Your Kilted Grandfathers (or Other Grandfather Influences)

**Bugbear** · 31st December 11, 01:06 PM

Just had a short PM conversation about grandfathers. It seems to me they can leave a significant impression, even if in directly through the family stories or photos.

If you wish, discuss your grandfathers and their kilts, and how they have influenced you or even post pictures. Or, if Grandpa didn't wear a kilt how did his ways and customs influence the way you approach kilt wearing now?

I will give one example. One grandfather, who passed away when I was very young, had pocket watches. From seeing them in a drawer from time to time after he passed away, I wanted to have a pocket watch from a young age, and have almost never worn the wrist watches.

**Ryan Ross** · 31st December 11, 01:25 PM

When my Grandfather Ross (below, at right) first set foot on American soil, circa 1911, he was wearing a kilt. He remained kilted full time for a further 6-8 years.

Hearing that story always intrigued me, even at a young age, and I think it inspired me to take more than a passing interest in kilts... and I may or may not have recieved the steely glint from him, as well.

**Steve of Lansing** · 31st December 11, 02:13 PM

What a cool pic, Ryan! You definately got the glint from him!

Something interesting to me is that just last week I was wondering what precedent there was for wearing double breasted jackets with a kilt. Now I know they were doin' it 100 years ago.

As for the OP, my Grandad didn't have any influence on my wearing of the kilt. He passed on about 13 years before I wore my first one.

He was a farmer and one thing I did get from him, though, is that one should always carry a pocket knife, and I often have more than one on me.

Always, -Steve

**Spartan Tartan** · 31st December 11, 02:56 PM

What a great picture! Seeing pictures like that makes me want to take a nice family photo with both my son and I in our kilts...

**Hocfutue** · 31st December 11, 04:47 PM

Didn't get the kilt bug from my grandfather. My grandMOTHER is where I draw my Scottish ancestry, although she never showed any leanings towards the traditions or history. But she was thrilled that I did.

Here's to you, Granny! I miss you.

Steve in WA

**Bugbear** · 31st December 11, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by Steve of Lansing

... He was a farmer and one thing I did get from him, though, is that one should always carry a pocket knife, and I often have more than one on me.

Always, -Steve

That counts. Do you cary one in your sporran?

**Steve Barclay** · 31st December 11, 10:31 PM

My grandad on the right with Tam no doubt made by my nan (a dressmaker), and my dad as a wean in the middle, sometime I assume in the late 1950's, most likely at Hogmanay.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

**ThistleDown** · 31st December 11, 10:53 PM

Great, great great grandfather, Duncan (yes, I know about the kilt blemish, but what can you do on New Year's Eve?):

**AKScott** · 31st December 11, 11:03 PM

My grandfather Bob Scott never displayed the slightest interest in a kilt to me while he and I were both alive.

However, if grandpa was going to bother wearing a necktie he would by God wear a red one. He was very good at dressing down to go fishing, adept at dressing more or less invisibly most of the time; but when he dressed up the man was dressed to the nines.

I still struggle with the idea of "smart casual".

**Piper** · 1st January 12, 06:42 AM

My paternal Grandfather was a carpenter, and gave me a bit of an interest in woodworking. He died when I was about 13, so I didn't get to know him well as a man.
My maternal grandfather was with us until I was in my late 20's, and we became close. He was the fire chief, when I joined the local department, and a first aid instructor. He became my mentor when I got my instructors card from the Red Cross. During all the courses he taught, he stressed learning to use the materials at hand, reasoning that most people were not going to have access to a fully equipped ambulance. I taught the same way. He was another one who had the opinion that a man carried a pocket knife, but he also insisted on a large handkerchief or bandana. He said that thus equipped, you had the basics for almost any emergency. To this day, I usually have a bandana in my pocket, and the only time I'm without a blade is when I'm undergoing the indignities of air travel.
He also had a Master's in creative profanity, but most (if not all) of what he taught me along those lines can't be listed on a public forum.