Colin Beattie MSP, presents to National Library of Scotland

Thursday October 22nd 2015

Colin Beattie National Library
Colin (left) with Kenny Redpath of the National Library of Scotland

Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, gave a presentation this week at the National Library of Scotland on 17th Century Scotland. Mr Beattie’s talk focussed on the Civil War period, where out of a population of 1 million around 237 000 died through battle or disease.

At the packed event Mr Beattie wove the story of how the English Civil War both started and ended in Scotland, speaking directly from his personal collection of seventeenth century books and pamphlets.

Colin remarked:

“I was delighted to give this presentation. Scotland’s history is a real passion of mine and over the years I’ve collected a great deal of historical artefacts.

“There’s no doubt this was a grim period for Scots and left its imprint on our country, although we’re clearly in a much more positive era now. Hopefully things will never deteriorate this badly again.

“I’d like to thank the National Library for the invite and to all those who attended. I wish as many people would turn out to political meetings!”

Mr Beattie recently submitted the following motion to Parliament regarding the remains of the Scottish prisoners discovered at Durham Cathedral:

Motion S4M-14141: Colin Beattie, Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 03/09/2015

That the Parliament calls for the Scottish prisoners of war whose remains have recently been discovered under the Durham Cathedral coffee shop to be returned to Scotland for burial; understands that the prisoners were taken by forces led by Oliver Cromwell after the battle of Dunbar in 1650 and that nearly 2,000 of 5,000 Scottish prisoners died on the 100-mile march to captivity; believes that many more died of illness and lack of food in captivity, with most of the survivors being sent to the colonies to die as indentured slaves working on the plantations, and urges those responsible for the future burial of the prisoners to strongly consider Scotland as the rightful resting place.

Supported by: Anne McTaggart, Kenny MacAskill, Rob Gibson, Chic Brodie, Joan McAlpine, Bill Kidd, James Dornan, Graeme Dey, Kenneth Gibson, Richard Lyle, Mike MacKenzie, John Mason, Christina McKelvie, Roderick Campbell, Adam Ingram, Christine Grahame, Sandra White, David Torrance, Mark McDonald, Gil Paterson

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