The Burning Beacon

A Huge Heartfelt Thank You To You All. 

If you would like to add your name to the petition and become a Friend of Fatlips, give me an email  at gemma@rulewater.com to let me know.  Equally, if you have ideas to raise funds for the campaign in the future, please let me know!  Thanks.

Total names in support of preserving Fatlips Castle:   252

We have raised  £384 so far!

If you would like to become an Honourary Member you can click the Paypal link to take you to The Burning Beacon donation page.  The aim is for everyone to donate a pound (£1) but if you would like to donate more, please do.

 

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 Scroll down past the names of all the wonderful people, to read regular updates on the progress of the campaign, as well as comments from Friends of Fatlips about the campaign.

In first name alphabetical order, The Burning Beacon can officially offer its thanks to the following:

Each person listed directly below has given £1 (or more) and is an Honourary Member of the Friends of Fatlips:

1. Adriana Rosado (Mexico)
2. Ailsa Kilpatrick (early 20's, Edinburgh)
3. Alexander Harris (Glasgow)
4. Ali Graham (near Denholm)
5. Andrew Curry (early 20's, Newcastle) 
6. Andy Laing (Highlands,also a member of FAPS)
7. Barry Turnbull (Carnwath, South Lanarkshire)
8. Betty Lange (Turnbull Clan)
9. Brenda Putney (Royalston, MA, USA, TCA)
10. B.S.A. Andy (London, also a member of FAPS)
11. Brian Phipps Turnbull
12. Cammy Reith (Hawick www.hawick.net)
13. Caroline Fawcus (later 20's, Newcastle)
14. Cara Hall (later teens, Newcastle)
15. Cheryl Rounthwaite (early 20's, Newcastle)
16. Colin Burn-Murdoch (early 20's, Edinburgh)
17. Dawn Day (Mount Gambier, South Australia) 
18. Debbie Sinclair (Hawick, early 30's)
19. Dorinda Turnbull Wolentarski (Old Hickory, TN, USA) 
20. Elaine Turnbull (Cambridgeshire)
21. Geoff Barnard (early 50's, nr Denholm, Roxburghshire)
22. Gemma Barnard (early 20's, that's me!)
23. Gillian Day (Oxfordshire)
24. Dr Harold Turnbull, wife and son (USA)
25. Henry Pullman (USA)
26. Iain Turnbull (St Louis, MO, USA)
27. Ian Brydon (70+ Berkshire)
28. Ilona Best (Durham)
29. J Robert Turnbull JR
30. John Murray
31. Jonathon Huntington (Brunswick, ME, USA)
32. Keith Turnbull (St Louis, MO, USA)
33. Link (London, also a member of FAPS)
34. Lesley Barnard (later 40's, nr Denholm, Roxburghshire)
35. Lynsey Wheatley (later teens, Gateshead)
36. Marian Bell (Bonchester Bridge, nr Hawick)
37. Marie Turnbull (St Augustine, USA)
38. Mark Lyons (Hawick)
39. Ned & Janis Dairiki (Berkeley, California, USA)
40. Nicola Moyes (early 30's, nr Denholm, Roxburghshire)
41. Nick Turnbull (Ilkley, West Yorkshire)
42. Pete Lowe (HIghlands, also a member of FAPS)
43. Podge the Bouncer (Hawick) 
44. Robert Turnbull (Slidell, LA, USA)
45. Russ the Nut (Durham, also a member of FAPS)
46. Therese Chavaux Turnbull (St Louis, MO, USA)
47. Sarah Guy (later teens, Newcastle)
48. Vicky Tron (later teens, Gateshead)
49. Wally and Betty Turnbull (Durham, NC, USA, http://www.turnbullclan.com/)

Each person listed below has given their name in support of Saving Fatlips Castle, and so has become a Friend of Fatlips:

