A Visit to Bedrule

By Ray W. Rule

In May of 2003, my son William and I traveled to Edinburgh in hopes of finding the Rule roots. We knew that we had to get down to the Borders Jedburgh and Hawick area but we had no idea of how to go about it. While we were taking the standard double decked bus tour of Edinburgh we were asked by our tour guide where we were from. We told him that we were a couple of Yanks in search of our roots somewhere in the Hawick area.

It just so happened that the tour guide, named Bill Hill, was born in Hawick and knew the area well. He offered to come to our hotel in a couple of days, on his day off, and drive us to the area we wanted to go to.

He picked us up in his personal car and gave us one of the best tours we could ever have hoped for. We visited Bedrule Parish, including the church grounds and actually we were able to stand on the stone bridge over the Rulewater stream. We couldn’t have asked for a nicer, more knowledgeable, person to help us find the Rule roots in the Borders region of  Scotland. I am enclosing several photos we took of Bedrule Church, my son and I standing on the bridge over Rulewater, one of Bill Hill on the same bridge and one of the Rulewater itself. What a great experience and time we had.

                  Bill Hill shown on right.

Welcome New Members

Howard Hahn, Sandra Turnbull, Sarah Turnbull and Richard Woodcock

Secretary / Editor Report

Our newsletters are growing in regards to quality and appearance, and participation by the membership. These are important in our growth, we need to continue to have this participation. This is a good time for you, as a member, to voice your ideas and suggestion for the coming year. Help us grow!

We thank all of you who have renewed, especially those spouses who are now new members. Those of you who have changed from regular mail to the website source for the newsletters are saving TCA about $5.00 a year, in just postage. It does not sound like much, but when added together it is a saving of more than $250.00 a year.

At this time, we have 152 members who have renewed or joined. Some of you are still procrastinating and have not sent in your dues. Remember that your membership longevity is lost when you become delinquent. Dues deadline is extended to February 15^th 2004. Please be advised that this will be your last newsletter, until your dues are paid

Ocala Scottish Festival

In the December Bullseye we reported on the Ocala Festival with new tent host Robert Scott Turnbull (Rob), in this issue we have included a picture received after we went to press of all the Turnbull’s involved.

From the left to right, Rob in the Kilt, his son Bobby and daughter Vanessa. Then it is William and his wife Claudia, then John and his wife Barbara.