord Lovat, who had a far deeper understanding of the psychological benefit to those under his command.

Looking ahead, my son, Francis is to marry on September 11th at the Family home. It will be a great occasion. I look forward to posting a few photos.