1. A D Bailey (Leics)
2. Alan Dowler-Smith
3. Alan Govan (early 20's, Glasgow/Roxburghshire)
4. Alan & Samantha Law (Essex, UK)
5. Alex Henrickson (20's, Edinburgh)
6. Alice Adamson (Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire)
7. Alice Morgan (Novia Scotia Turnbulls)
8. Alistair Lascelles (Sandy Ward's Grandchild)
9. Allan Turnbull
10. Allen Marc Levy (HHC 41st BCT)
11. Ally Ramsay (41, 4 Bedrule Cottages, Denholm , Hawick)
12. Andrew Turnbull (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, TCA)
13. Andrew P Turnbull (South Carolina, USA)
14. Andy Garbutt (30's, Newcastle)
15. Angela Taylor (nee Turnbull, Scottish Borders)
16. Anne Rickard (grandchild to JR Turnbull of Willington Quay)
17. Arthur Watson (Mt Vernon, WA, USA)
18. Barbara Buckman Williams (Nacoochee, GA, USA, descendent of Dr Andrew Turnbull)
19. Barb Cullen (Nova Scotia, Canada)
20. Bonnie (Turnbull) Nipar (Turnbull Clan Association)
21. Brian McLeoid (Border Highlander Islander)
22. Brian & Gail Turnbull (Lake Louisa, Quebec, Canada)
23. Calum Murray (early 20's, Hawick)
24. Carlos Rosado (Turnbull Clan, San Antonio, USA)
25. Carlos Rosado (Mexico)
26. Carol Emslie, Thomas Emslie, Esther Marie Emslie, Eileen Davis, Henry Emslie (Sindon, UK)
27. Cathy Barker, Watford, Ontario, Canada
28. Dr Cerlos Rosado (Turnbull Clan)
29. Charles Vincent & Gloria M Turnbull
30. Charles Vincent Turnbull II
31. Chris Turner (20's Newcastle)
32. Christina Lomasney
33. Claude Snow & Sarah Turnbull Snow (USA)
34. Corey Turnbull
35. Cynthia & Hank Parham (Metairie, Louisiana, USA)
36. Dale & Mary Kay Hilding (UK)
37. Darian Trimble (31, USA)
38. David Brooks (East Burwood Australia)
39. David Curtis
40. David Nolan (later teens, Newcastle)
41. David Knox (South Australia)
42. David Reddihough (20's, nr Denholm, Roxburghshire)
43. Dawn Day (Mount Gambier, South Australia)
44. Denise Sult (Harveys Lake, PA, USA)
45. Dennis Taylor (South Shields, Newcastle)
46. Derek Gerrard (Northumberland)
47. Donna M Smith (Denver, CO, USA)
48. Dorothy Turnbull (Alberta, Canada)
49. Douglas Coltman (70's, Peebleshire)
50. Douglas Turnbull
51. Eleanor Mooney (early 20's, Newcastle)
52. Elizabeth Turnbull (USA)
53. Eric Turnbull (Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA)
54. Evelyn Feustel (Nashville, TN, USA)
55. Fiona Turnbull
56. Frances Brune (USA)
57. Fred, Girija & Alex Turnbull (California, USA, TCA)
58. Gary Parker (Norwich, formerly Kelso)
59. Gary Turnbull (Poteet, Texas, USA)
60. Ginny Trimble
61. Gordon Turnbull (Illinois, USA, TCA)
62. Grady & Tyler Turnbull (21 & 19, California, USA)
63. Graham Turnbull (Cobham, Surrey)
64. Helen Jugovic (Greensboro, NC)
65. Iain Thomas Turnbull
66. Ian Andrew Minto
67. Jack Turnbull (80's, Alaska, USA)
68. James Pringle (Newbury, Berks) 
69. James Trumble (Texas, USA) President of Clan Turnbull International
70. Jan Gerrard (Northumberland)
