Bill Scott's Blog - Posts Tagged "heartwarming"
Who is Andrew Ewing?
One of the main problems in writing a book called 'The Buttercup: The remarkable story of Andrew Ewing and the Buttercup Dairy Company' is that few, except some elderly Scottish pensioners have ever heard of either. But that is a sales issue and takes nothing away from what really is a remarkable story.
Born in the far south west of Scotland in 1869 – the son of a tenant farmer – Andrew Ewing went on to found a once famous Scottish grocery empire before quietly giving away his fortune in his final ambition to die a poor man. He was not interested in high profile projects that would establish his name in history and instead gave generously to the poor. All eggs laid at his farm on a Sunday were given to charity – over 100,000 a week - and during the Depression years he personally handed out food to those in need.
I wrote The Buttercup because I was one of the few who knew the story and believed that it needed to be told. However, even I didn't know the whole story and was amazed at some of the remarkable tales and information gleaned from interviews with former Buttercup staff and members of the Ewing family.
The Buttercup is catagorised as social history – and it is. However, I also wrote the book as a story, with the intention of bringing out the humanity of those involved and the wonderful atmosphere that pervaded within the company itself.
Born in the far south west of Scotland in 1869 – the son of a tenant farmer – Andrew Ewing went on to found a once famous Scottish grocery empire before quietly giving away his fortune in his final ambition to die a poor man. He was not interested in high profile projects that would establish his name in history and instead gave generously to the poor. All eggs laid at his farm on a Sunday were given to charity – over 100,000 a week - and during the Depression years he personally handed out food to those in need.
I wrote The Buttercup because I was one of the few who knew the story and believed that it needed to be told. However, even I didn't know the whole story and was amazed at some of the remarkable tales and information gleaned from interviews with former Buttercup staff and members of the Ewing family.
The Buttercup is catagorised as social history – and it is. However, I also wrote the book as a story, with the intention of bringing out the humanity of those involved and the wonderful atmosphere that pervaded within the company itself.
Thanks very much mister!
Tales of Andrew Ewing's kindness and generosity were part of my daily life as a child, since I was brought up on his Edinburgh farm. Some were amusing, like this one, often related by my grandfather - about a trip by Andrew to Glasgow in his chauffeur driven Rover, in the late 1940s
On leaving Edinburgh they picked up some drunk football supporters, on their way to Glasgow to watch the ‘old firm’ football match between Rangers and Celtic. Once they arrived in Glasgow, Andrew gave them £5 each (a fortune at this time) and told them to go and enjoy themselves – to which one replied “Thanks very much mister. I hope we meet you again next week!”
On leaving Edinburgh they picked up some drunk football supporters, on their way to Glasgow to watch the ‘old firm’ football match between Rangers and Celtic. Once they arrived in Glasgow, Andrew gave them £5 each (a fortune at this time) and told them to go and enjoy themselves – to which one replied “Thanks very much mister. I hope we meet you again next week!”
Memories of a Buttercup Message Girl
This is a short extract from my interview with former Buttercup message girl Euphemia Murray.
'Euphemia Murray started work as a Buttercup message girl, as a fourteen year old, in 1927. Her first job in the morning was to scrub the floors and tiles and clean the brass vents. “We had no hot water in the shop so we had to get it from Forrester’s bake house: it was nearly boiling!”
After she had completed these jobs, Euphemia then went out with the orders to “all the large fancy houses and hotels” and took baskets of goods - butter, margarine, eggs, tea and cartons of fresh cream - around the houses in Granton. All Buttercup orders were wrapped up in brown paper and tied up with string. Most of the deliveries were made on foot although sometimes she would get a lift from the Buttercup van drivers, Tommy Hamilton and Jimmy Fraser. Another mode of transport was the tram and if the conductress was in a good mood she might let her off with the two penny fare – it was spent on ice cream!'The Buttercup: The Remarkable Story of Andrew Ewing and the Buttercup Dairy Company
'Euphemia Murray started work as a Buttercup message girl, as a fourteen year old, in 1927. Her first job in the morning was to scrub the floors and tiles and clean the brass vents. “We had no hot water in the shop so we had to get it from Forrester’s bake house: it was nearly boiling!”
After she had completed these jobs, Euphemia then went out with the orders to “all the large fancy houses and hotels” and took baskets of goods - butter, margarine, eggs, tea and cartons of fresh cream - around the houses in Granton. All Buttercup orders were wrapped up in brown paper and tied up with string. Most of the deliveries were made on foot although sometimes she would get a lift from the Buttercup van drivers, Tommy Hamilton and Jimmy Fraser. Another mode of transport was the tram and if the conductress was in a good mood she might let her off with the two penny fare – it was spent on ice cream!'The Buttercup: The Remarkable Story of Andrew Ewing and the Buttercup Dairy Company
Some Terrific Reviews
Following the publication of the Buttercup, many readers were kind enough to express their views about the book, either by letter or email to me or posts on the Internet. One lady liked it so much that she ordered a dozen more for her friends, adding - "just like the eggs"!
These are some more reader comments:
"A cracking book, and story...entrepreneur who absolutely insists he wants to die poor? Gold dust."
"A tremendous piece of storytelling"
"I love this book, I've read it twice. This is social history with a difference, written in a more personal way, allowing you more than a glimpse into the life of an extraordinary man, Andrew Ewing ... The book includes many lovely stories from the memories of customers and employees.
