History

Saint Andrew's Society of Williamsburg - Highlights of 30 Years  By Howard Topp

The following is taken from a speech made by Howard Topp several years ago.  It outlines the founding of Saint Andrew's Society of Williamsburg, and should be of interest to all members.  Thanks, Howard!

Good evening. Well, when Bob Davis called me and asked me to put together a few words about the founding of Saint Andrew's I said, "certainly, but what is this 'few words'? Bob, i can't say anything in just a few words!" Seriously, he asked that I describe the founding of the Saint Andrew's Society in Williamsburg and perhaps remember two or three vignettes about the early days. Well, where to begin.... the hard part is the realization that we are now in our fourth decade of Saint Andrew's in Williamsburg. so let me take you back to the mid 1960's.

Truth be told, the Saint Andrew's Society of Williamsburg had two "fathers." two extraordinary men who could be clearly described as "the odd couple:" Bob Duncan and Dave Shepherd. Bob Duncan was a well-known banker and a respected community leader in the Williamsburg of that time. His family could certainly be described as a "first family," present in Virginia long before the American war for independence and the founding of the nation. Dave, however, was quite different. A native born Scot, he had served in the Royal Navy during World War One, emigrated to the United States, worked with Dow Chemical, and finally opened a Scottish shop on Bacon street, just off Richmond road. However, these two remarkable men did share a strong bond, a love of Scottish heritage and culture. Collectively, these two men provided the impetus behind the creation of the Williamsburg Saint Andrew's.

If one was of scots descent and living in Williamsburg in the mid-1960's, Shepherd's Scottish Shop was an informal gathering place. While Betty, Dave's diminutive wife fretted that sales were being lost, Dave would spend hours happily talking about "things scottish" with his many friends. Dave had long wanted to form some sort of Scottish organization in town and had been in contact with several people who participated in Saint Andrew's and Scotia Society activities in other areas. He eventually contacted a person in the Saint Andrew's Society in Washington.

At the same time, Bob had convinced a man in the Savannah, Georgia, Saint Andrew's to share his administrative experience about such organizations. Most importantly, this contact provided us with two valuable documents: the Savannah society's membership procedures and a copy of the group's constitution and by-laws. These documents formed the foundation upon which the early Williamsburg committees build our charter. It was at this time that Bob and Dave really laid the groundwork for the Saint Andrew's Society of Williamsburg.

In late 1967, Bob wrote the Saint Andrew's Society of Washington and asked for their assistance in forming a Williamsburg society. Their board of directors enthusiastically agreed, thus creating an important "mentoring" relationship that would continue for several years. Ten local men created the first working committee, a group that quickly expanded to sixteen. The first tentative plans for establishing the society began to be formed during the winter of 1967-68.
In March 1968, a team of five men from the Washington group came to Williamsburg to discuss with us the specifics of forming the society and to help us "sweat out the details." within weeks, a rudimentary organizational structure had been devised, primary guidance documents prepared, and a number of committees formed. The fledgling society had really started to take on form and substance.

Then, the grand day had finally come ... on the 8™ of May, 1968, the founding members gathered in the board room of the old Peninsula National Bank on Duke of Gloucester Street. The purpose of this meeting was to formally establish the Saint Andrew's Society of Virginia in Williamsburg. It was amazing! We finally had our own Scottish society! The date, May 8th was designated as "Founders Day" and became the society's official birthday. With your permission I would like to read the names of the founders: 
Ed Alexander, Arthur Gordon, Jack McPherson, Jim Anthony, Gil Granger, Willie Monroe, J.T. Baxter, Russ Hastings, Bob Pollard, David Clark, Gil Jones, Paul Ritchie, Duncan Cocke,   Richard Lawson, Dave Shepherd, Don Donaldson, Tom McCaskey, John Stewart, Bob Duncan, Donald McConkey,  Howard Topp, John Fletcher, Mac Macgillivray, Jim Whyte, C.H. Forbes, Phil Magruder and Ricks Wilson.

I turned thirty years old later that same year. Bob Duncan frequently referred to me as "the young buck." Hmmmm, no one has called me that for many years. Times do indeed pass and all too quickly. Only seven of the founders remain active on the rolls of the organization.
Stories of the early days? Well, Bob Duncan didn't like to drive his car and would occasionally ask that I drive him to Scottish functions. On one particular occasion Bob, Dave Shepherd and I drove in Bob's Cadillac to Newport News for a kirkin' at the Presbyterian Church. However, while returning to Williamsburg, we had a flat tire. The three of us got out of the car and I knelt down to see the extent of damage. A pick-up screeched to a stop and a young man hopped out, reached in the truck bed, pulled out a floor jack, and began walking toward the caddie. Stopping with a stunned expression, he broke into outrageous laughter. Seeing the surprised look on our faces he said, "Excuse me for laughing, gentlemen, but when I stopped I thought I was helping three little old ladies."

I am going to make a statement that I know you will find unbelievable: Scots occasionally disagree.... loudly. When Bob Duncan was president, our board meetings were held in the bank conference room. However, Paul Ritchie was much less formal. When Paul succeeded Bob as President, he proposed that board members host the meeting in their homes on a rotational basis. This practice is still observed by the board today. Well, at one of our early meetings in a home, the host and one of the officers engaged in a lively and vigorous shouting match. The following day the member wrote to the officer. "I was pleased to host the monthly board meeting in my home, last night. You made an excellent point in our discussion that if I didn't like the way we did business I should resign. Therefore, I resign."

In the last vignette, I'd like to address the efforts that many of our members have made in service to others ... it could be as little as a scarf for an elderly widow, a scholarship for a needy student, charitable contributions to worthy organizations. ....and one that i'll always remember. Robert Anderson was a member of the society, an old man whose life was beset with tragedy. As a young man in the first war, he had reputedly been the youngest "quartermaster sergeant" in the British forces and rewarded with decorations and medals. He subsequently immigrated to this country. In a tragic series of events, tragedy seemed to haunt this pleasant man who liked to write poetry. His wife died giving birth to their daughter. His daughter was brutally murdered on the night she graduated from high school in Petersburg. His home was burglarized and everything of value was taken ... including his medals. He entered a retirement home. He grieved over his lost family, knowing they could never be brought back. Another Saint Andrews Society member, Guy Nelson, was touched by his situation and felt that the society could do something ... bring back his proudest possession: his medals.
I was the President of the society then and Guy called me, suggesting the society seek the replacement of the medals for Robert. I had previously served several terms as Paul Ritchie's Vice President and had learned how a president should handle such a suggestion: "Good idea. Guy, you're in charge!" I asked him if he knew to whom he should write, "Of course, the queen." Several weeks later he called back, saying that he had received an answer from Buckingham Palace and that the process was well under way. A short time later I received a call from the British Embassy. They were sending the British Naval Attache to make the presentation at a ceremony we thought "suitable." I suggested the Burn's Night dinner.
On that January night, Robert Anderson struggled to stand from his wheelchair to be presented his medals by a Royal Navy Admiral in full dress uniform. It was an awesome moment; there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Like so many things that have occurred over the last thirty years, it was made possible because a Saint Andrews Society member knew that something needed to be done.... and did it. Thank you.