Comments on: The Last of the Gypsy Royals http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/ articles on Christianity, lifestyle and more... Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:18:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Fiona Veitch Smith http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1131 Fiona Veitch Smith Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:21:02 +0000 http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1131 Thanks Michael, and a happy new year to you too. Even though I'm not a Faa, Blyth, Kennedy or anything else, I do feel part of your family :) Actually, the Veitch's were a border family too, tasked to look after the cattle of Robert the Bruce (apparently!). So my great great great grandaddy might have collared your great great great grandaddy stealing his coos! Thanks Michael, and a happy new year to you too. Even though I’m not a Faa, Blyth, Kennedy or anything else, I do feel part of your family :) Actually, the Veitch’s were a border family too, tasked to look after the cattle of Robert the Bruce (apparently!). So my great great great grandaddy might have collared your great great great grandaddy stealing his coos!

]]> By: katy r http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1129 katy r Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:27:40 +0000 http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1129 hi.. i am a relative of bill clinton its really hard to explain how... Charles faa blyth kennedy (king of yetholm gipsys)was my great great great grandfather.... thankyou hi.. i am a relative of bill clinton its really hard to explain how… Charles faa blyth kennedy (king of yetholm gipsys)was my great great great grandfather…. thankyou

]]> By: Michael Kiernan http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1123 Michael Kiernan Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:37:43 +0000 http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1123 Hello to everyone to whom I may, or may not be related, and a Happy New Year, and greetings to Fiona, whose site has brought us together. In a manner of speaking, we are all 'family', from whatever background or beliefs we come from. It's nice when you get respect from people you don't even know! Lets hope next year will be a better one. Best Wishes - Mike Kiernan Hello to everyone to whom I may, or may not be related, and a Happy New Year, and greetings to Fiona, whose site has brought us together. In a manner of speaking, we are all ‘family’, from whatever background or beliefs we come from. It’s nice when you get respect from people you don’t even know! Lets hope next year will be a better one. Best Wishes - Mike Kiernan

]]> By: Fiona Veitch Smith http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1121 Fiona Veitch Smith Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:41:02 +0000 http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1121 Thanks for dropping by Steve. If anyone wants to check out the Palace visit Steve's site at http://www.gypsypalace.co.uk Thanks for dropping by Steve. If anyone wants to check out the Palace visit Steve’s site at http://www.gypsypalace.co.uk

]]> By: Steve http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1119 Steve Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:10:10 +0000 http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1119 Hello everyone, My wife and I currently own the Gypsy Place in Kirk Yetholm. We rent it out as a holiday cottage for short breaks. We knew a little of its history when we bought the place in September'06, but had no idea of just how interested people were in it. I soon found out when I started redecorating and tidying the place up as soon as I had collected the keys: we had a steady stream of visitors wanting to photograph the place or chat to me about its history, including numerous visiting Blythe descendants from all over the world. I have tried to assemble a small collection of books and photographs which are now displayed around the Palace, to try and give our visitors an idea of its history. I've always been surprised by the fact that Queen Esther's grave has dissappeared from the churchyard; though the approx location is known, there is no headstone which seems a terrible shame. I just wanted to reassure people that we are trying to do what we can to respect and perpetuate both the gypsy's and Palace's history. Hello everyone, My wife and I currently own the Gypsy Place in Kirk Yetholm. We rent it out as a holiday cottage for short breaks. We knew a little of its history when we bought the place in September’06, but had no idea of just how interested people were in it. I soon found out when I started redecorating and tidying the place up as soon as I had collected the keys: we had a steady stream of visitors wanting to photograph the place or chat to me about its history, including numerous visiting Blythe descendants from all over the world. I have tried to assemble a small collection of books and photographs which are now displayed around the Palace, to try and give our visitors an idea of its history.
I’ve always been surprised by the fact that Queen Esther’s grave has dissappeared from the churchyard; though the approx location is known, there is no headstone which seems a terrible shame.
I just wanted to reassure people that we are trying to do what we can to respect and perpetuate both the gypsy’s and Palace’s history.

]]> By: Fiona Veitch Smith http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1059 Fiona Veitch Smith Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:08:22 +0000 http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1059 We bow in the presence of royalty, Paul - thanks for stopping by! Are you still in the Durham area? We bow in the presence of royalty, Paul - thanks for stopping by! Are you still in the Durham area?

