Dunblane Tree-planting

On Sunday 9^th December 2001 an acre was planted in the garden of Scottish Churches House, Dunblane, to celebrate 21 years of the Scottish Esperanto Study Weekend.

 The text of the accompanying plaque reads: 1980-2001: Scottish Esperanto Study Weekend. Internacia edukado!

 15 Esperantists gathered to watch the ceremony, including Norah Brown, President of the London Club, and Don Lord, retired Lecturer in Esperanto at Liverpool University, together with office-bearers and members of SEA.

 The planting was carried out jointly by Viktor Mensah from Togoland and Bard Hekland from Norway with the professional help of Rhona Peat.

 John Lackey, the Assistant Warden of Scottish Churches House, in his speech wished the Scottish Esperanto Association well in their enterprise and expressed his pleasure concerning the fact that the venue had proved to be appropriate over so many years. He was sure that the special atmosphere of the House had proved conducive to study and the making of friends; and expressed the hope that the relationship would continue for many years.

 In his reply David Bisset, the Secretary of the Scottish Esperanto Association, paid tribute to the late Albert Goodheir, Esperanto poet and publisher, who had been responsible for the Study Weekend for many years. He added that the philosophy of the Study Weekend was education by means of Esperanto, and learning Esperanto by means of education. The Study Weekend had always had an international dimension; so the role of Esperantists from Togoland and Norway in the planting ceremony was particularly pleasing.

 Dunblane was bathed in glorious winter sunshine for this memorable event; and the hospitality provided afterwards by Scottish Churches House encouraged many reminiscences concerning personalities and incidents from past years.