Dunno if this was the first to be shot down over Scotland? Heinkel He111K of 1/KG26 at North Berwick (Dalkeith) on 9th February 1940, after being shot down by Douglas Farquhar of 602 Squadron stationed at Drem.

“On February 9th 1940 a Heinkel 111 of Kampfgeschwader 26 based on the island of Sylt off the coast of northern Germany was shot down over East Lothian. The Luftwaffe crews had named the Firth of Forth “Suicide Corner” due to the amount of their aircraft that had been shot down in the area. The Heinkel coded 1H+EN was shot down by a Spitfire from 602 Squadron piloted by Squadron Leader Douglas Farquhar. The Spitfire fired 625 rounds at the Heinkel over Fife. With smoke pouring from its port engine it was clear that the aircraft wouldn’t be able to return across the north sea so the pilot Sergeant Helmut Meyer headed for the coast and made a forced landing at Rhodes Farm near North Berwick. The rear gunner Sergeant Wieners was killed by gunfire from the Spitfire. The rest of the crew escaped without injury.”
(not mine – http://freespace.virgin.net/thomas_carroll.woods/North_Berwick.html)

I’m a fish.

Dreadful. It’s full of scummy people who can’t afford cars.

Basically, you have certain statutory rights – rights that are guaranteed under a statute. These are there to protect you. These statutory rights overrule any stated rights that are given – hence even though certain stated rights are declared, you are assured that your statutory rights will remain unaffected.

I keep dropping money in pots. I’m wearing double poppies (ie two sets of petals on the stalk) for obvious reasons, and have one on my work shirt, one on my jacket.

I feel very angry donating, though. I have a valid reason which I am happy to discuss off-board. It stems from something I once saw – but I still give (and it’s the only charity I do give to now) and I hope that my donation is not wasted, that it goes to the right place.

For her brother and his companion, from a sister who now has a place to remember.

A whole nation suffered privation, and prevailed. For some the cost was all they had.