Friday, February 07, 2025

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:

1 comment:

  1. I didn't realise that you have Scottish heritage, Jon. I'm not a fan of the Tsars but have become more and more sympathetic over the years (not sure the ones that came to a sticky end deserved it so badly, a bit like Marie Antoinette and her Louis for example). While now often raging against Russian barbarians still we need to remember individuals are people (some of whom should be shot like dogs, like Putin & Netanyahu & Trumpists). In Belgrade however peope still love the last Czar because he and Russia came to Serbia's aid (when a Slav terrorist started the First World War). They have Nicholas' statue near the Parliament and a trendy bar restaurant still called the Russki Czar.

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