Photo of
December 1, 2009
Neil Oliver will be reading to the troops at Stirling Castle
Neil Oliver will be reading to the troops at Stirling Castle

History, cooking and shopping are all in the mix at Stirling Castle tomorrow evening. Neil Oliver, presenter of A History of Scotland, will be manning the ramparts and talking about his new book of the same name.

There will be a Christmas cookery demo from John McWhirter, head chef of the castle caterers Nairn’s, and the firm’s general manager, Richard Gray, will be letting people in on his favourite mulled wine recipe.

Local retailers and crafts businesses will be selling gift ideas in the Great Hall while a choir belts out renditions of Good King Wenceslas and other festive ditties.

The event runs from 6pm to 9pm. Tickets cost £5 which includes parking and mince pies and coffee. For tickets call 01786 431 310 or email Nicola.hyne@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

The event looks as though it could be fun although maybe not quite up to the standards set by James VI when he celebrated the baptism of his son Henry in the Great Hall in 1594.

A banquet topped the three day party and the highlight of the shindig was the second course. According to Stirling Castle’s historians ‘this arrived on a huge imitation Ship of State, over 5m long and more than 12m high, resplendent in the colours of the Scottish Royal Arms, and floating on an artificial sea. On board was a variety of fish dishes, and as the great ship sailed around the hall‚ suddenly the 36 brass guns on board fired off a huge salvo‚ momentarily terrifying the guests.’

It would be hard to get that sort of thing past the accounts dept these days but it certainly gives office parties something to work towards.

If you are feeling a little peckish afterwards, then you might want to cast an eye over these 5pm members who ply their trade in Stirling: The Great Food Stop is in the Golden Lion Milton Hotel while The Bank Restaurant conducts its business on Upper Craigs.