]]> By: Paul Ross http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1058 Paul Ross Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:32:20 +0000 http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1058 I am distantly related to Charles Farr Blyth through my grandmother a Blyth from Birtley Co Durham . They were the owners of Blyths Brick works .,Blyth Terrace in Birtley is named after the family.A brother of my grandmother traced back his relatives and got back to the king !! I am distantly related to Charles Farr Blyth through my grandmother a Blyth from Birtley Co Durham . They were the owners of Blyths Brick works .,Blyth Terrace in Birtley is named after the family.A brother of my grandmother traced back his relatives and got back to the king !!

]]> By: Michael Kiernan http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1056 Michael Kiernan Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:51:13 +0000 http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1056 Hi Fiona, thanks for the reply. It may well be that because of this ruling, on the basis of 'human rights' that local authorities will be forced to provide permanent facilities for the travelling society. In the past, the more enlightened authorities have attempted to do this, but in many cases, those facilities have been abused by a certain minority. This gives rise to the 'nimby' attitude. Residents are rightly incensed when travellers arrive on their doorstep, because of the mess left behing when they eventually move on. We have had experiences here in Stockport in certain areas. For example, at our allotment site, we are next to an industrial estate. Before the council erected a fence to deny them access, a group of travellers on several occasions, parked illegally on the estate, knowing that they are not legally allowed to park on industrial premises, and that the police have the power to move them on within 24 hours. On their arrival, we had several break-ins and items stolen. Certain of the industrial premises were also broken into and items stolen. The problem is there is no proof that these people were responsible. Respect is a two way street. It is all very well winning your 'human rights' and it is only right and proper that decent law abiding travellers should have access to clean water and sanitation for example, but the abuses must stop. As residents, we are subject to local authority regulation, and there have been cases of people being fined just for putting the wrong kind of refuse in their bins. Then there are proposals for microchipping bins and charging people for the waste they don't recycle. All this is because we are running out of holes in the ground. More enlightened residents do see the necessity for it, others see it as an imposition by over-zealous councils. Travellers have no such concerns, other than the inconvenience of being moved on. Some kind of dialogue is needed to break the deadlock, the problem is that the travelling community do not have a representative to negotiate on their behalf, because of their itinerant nature. Unless they choose someone, it will ever be thus. The Gypsies of Kirk Yetholm did find a permanent home there. They established good relations with local people and some even intermarried. Changing attitudes is always difficult, but it doesn't mean we don't have to try. Best wishes to all, and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, wherever you come from ! - Mike Hi Fiona, thanks for the reply. It may well be that because of this ruling, on the basis of ‘human rights’ that local authorities will be forced to provide permanent facilities for the travelling society. In the past, the more enlightened authorities have attempted to do this, but in many cases, those facilities have been abused by a certain minority. This gives rise to the ‘nimby’ attitude. Residents are rightly incensed when travellers arrive on their doorstep, because of the mess left behing when they eventually move on.

We have had experiences here in Stockport in certain areas. For example, at our allotment site, we are next to an industrial estate. Before the council erected a fence to deny them access, a group of travellers on several occasions, parked illegally on the estate, knowing that they are not legally allowed to park on industrial premises, and that the police have the power to move them on within 24 hours. On their arrival, we had several break-ins and items stolen. Certain of the industrial premises were also broken into and items stolen.

The problem is there is no proof that these people were responsible.
Respect is a two way street. It is all very well winning your ‘human rights’ and it is only right and proper that decent law abiding travellers should have access to clean water and sanitation for example, but the abuses must stop. As residents, we are subject to local authority regulation, and there have been cases of people being fined just for putting the wrong kind of refuse in their bins. Then there are proposals for microchipping bins and charging people for the waste they don’t recycle. All this is because we are running out of holes in the ground. More enlightened residents do see the necessity for it, others see it as an imposition by over-zealous councils. Travellers have no such concerns, other than the inconvenience of being moved on. Some kind of dialogue is needed to break the deadlock, the problem is that the travelling community do not have a representative to negotiate on their behalf, because of their itinerant nature. Unless they choose someone, it will ever be thus.

The Gypsies of Kirk Yetholm did find a permanent home there. They established good relations with local people and some even intermarried. Changing attitudes is always difficult, but it doesn’t mean we don’t have to try.

