Lie back and think of Scotland

Editor DOMINIC ROSKROW gets his kit off – and his kilt on – in public

One of the first things I learned as a reporter was always to try and find a new angle. And lying on my back looking up at the ceiling of New York's Explorers Club seemed as good an angle as any.

The fact that there were 100 people trying to get a glimpse of me while a man fiddled with my sporran seemed incidental, as did the very real chance that some of the Big Apple's finest were about to find out what an Englishman keeps under his kilt.

All I could think about was that having your pants removed in public really must be beyond the call of duty. In the end, I just lay back and thought of Scotland …

Let me explain. The Explorers Club in Manhattan was where Scotland Magazine went for its official US launch earlier this year. Actually, ‘launch' isn't quite right – with 10,000 American subscribers already, the words ‘horse', ‘stable door' and ‘bolted' come to mind – so it was more of a growing exercise.

And, as the feature in this issue clearly shows, it was great. We invited some of the finest travel writers America has to offer, gave them a lunch prepared by a top Scottish chef, served them Macallan single malt whisky and Drambuie whisky liqueur, and then presented awards to seven top Scottish icons.

Which is where the kilt comes in. You see, one of the award-winners was Howie Nicholsby of 21st Century Kilts, and he refused to accept the award from a man not in a kilt. I like Howie's kilts. He makes trendy ones that stars Samuel L. Jackson and Madonna have ...

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• By : Dominic Roskrow
• In : Editor's View
• Issue : 8
• Page : 3
• Words : 565