The John Buchan Trail - "Mr Standfast" Traditional Cache
The John Buchan Trail - "Mr Standfast"
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
A cache and dash with fine views of Tweedsmuir.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The soft mulberry gloaming of the west coast was beginning to fall on the hills. I hoped to put in a dozen miles before dark to the next village on the map, where I might find quarters. But ere I had gone far I heard the sound of a motor behind me, and a car slipped past bearing three men. The driver favoured me with a sharp glance, and clapped on the brakes. I noted that the two men in the tonneau were carrying sporting rifles.
'Hi, you, sir,' he cried. 'Come here.' The two rifle-bearers - solemn gillies - brought their weapons to attention.
'By God,' he said, 'it's the man. What's your name? Keep him covered, Angus.'
The gillies duly covered me, and I did not like the look of their wavering barrels. They were obviously as surprised as myself.
I had about half a second to make my plans. I advanced with a very stiff air, and asked him what the devil he meant. No Lowland Scots for me now. My tone was that of an adjutant of a Guards' battalion.
My inquisitor was a tall man in an ulster, with a green felt hat on his small head. He had a lean, well-bred face, and very choleric blue eyes. I set him down as a soldier, retired, Highland regiment or cavalry, old style.
He produced a telegraph form, like the policeman.
'Middle height - strongly built - grey tweeds - brown hat - speaks with a colonial accent - much sunburnt. What's your name, sir?'
I did not reply in a colonial accent, but with the hauteur of the British officer when stopped by a French sentry. I asked him again what the devil he had to do with my business. This made him angry and he began to stammer."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
John Buchan was born in 1875 in Perth, the eldest of five children, whose father was a minister. The family moved to Pathhead, Fife, where the other four were born. Although they then moved to Glasgow where he first attended Hutcheson's Grammar School, then to Glasgow University and Brasenose College Oxford, he spent plenty of time down with his grandparents at Broughton in the Scottish Borders, around which this series of caches is based.
Following his studies in Classics, he firstly worked on the "Spectator" magazine, whilst reading for the Bar, to which he was called in 1901. He then moved to South Africa to work in government and diplomacy until 1903, which introduced him to the country which would influence the first in the series, "Prester John" (1910). He returned to work on the "Spectator" and the Bar, and married Susan Grosvenor in 1907, from which they had four children. It was at this time he became a director of the Edinburgh publishing house Thomas Nelson & Son, having befriended Thomas Nelson, a descendant of the founder, at Oxford.
From around this time, he ventured into politics, becoming in 1911 the Unionist candidate for Peebles and Selkirk, and on the outbreak of the First World War, worked firstly on the staff of "The Times" on the western front, and then in intelligence. It was between 1915-1919 that he wrote four of the five "Hannay" novels which form part of this series of caches.
Following the War, Buchan turned more towards his writing, producing both novels and historical novels, and combined this with a directorship of Reuters. He and his family moved to Elsfield Manor, Oxfordshire, but he retained strong links with Scotland, combining amongst his titles "M.P. for the Combined Scottish Universities" and "President of the Scottish Historical Society". In 1932, he was appointed to the Order of St Michael and St George and in 1933/4, he was the High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Following this, he was created Baron Tweedsmuir of Elsfield in 1935, and in the same year, Governor-General of Canada, the office of which he held until his death in Montreal on 6th February 1940 following a stroke.
Although his ashes are buried at Elsfield, there is a section in the John Buchan Centre in Broughton which reflects the impact of his time in South Africa and the desire expressed earlier in his life that his remains should be buried there. This seems to have been overlooked at the time of his death, but a memorial by way of a plaque affixed to a monolith has been dedicated to him overlooking the Ebenezer Dam in the Magoebaskloof region in South Africa, the area in which he was inspired to write "Prester John".
Richard Hannay is now our hero, and third in the series is "Mr Standfast" (1919), this time set primarily in central Europe during the First World War. The title comes from a character in John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress", a work well-loved by Buchan, and one which he could apparently recite from memory. Like the others, "Mr Standfast" is well worth reading, if you have not already done so (or again, if you have!).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The John Buchan Story" (visit link) has now moved to Peebles and the opening details are as follows:
Easter Weekend (from Good Friday) until the end of October, Monday to Saturday.
Times:
10.00 am to 4.30 pm.
Admission:
Adults: £2
Children: free
John Buchan Society Members: free
Outwith these times, we are happy to open the Museum for groups (up to 30 people).
Winter Season
We especially welcome groups in the winter months and can customise your visit to your particular interests.
Easter Weekend - Friday to Monday inclusive, and from 1st May to mid-October daily between 2-5pm: Adults £2, Children 50p. It can be opened at other times and available for large groups by arrangement.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * FTF: THESEARCHDOG * * *
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Oruvaq gur ohaavrf, qrrcyl ebbgrq.
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures