Young boys in the early 20th century
Alex and Bill, two of the three main character in my historical fiction novel, The Blue Pendant, were featured in the last two blogs. They were boyhood friends in Edinburgh Scotland long before they moved to Bexhill to work at The Sackville Hotel. Working alongside Anna, it is not surprising that an unusual triangular love story evolved. Oops! I digress.
Alex’s father, John Walker was a tailor and kilt maker providing gentlemen’s clothing, including kilts with all the accessories to gentry and clans across Scotland. A thriving business as one kilt does not fit all. Each clan had their own tartan and each clan had a selection of tartans worn on different occasions such as dress tartan for formal evening dress, an everyday tartan and some even had a hunter’s tartan for hunting and walking.
The Walker’s belonged to the Appin Stewart clan. Although they were part of the Stewart clan they were, in fact, a clan in their own right. John Walker also tailored custom livery for the household servants of nobility and royalty on the surrounding estates, which included Holyrood Palace. Bill’s father, Thomas Blaine was the stable manager at Holyrood Palace and responsible for ordering the coachmen’s and racing livery for the Palace. Bill accompanied his father to John Walker’s shop from being quite small and that is where he first met Alex. While their father’s talked business
Photo of Holyrood Palace 1878
and racing, (Bill’s father was a gambler) the young boys played together. Bill was the quiet one and Alex the mischievous one and they frequently found themselves in trouble. As they grew older they went to the same school and chose similar careers, eventually working together at The Sackville Hotel.
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Disclaimer Please be aware that some the information in this blog, although factual may have been fictionalized for the story.
Appin Stewart, Clans, Edinburgh, Kilt making, Scotland, Susan Jennings