Presented by Sally Magnusson
For Advent Sunday Sally Magnusson visits Linlithgow, 10 miles West of Edinburgh, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots who was baptised in St Michael's Church. Music includes Advent favourites O Come O Come Emmanuel, Tell Out My Soul, and Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending and a performance of Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring by The Edinburgh Singers
Bruce Jamieson
Bruce is a retired history teacher. In the palace he described the various stages of building by a succession of Stuart monarchs. In the church bell tower he showed Sally the bell hung there in 1490 and in use ever since. Omitted from the programme was his description to Sally of taking some pupils to the crypt when it had been opened by vandals and their reaction to being so close to real history - seeing the skeletons of real people whose lives were lived 400 years ago.
Donaldson's
Donald Richards
Donaldson's is Scotland's national school for pupils aged 2½ to 19 years who are deaf or have severe speech and language difficulties. Donaldson's is a Grant Aided Special School supported by the Scottish Government. Local authorities refer pupils and fund placements.
Pupils come from all over Scotland and the north of England and therefore the school offers a range of flexible options including full time day placements, residential placements (Monday to Friday) and shared placements with mainstream schools. Donaldson's provides nursery, primary and secondary education.
Having moved to a new purpose built school in Linlithgow in 2008, Donaldson's education and residential facilities are equipped to promote the very highest standard of learning, teaching, therapy and care.
Donaldson's is bilingual, working in both BSL (British Sign Language) and English.
Donald Richards is head of the deaf studies department, and told Sally about working with BSL, and about his life and faith.
Sir James Young Simpson 1811-1870
James Young Simpson was born in Bathgate near Linlithgow, the son of a poor baker. He qualified as a doctor at the very young age of 19 and as a medical student he watched an operation where, of course, there was no anaesthetic. The relief of pain became a driving force in his life, and as Professor of Midwifery at Edinburgh he was particularly keen to alleviate suffering in childbirth. He was the first to use Ether as a painkiller but it was flammable and also very irritating to the lungs and made patients sick. His fellow student David Waldie (1813-1889) was a pharmacist from Linlithgow and he suggested to Simpson that chloroform would be an effective anaesthetic. Simpson first of all tried it out with two colleagues at his home, 52 Queen Street, Edinburgh. The 3 men inhaled the chloroform, passed out and slid under the table, awaking a few minutes later to the realisation that chloroform was an effective pain killer not just for childbirth but for general surgery. Chloroform was subsequently used by other doctors notably Dr John Snow, who administered it to Queen Victoria at the birth of 2 of her children after which it was widely accepted.
Simpson was a member of the Free Church in Edinburgh, and was so concerned lest it be thought that he was interfering with the God given process of child birth that he prepared a defence of his initiatives within the context of faith. Sally learned that recently a diary has been found which was written by his nephew during Simpson's last illness. He read Bible passages to his dying uncle and noted that Simpson said to him: "When I think, it is of the words you read yesterday - Jesus Only - that is all that is needed is it not, Jesus only." Simpson was widely revered in Edinburgh and when he died there were thousands of people lining the streets for the funeral.
Iain Milne who showed Sally the records of the early use of Chloroform by Simpson, and the diary of his nephew, is the Sibbald Librarian at the Royal College of Physicians, 9 Queen Street, Edinburgh. Simpson was president of the college. http://www.rcpe.ac.uk/library/hlp.php
The Sibbald Library was the first medical library in Scotland's 326 year story. Few libraries, let alone medical ones, have been in continuous existence for so long and the resulting collection which contains over 50,000 books, 2,098 journal title and 1,000 manuscripts is one of the world's best.
Dr David Farquarson, seen in the Simpson Centre (named after Dr Simpson) for Reproductive Health in Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary, as Clinical Director of Women's Services and Head of Service of Women and Children's Services, is the inheritor of Simpson's role.
The Manlove family
Sally spoke to David and Carolynn Manlove about the illness which damaged their daughter Susan's brain and about how they have adapted to give Susan the best possible life under the circumstances. In the film Susan's grandparents are featured, as are friends of Carolynn who regularly visit and whose children remain in contact with Susan.
