The last Tsar of Russia gave Sandy Campbell a pair of field glasses

When I was 12 I could recite the Romanov Tsars of Russia in their correct order. My enthusiasm for Russian history was kindled by Robert Massie's book Nicholas and Alexandra and the film that was made of it.

Sadly, that knowledge has long gone. But I was still chuffed to see this photograph and caption in The Sphere:

SANDY CAMPBELL LOOKING OUT FOR DEER ON LOCHNAGAR 

These field-glasses were presented to Mr. Campbell by the Czar when his Imperial Majesty visited Glassalt Shiel

Sandy Campbell, who was the brother of my great great grandmother, now has his own label on this blog.

This is the third of three articles occasioned by that article in The Sphere. The first two were:

• In which Queen Victoria calls on my great great great grandmother
• Sandy Campbell, his dog and Queen Victoria