"A truly wonderful story of a man whose generosity to people less fortunate than himself was incredible"
"Beautifully written with superb pictures. A wonderful insight into a man whose generosity of spirit helped so many less fortunate people."
"I loved this book... I found in places I could not put it down and that I was on a journey into the past with a very remarkable man"
" By the time I had finished reading your book I felt the same warmth for the very human Andrew Ewing that all that knew him seemed to feel."
"For a man to have done so much is inspiring".
"'Your book is a work of art - beautiful paper, font, layout and reproductions."
" It's excellent. I'm really enjoying the stories and the photographs.. A great tribute to an amazing man".
"The quality and attractiveness of the book is quite stunning"
" It's a fantastic story"
These are some more reader comments:
"A cracking book, and story...entrepreneur who absolutely insists he wants to die poor? Gold dust."
"A tremendous piece of storytelling"
"I love this book, I've read it twice. This is social history with a difference, written in a more personal way, allowing you more than a glimpse into the life of an extraordinary man, Andrew Ewing ... The book includes many lovely stories from the memories of customers and employees.
"A truly wonderful story of a man whose generosity to people less fortunate than himself was incredible"
"Beautifully written with superb pictures. A wonderful insight into a man whose generosity of spirit helped so many less fortunate people."
"I loved this book... I found in places I could not put it down and that I was on a journey into the past with a very remarkable man"
" By the time I had finished reading your book I felt the same warmth for the very human Andrew Ewing that all that knew him seemed to feel."
"For a man to have done so much is inspiring".
"'Your book is a work of art - beautiful paper, font, layout and reproductions."
" It's excellent. I'm really enjoying the stories and the photographs.. A great tribute to an amazing man".
"The quality and attractiveness of the book is quite stunning"
" It's a fantastic story"
A Beautiful Book
This new web page is designed to emphasise the visual quality of 'The Buttercup'. Up to now I have mainly focused on the story but I also spent a lot of time on design and laying out the photographs as well as using a high quality paper.
http://www.buttercupdairycompany.co.u...
http://www.buttercupdairycompany.co.u...
An act of kindness
This letter from Andrew Ewing's wife to my grandmother, in 1934, highlights one of the many acts of kindness and generosity from a very remarkable man. At that time my grandfather had become seriously ill from working in the coal mine. This was typical from a man who ultimately gave everything away in his wish to die a poor man.
In the letter she writes, “My Dear Nan… This move on Mr Ewing’s part to take your husband from the coal pits has made me particularly happy. It is no life at all for a man but somebody must do it. However John has had his share and done his bit in the war so deserves a little bit of sunshine and air into his lungs more. These he will get at Clermiston Mains. You too deserve this wonderful change. Mr Ewing is taking such an interest in getting the cottage ready for you… [He] has just phoned to say he thinks the cottage should be ready in about a week’s time” The Buttercup: The Remarkable Story of Andrew Ewing and the Buttercup Dairy Company. See also http://www.buttercupdairycompany.co.uk/
In the letter she writes, “My Dear Nan… This move on Mr Ewing’s part to take your husband from the coal pits has made me particularly happy. It is no life at all for a man but somebody must do it. However John has had his share and done his bit in the war so deserves a little bit of sunshine and air into his lungs more. These he will get at Clermiston Mains. You too deserve this wonderful change. Mr Ewing is taking such an interest in getting the cottage ready for you… [He] has just phoned to say he thinks the cottage should be ready in about a week’s time” The Buttercup: The Remarkable Story of Andrew Ewing and the Buttercup Dairy Company. See also http://www.buttercupdairycompany.co.uk/
Lots of reviews
There are a lot more reviews of 'The Buttercup' than on Goodreads - including press reviews. See many of them at http://www.buttercupdairycompany.co.u... See also The Buttercup: The Remarkable Story of Andrew Ewing and the Buttercup Dairy Company
The Complete Book?
It has always struck me as odd that we divide books into discrete categories: eg stories, coffee table (with great pictures), social history and biography. And of course they all have their own stereotypical styles. A story book is usually printed on cheap paper but aims to be riveting, coffee table books are expected to be beautiful but bland and never ever put humanity into social history!
If that's how you like your books then don't read 'The Buttercup', because it breaks all these rules. It is a great story, has the looks and quality of a coffee table book and brings human feeling into social history.
And it needed to be produced this way, because Andrew Ewing and the Buttercup were much more than a collection of historical facts, and most of the pictures are stunning. What’s more, I was brought up in this culture, so am able to tell the story from the perspective of someone who has an emotional tie to the company and its people. The Buttercup: The Remarkable Story of Andrew Ewing and the Buttercup Dairy Company. See also http://www.buttercupdairycompany.co.uk/
If that's how you like your books then don't read 'The Buttercup', because it breaks all these rules. It is a great story, has the looks and quality of a coffee table book and brings human feeling into social history.
And it needed to be produced this way, because Andrew Ewing and the Buttercup were much more than a collection of historical facts, and most of the pictures are stunning. What’s more, I was brought up in this culture, so am able to tell the story from the perspective of someone who has an emotional tie to the company and its people. The Buttercup: The Remarkable Story of Andrew Ewing and the Buttercup Dairy Company. See also http://www.buttercupdairycompany.co.uk/