Best wishes to all, and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, wherever you come from ! - Mike

]]> By: Fiona http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1055 Fiona Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:49:19 +0000 http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-1055 Hi Mike. Thanks for those thought-provoking comments. As I am not a Romany myself I've never experienced this kind of prejudice, however, as a 'rooinek' in an Afrikaans mining town in South Africa in the 1980s I was the victim of some pretty atrocious treatment. It all boils down to an 'us' and 'them' attitude to life and a pack mentality fuelled by, as you so rightly say, ignorance and intolerance. Hi Mike. Thanks for those thought-provoking comments. As I am not a Romany myself I’ve never experienced this kind of prejudice, however, as a ‘rooinek’ in an Afrikaans mining town in South Africa in the 1980s I was the victim of some pretty atrocious treatment. It all boils down to an ‘us’ and ‘them’ attitude to life and a pack mentality fuelled by, as you so rightly say, ignorance and intolerance.

]]> By: Michael Kiernan http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-970 Michael Kiernan Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:58:34 +0000 http://www.veitchsmith.com/2007/11/09/the-last-of-the-gypsy-royals/#comment-970 Hello Fiona and also Alexander. As a matter of history, there has always been prejudice against itinerate peoples, whether they be gypsies or nomadic people. It is good news that such peoples are finally being given basic human rights. But with such rights come responsibilities. It may be true that so-called 'gypsies' are by their very nature, travellers, but not all travellers are gypsies. However, in some people's mind they are one and the same thing. In the travelling society, as in the non-travelling, there is good and bad. In certain areas of towns, for example, where there are social problems, it is the minority who give those areas a bad name. In effect, people become 'tarred with the same brush'. It is a great pity, because the vast majority of people are decent law-abiding citizens and the same can be said of the travelling community. There are those in the travelling community who cause problems, and when local authorities try and move them on, they cannot, because of 'human rights'. Yet the rights of ordinary citizens, who have property damaged or stolen, do not seem to count. That is where the resentment comes from, and the prejudice. Wherever they go, the ones who cause problems leave a trail of discarded waste, which the good citizens have to pay for to have cleaned up, through their council tax. Local authorities are reluctant to provide proper facilities because of the minority of people who spoil it for the good law abiding travellers and genuine gypsies. My own claim to be from gypsy stock may only be a fanciful notion, but it does mean I have a certain amount of sympathy with those who do not cause problems, but who are discriminated against, because of those who do. Those who discriminate against all regardless, are in my opinion, unenlightened. What is the answer? Perhaps some kind of dialogue. It will take some time before prejudice is eliminated, and ignorance replaced with tolerance and understanding. Best wishes - Mike Hello Fiona and also Alexander. As a matter of history, there has always been prejudice against itinerate peoples, whether they be gypsies or nomadic people. It is good news that such peoples are finally being given basic human rights. But with such rights come responsibilities.
It may be true that so-called ‘gypsies’ are by their very nature, travellers, but not all travellers are gypsies. However, in some people’s mind they are one and the same thing. In the travelling society, as in the non-travelling, there is good and bad. In certain areas of towns, for example, where there are social problems, it is the minority who give those areas a bad name. In effect, people become ‘tarred with the same brush’. It is a great pity, because the vast majority of people are decent law-abiding citizens and the same can be said of the travelling community.

There are those in the travelling community who cause problems, and when local authorities try and move them on, they cannot, because of ‘human rights’. Yet the rights of ordinary citizens, who have property damaged or stolen, do not seem to count. That is where the resentment comes from, and the prejudice.

Wherever they go, the ones who cause problems leave a trail of discarded waste, which the good citizens have to pay for to have cleaned up, through their council tax. Local authorities are reluctant to provide proper facilities because of the minority of people who spoil it for the good law abiding travellers and genuine gypsies.

My own claim to be from gypsy stock may only be a fanciful notion, but it does mean I have a certain amount of sympathy with those who do not cause problems, but who are discriminated against, because of those who do. Those who discriminate against all regardless, are in my opinion, unenlightened. What is the answer? Perhaps some kind of dialogue. It will take some time before prejudice is eliminated, and ignorance replaced with tolerance and understanding. Best wishes - Mike

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