From Roslin O Roslin, Summer 2000 (Vol 3 No 20), Rory Sinclair,
Editor.
by Tim Wallace Murphy
We have not had room to tell you in previous issues, but
an intrepid mariner, an Italian woman by the name of Laura Zolo,
having become taken with the story of Prince Henry, decided to re-trace
the steps of the master and follow Prince Henry’s route to the New
World. She left Venice in February and has sailed all the way to Orkney
and Shetland. Niven has been the one to keep us abreast of her progress
but here is Tim Wallace-Murphy again. [ed.]
Dear Friends,
Despite my appalling spelling (some anonymous writer had taken
Tim to task for not putting his work through a spell checker - no one
said it was going to be an easy ride on the Internet [ed.]) I have
been asked by Niven, who is snowed under with work at the moment, to bring
you up-to-date with recent events in Orkney in connection with Laura's
re-creation of the St Clair / Zeno voyage.
Under Niven's leadership, his nephew Tony, Tony's wife Anna, Marilyn
Hopkins and myself flew to Orkney early on Thursday morning. Soon after
we booked into the hotel, I located Laura's boat, Seven Roses, and was
soon immersed in her account of the voyage so far.
Laura's recreation of the Zeno / St Clair voyage has already accomplished
a great deal in the public eye. Everywhere she has gone so far, the
voyage has been reported in the press and Laura and Jack have been warmly
received in each port they have visited.
This courageous and beautiful lady has, for many people, put flesh
on the bones of the Prince Henry story in a manner that is unlikely ever
to be exceeded. She has made the history of this momentous, but little
known achievement, come alive in a way that appeals to academic historians,
the ordinary public and, perhaps most importantly for the future,
to children everywhere. And this by a lady who is neither a Sinclair nor
a Zeno, who is neither Venetian nor Scottish, but who is undoubtedly truly
a brave and gracious lady.
Despite considerable trouble with headwinds in the Mediterranean during
their tour of the Italian coast, the boat called at the Templar port of
St Raphael, Aigues Mortes, Marseilles and southern Spain before passing
though the Straits of Gibraltar. Then, Lara, her first mate, Cap'n Jack and
the two dogs spent some time in Portugal near the ancient Templar
headquarters of Tomar.
Leaving Portugal, they sailed on to La Rochelle and spent some
considerable time there researching the Knights Templar and made some
useful contacts among historians, both professional and amateur in that
area.
Stopping off at Hartlepool, there was a small hiatus, Cap'n Jack fell
off his bicycle after a collision with a gondola (his words not mine) which
resulted in the bold captain sustaining a broken rib and, more tragically,
ruining a full pouch of pipe tobacco with salt water. Divine retribution
soon followed, someone then stole the bicycle.
We are happy to report that nothing so untoward happened in Orkney.
Indeed we all had a most delightful dinner on the Thursday night and,
for the younger members of the party, the talk went on until the small
hours.
The Clan Chief, Malcolm, the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Caithness joined us
on Friday morning and once again we were all entertained aboard Seven Roses.
Tony and Annat, as a mark of respect and affection for Laura and Jack,
then provisioned the boat for its Atlantic crossing which commences
today, Sunday 25th of June with an official escort out of Orkney laid on
by the local yacht club.
At 4.30 pm on Friday Laura was given an official reception by the Islands
Council at their offices in Kirkwall. The Vice-Convener, a certain Jim
Sinclair, hosted the occasion on behalf of the council and our delegation
was led by the Clan chief ably assisted by Niven. After some brief speeches,
there was a presentation of flowers to Kath Gourlay in thanks for all her
sterling efforts in making this event possible before we moved on to the
main event.
Laura was formally presented with "The Sword of Peace"
a beautiful ceremonial sword engraved with the word for peace in a plethora
of languages, which she is to present to the senior representative chosen
from among the Mi'maq people. This is to be a tangible symbol of the clans
gratitude and respect to the people who made Earl Henry so welcome in Nova
Scotia and who continued to help him in all his endeavours.
Then there was a two way presentation of plaques. Laura, acting on behalf
of the Council of Venice, presented the Orkney Council with a commemorative
plaque made from Venetian Glass, and in return received a plaque bearing the
arms of Orkney. This ceremony was repeated outdoors for the photographers,
but actually took place in the Council offices under the Mi'Maq flag. This
had been presented to the Island Council by Donald Julien, Peter Christmas
and Chief Kerry Prosper, at the Sinclair Symposium.
Laura also received a generous gift of a hamper of local delicacies
from the Orkney people plus some locally produced "medicinal"
whiskey. Friday night concluded with a dinner for the whole party which
again ran on to the small hours.
Sadly, on Saturday morning, our party had to leave Orkney and fly south
once more. As I write this today at five pm on Sunday Laura is en-route to
Fair Isle and Shetland, recreating the original voyage as accurately as
possible. We wish her God speed and safe journey and hope to see her again
in Canada.
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