Susan is also seen at first Steps Playgroup, Livingston. First Steps is a playgroup for children who have additional needs. It provides a safe, caring, stimulating environment where young children can learn through their play. First Steps is a registered charity and was made possible initially by a 3 year grant from the BBC Children in Need appeal. Further BBC Children in Need funding was granted in 1995 and again in 1998. They now receive most of their funding in the form of various grants from West Lothian Council and various other funding bodies.
Music
"SONGS OF PRAISE" SIGNATURE TUNE"
Composer: Robert Prizeman
Performers: Robert Prizeman, Maurice Murphy, Steven Geraghty
Sheet music for the Songs of Praise signature tune is published by Chester Music, catalogue number CH55835. You can listen to the theme tune on CD 2 of the Songs of Praise Album.
O COME O COME EMMANUEL:
Words:18th century based on the ancient Advent Antiphons
Tune: Veni Emmanuel
Arranger: Paul Leddington Wright and Andrew Sutherland, specially arranged for the programme.
Source: Church Hymnary 4th edition. Canterbury Press.
Performed by: Congregation of St Michaels Parish Church, Linlithgow.
THE ANGEL GABRIEL FROM HEAVEN CAME
Words: Sabine Baring Gould
Music: Basque Carol arranged Charles Edgar Pettman
Source: Church Hymnary 4th edition. Canterbury Press
Arranged by Paul Leddington Wright
Performed by: The Edinburgh Singers
Musical director: Catherine Fish
Organ: Stuart Muir
Oboe: Rona Pollard
TELL OUT MY SOUL:
Words: Timothy Dudley Smith
Music: Walter Greatorex
Tune: Woodlands
Source: Church Hymnary 4th edition. Canterbury Press
Performed by: the congregation of St Michael's Parish Church. Linlithgow
LOVE DIVINE:
Words: Charles Wesley
Arranger: Greg de Blieck, specially arranged for the programme
Source: "Worship Today" from Spring Harvest www.springharvest.org. Performed by: The New Scottish Folk Sessions
Soloist: Lesley Caldwell
www.newscottish.org
LIGHT OF THE WORLD:
Written by Tim Hughes
Performed by: Exile Band and Choir from Origin Scotland
Arranged and directed by Colin Peckham
http://www.originscotland.org/2/
JESU JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING
From Cantata 147 - JS Bach
Performed by: The Edinburgh Singers.
Musical director Catherine Fish
Organ: Stuart Muir
Oboe: Rona Pollard
http://www.edinburghsingers.org.uk/choir.asp
LO HE COMES WITH CLOUDS DESCENDING:
Words: Charles Wesley (1707 - 1788)
Music: melody in Charles Wesley's Select Hymns with Tunes Annext 1765.
Tune: Helmsley
Source: Church Hymnary 4th edition. Canterbury Press
Performed by: Congregation of St. Michaels Parish Church, Linlithgow
All musical items recorded at St Michaels Parish Church, Kirkgate
Linlithgow, EH49 7AL
St Michael's Church, together with the ruined Linlithgow Palace alongside, are striking landmarks visible for miles around.
The palace and church have a history dating back to the 15th century, but where the Palace is now a ruin, the church is home to a vibrant congregation and a focal point for the active Linlithgow community.
The Palace is birthplace to several Scottish royals and was a wedding gift from James IV to his bride, Margaret Tudor, daughter of the English King Henry VII in 1503. Mary Queen of Scots was baptised in St Michael's in 1542.
The most striking feature of the church is the steel structure on top of the bell tower. The original stone crown had long been removed for safety reasons, and 1964 lightweight structure, wood covered with gold anodised aluminium, represents the Crown of Thorns, symbol of the vulnerability of the crucified Christ.
OTHER LOCATIONS WERE:
Linlithgow Palace
Kirkgate LINLITHGOW EH49 7AL
Donaldson's School
Preston Road
Linlithgow
EH49 6HZ
Email: info@donaldsons.org.uk
The Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France, Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh. EH16 4SA.
Royal College of Physicians, 9 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JQ.
First Steps Playgroup, Shiel Walk, Beatlie School Campus, Craigshill, Livingston, EH54 5EJ
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyoverview.html
http://www.stmichaelsparish.org.uk/
http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/canmore.newcandig_details_gis?inumlink=49181
Producer: David Strachan
Editor: Hugh Faupel
Director David Kremer
Conductor: Gordon Stewart
Organist: Andrew Sutherland