WELCOME HOME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 May 1930, Page 14

WELCOME HOME

SIR CHARLES FERGUSSON TENANTS' ENTHUSIASM Sir Charles I'ergusson anl Lady Alice Fergusson' returned to their family seat at Kilkerran, Ayrshire; on 6th April. The homecoming is thus described by the Glasgow "Herald" : "The Fergussons of Kilkerran are a much-loved family in Ayrshire, and Sir Charles's homecoming was an event which those residing on the estate could not allow to pass without salutation. The railway officials entered into the scheme of things, and as the train bearing the seventh Baronet of Kilkerran to his family scat approached the lazy little station the explosions of a- series of fog signals sent "the sheep scurrying from their grazing in nearby fields and roused the waiting tenants to lusty cheerings. Gaily coloured bunting fluttered between the budding treas and the station-house. When Sir Charles, who was accompanied by Lady Alice Fergusson and their eldest son, Mr James Fergusson, stepped to the nlatform they were met by Mr James Purves, factor of the estate.; Mr George Mowatt, 'overseer: Mr John Ferguson, gamekeeper; Mr John Grant, gardener; Colonel and Mrs Ilouldsworlh; and the Rev. G. W. Walker, St. Machar's Dailly. Lady Alice Fergusson was presented with a bouquet of flowers -by Margaret Brown, the seven-year-old daughter of the Kilkerran, signalman.

"In the course of a brief address, Sir Charles said it hardly seemed over five years since they went abroad, and Saturday was the day they had thought of and looked forward to ever "since they had gone away. Now .that tho clay had come, they were as happy as they could be to be back again in Ayrshire. '

"Nevertheless, they had had a happy time abroad. Tho people of New Zealand had made them feel at home from the day on which they arrived in that country. Many of the people there had gone from this country 50 or 60 years ago. One found there the old, familiar names of people who talked in older and .vbroader Scots than the people of Ayrshire did now, "Yet those people had never been out of New Zealand. They had learned their language from their fathers and grandfathers in days gone by. When they talked of home they meant this country, and they were wonderfully loyal to> the home country.

"He could only say that they were very hanpy to be back among the people of Ayrshire, and he hoped they would again have the old happy friendships that had existed .between Kilkerran and the people around for. generations past. (Applause.) >'| y "Since the days of King Robert I. the Fergussons have been seated in Ayrshire. From that monarch, Fergusson of Fergus, obtained a charter of certain; lands in Carrick, Ayrshire. Rohert the Bruce, as'Earl of Carrick, was a near .neighbour, bis castle of Turnberry being only about seven miles from Kilkerran."