... Mr. and Mrs. Noble, as well as being busy officially, are now up to their eyes in a more personal matter-- preparations for the wedding of their eldest daughter Catharine who announced her engagement this month to London businessman Mr. Peter Vey, only son of Mr. and Mrs. D. C. L. Vey, of Ewshot, Farnham, Surrey. The wedding is to be at Holy Trinity, Brompton, on 8 September. Mrs. Noble ...

... It's a great pleasure to have these pic tures around us. I just hope other people are going to enjoy the exhibition as much as I am, said Lady Cochrane of Cults when she was telling me about the exhi bition of young Scottish artists' work that is to be held at her home, Crawford Priory, Fife, next month, in aid of the funds of the Marie Curie Memorial Foundation for Cancer Research. She is a ...

... Mrs. Michael Noble, wife of Scotland's Secretary of State, was hostess at a dinner for the wives of Ministers of the European Free T rade Association who were meeting in Edinburgh. Still without an official residence in the city, she entertained them successfully in the homely atmosphere of Prestonfield House, an old mansion on the outskirts of Edinburgh which has belonged to the same family ...

... This year, Dr. H. J. Theusner, Scotland's Consul for the Federal Republic of Ger many, and his wife have been getting to know the country. This is their first year in Scotland and they have made an exten sive tour of the north and north-west. Mrs. Theusner was impressed by the scenery, but was even more enthusiastic about a recent garden party given by the Queen which she attended at the ...

... BY JESSIE PALMER The Aboyne Ball brought Games Week on Royal Deeside to a triumphant close. Neither the Aboyne nor Braemar Games had good weather, but fortunately the skies cleared in time to dry out the supper marquee at the Victory Hall, Aboyne, where 250 guests joined in both Scottish traditional and modern dances into the small hours of the morning. Huge bowls of red roses and golden ...

... A new son arrived recently at Lochinch Castle near Stranraer, the home of the Earl Countess of Stair. The castle, exactly 100 years old, stands in grounds famous throughout Scodand for their rhododendrons. They are a blaze of colour just now. Lord Lady Stair's two elder boys, aged 31 and 2 years, are, I gather, very pleased about their new brother. He is to be called Michael Colin, but when I ...

... Though the sudden death of Sir Edward Appleton, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, has cast a shadow over current university proceedings, Charities Week went on more or less as usual with the students making their normal imaginative efforts at money-raising. The climax of the week the Charities Ball was held in Holland House, one of the men students' halls of ...

... by Jessie Palmer A telegram from Her Majesty the Queen in reply to their greetings was received at the eighth annual Women of Scotland luncheon held recently in Glasgow. Guest chairman was the Countess of Elgin, and Lady Miller, Lady Mayoress of London (and former Lady Provost of Edinburgh) travelled north especially for the luncheon. It was the first official function she had attended in ...

... Edinburgh had a happily hectic week of garden parties, balls and other social gatherings during the recent visit of the Queen and Prince Philip and right into most of the festivities were the Scots Guards who were up in Scotland at the time, partly to do some training in the High lands, partly for the 2nd Battalion to receive their new colours from the Queen who is Colonel-in-Chief of the ...

... by Jessie Palmer A fascinating exhibition, Four Centuries of British Shipping, is at the Municipal Gallery, Dundee. There are more than 100 pictures, all the recent work of the well-known marine artist, Col. Harold Wyllie, who lives at Dun- keld. Now 85, Colonel Wyllie tells me that he still paints regularly, though it is now some years since he had his last exhibition in a Bond St. gallery. ...

... The Countess of Haddington must be one of our busiest personalities. She always seems to be in the thick of it, working for several charities at once, but managing at the same time to give an impression of unruffled enjoyment. Lately she has added another good cause to her list. She has become President for East Lothian of the Sue Ryder Forgotten Allies Association. But, fortunately, it ...

... People who write letters to editors are eccentrics without the charm of eccentricity. Their minds are as narrow as a Waver- ley nib, as black as a bottle of Stephens ink. They are repellent and usually unworthy (and in capable) of reproduction. I used to be an editor myself and, if you really want letters, let me give you some advice. Print a picture of a puppy. Preferably a wounded puppy. All ...