The Last of the Gypsy Royals

Contact form is now fixed

Rod — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:28:59 +0000

Apologies if you’ve been trying to get in touch with Fiona or Tony via the contact form on our Who are we page – I’ve just noticed that it has not been working! So if you’ve used it to send any messages in the last week or two, please be aware that we will not have received them.

It is now fixed however, so feel free to re-submit your message if it’s still relevant.

Rod (a.k.a “the techie guy”)

Reunion Pictures

Fiona — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:18:25 +0000

On Sunday 25 July 2010, around 80 people traveled to the Reunion of the descendents of the Gypsy Royals on the village green in Kirk Yetholm, the home of their ancestors. The rain set in around 11am but even that couldn’t dampen the spirits as family and friends, old and new, met up and swapped stories. If you have any pictures you would like to contribute to this gallery, please drop me a line via the contact page and I’ll let you know how to send them in.

‘Henry’ the little pony charmed everyone who met him. Seen here with Laura Foster.

Having a crack: Jackie Hendry (left) catches up with his old friend and cousin Mark Huchison

The film crew: Yussef and Tony hard at work.

The lovely Linda Lennen.

The miniature bowtop wagon was a magnet for children – seen here is Demi Lee Gainford…

… and this is Olivia Faye Allan.

The bright yellow tent was lined with family trees (courtesy of Nils Blyth), photos and other memorabilia.

Gypsy Palace owner Steve Bloxham (left) talking to Donnie Williamson.

Delightful Deby from Down Under.

Our gracious hostess Maggie Kennedy.

MC Jackie Hendry (aka Dean Martin) giving a tribute to Alex Kennedy.

Video link to family Downunder

Fiona — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:17:21 +0000

Family member Deby Sowter from New Zealand has recently visited ‘genealogist’ Nils Blyth in Australia. She filmed her time there with Nils talking about his research. Here are the links below. Note particularly at the end of the last one, Nils has a special message for the family and friends meeting in Yetholm on 25 July – his birthday! (If you don’t have QuickTime, just click the ‘download’ button and you can view it online).

Clip 1 – http://gallery.me.com/gsowter/100631
Clip 2 – http://gallery.me.com/gsowter/100635
Clip 3 – http://gallery.me.com/gsowter/100638
Clip 4 – http://gallery.me.com/gsowter/100648

New photos on ‘documentary’ page

Fiona — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:57:00 +0000

We’ve managed to download stills from our interview with Jackie Hendry and Maggie Kennedy in Edinburgh. Check them out on the ‘documentary’ page. We’re still hoping to have a photo gallery page set up - our techie guy Rod will get to it when he can. Deby has sent some photos of her visit to Nils in Canberra with him pouring over the family tree. We’ll put this on the documentary page asap.

Poet Andy Philip lends his voice

Fiona — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:26:11 +0000

The acclaimed Scottish poet Andrew Philip has lent his voice to The Last of the Gypsy Royals. Andy, whose first collection ‘The Ambulance Box’ has won critical praise, will read ‘The Dirge of Queen Esther’ by Joseph Hawick and ‘Meg Merrilies’ by John Keats for the documentary. Andrew writes in Scots and English.

Yetholm Reunion: 25th July 2010

Fiona — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 23:08:04 +0000

What? A reunion of the descendents, family members and friends of the Gypsy Royal Family of Yetholm in memory of Alex Kennedy. Bring along old photos and documents and wear a name tag. If you have any musical instruments we can have a singalong.

When? Sunday 25 July, starting around 11am

Where? Kirk Yetholm Village Green

How to get there? Click on the map on the Undiscovered Scotland site to find your way there. Alternatively plug in your details to AA Routeplanner.

Camping? No trailers are allowed in the village. If you would like to camp, see a list of campsites nearby.

Fee? There is no entrance fee.

Order of programme? This is an informal family gathering. There will be no ‘organised’ events.

Food? No food will be provided. Bring your own picnic or buy food from the Border Hotel, Kirk Yetholm; The Plough Hotel, Town Yetholm; The Farmhouse at Yetholm Mill

Additional information:

1. Lothian and Borders Police: ask that we park our vehicles with consideration for others and in particular make sure we do not cause any obstruction that may interfere with emergency services. It would be helpful if we could arrange to share transport with friends and family to reduce the number of vehicles.

2. The selling and buying of any product or service or carrying out any business for commercial gain is not allowed.

3. Parks and Environment: Scottish Borders Council advise that picnicking on the green and erecting a small gazebo is allowed but camp fires and barbeques are not.

4. Refuse and Cleansing: Scottish Borders Council ask that we clear up our litter and take it home with us or put it into a black bag securely tied and leave it beside the litter bins.

5. Local government: Councillor Alec Nicol sends his good wishes.

6. The Yetholm Community Council have great respect for the Gypsy community and wish us a happy day.

7. The Gypsy Palace is going to be occupied during the Reunion and is not open to visitors. But by all means take photos of the outside.

From organiser Maggie Kennedy: Remember to bring copies of your old photographs,family trees, documents etc and stick them in an album or on a pin board so others can see them and maybe recognise a shared relative or two! It would also be helpful if everyone made up a badge or banner with the family names they are connected to so we may approach others who share our names. We will make our own entertainment,sing songs,storytelling, spoons etc as suggested in my comment on June 10th; other than that I don’t think there is anything else for me to say except thank you for the interest you have shown and the support you have given to our FAMILY REUNION. Let’s make it a beautiful and happy day in memory of and respect for our ancestors, for who we are and for Alexander Kennedy.

The Last of the Gypsy Royals Documentary

Fiona — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:57:11 +0000

I am giving a talk on Saturday 19 June at the Literary and Philosophical Society in Newcastle on the making of the documentary – the talk starts at 11am and all are welcome. This will form part of a broader North East Screenwriters’ meeting.

I’m working together with producer Tony Glover to produce a 60-minute film about the descendents of the so-called Gypsy Royal Family of Yetholm and their gathering at a reunion this July – who have up until now been ‘meeting’ up on the have your say page.