71. Janet Philip, Rod Philip, Jessica Phillip (11), Sandy Philip (8) (all Cornhill, Banffshire)
72. Jef & Kitty Turnbull (50's, California, USA)
73. Jen Veitch (early 20's, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire)
74. Jeremy Turnbull (USA)
75. Jim Olson (USA)
76. Jim Elliot (previously Minto Home Farm)
77. Jim Shanks (nr Denholm, Roxburghshire)
78. Jim Turnbull (Jarvie Alberta, Canada)
79. Joanne Adams (later teens, Newcastle)
80. Joanne Turnbull (Bromley)
81. John A. Ramsay (20's, Newcastle)
82. John Grierson (formerly of Denholm)
83. John Houston (Councillor Denholm and District)
84. John Jarvis (Essex)
85. John Rogerson (50's, Ancrum, Roxburghshire)
86. John Turnbull (Former President Turnbull Clan Association)
87. John Turnbull (New Zealand)
88. Julie Forsyth
89. Julie L Thomson (20's, Edinburgh)
90. Julie K
91. Karen Laidlaw
92. Karen Torrey and her four sons (50's, Turnbull Clan)
93. Kathy Horton
94. Keith Douglas and his 18 month old son (formerly of Denholm, now Morayshire)
95. Keith R (previously Hawick)
96. Keith Rodgerson
97. Kenneth G Ferguson (Castles of Scotland Preservation Trust)
98. Ken Turnbull (Highlands Ranch, CO, USA)
99. Kevin Currie (near Jedburgh)
100. Kim Trimble
101. Leighanna Sult (Pennsylvania, USA)
102. Linda Templeton-Elms (Newcastle)
103. Lindy Reddihough (50's, nr Denholm, Roxburghshire)
104. Liz Ramsay (38, Bedrule, nr Denholm, Hawick)
105. Lloyd Turnbull (South East England)
106. Louise Crossley
107. Lynette Smith (nee Turnbull, Australia)
108. Maimie Coltman (70's, Peebleshire)
109. Marie Elaine Turnbull
110. Marie Turnbull (Australia)
111. Mark Hogarth
112. Mark Nelson (Claremont, California)
113. Mark A Turnbull (Auburn, NH, USA - Turnbull Clan Association)
114. Mark Turnbull (USA)
115. Martin K Rorapaugh
116. Matthew Turnbull
117. Melly Beresford (London)
118. Michael Boyle (Hawick)
119. Natalie Bowman (early 20's, Newcastle)
120. Nick Turnbull
121. Nindy Purba (20's, Newcastle)
122. Norma Turnbull Arron Kirtley
123. Norma Turnbull (Poteet, Texas, USA)
124. Pam Anderson (Hawick)
125. Pat (Hunter) Caris (Hexham)
126. Peter, Cassie & Ben Murdoch
127. P. H. Reddihough (50's, nr Denholm, Roxburghshire)
128. Peter Turnbull (Farnham, Surrey)
129. Rachel Henry (early 20's, Cumbria)
130. Rea Cris (20's, Edinburgh/Athens)
131. Rebecca Smith (early 20's, Edinburgh)
132. Robbie Turnbull (Bromley)
133. Roberto Copa Matos (USA)
134. Ron & Marilyn Jennings (Boise, ID, USA)
135. Ruth Hutton (Hawick)
136. Sally Turnbull Dupuis
137. Sam Cole (TN, USA) http://clanturnbull.com/
138. S-J Dann (East Sussex)
139. Sarah Ramsay (15, 4 Bedrule Cottages, Denholm , Hawick)
140. Scott Turnbull (Kentucky, USA) http://clanturnbull.com/
141. Scottie frae Scocha
142. Sharon Peacock (Sunderland)
143. Simon Joy (early 20's, current location Guildford)
144. Simon Watson (Selkirkshire)
145. Stephen Cassie (Berwickshire)
146. Stephen Tudsbery-Turner (Somerset)
147. Stewart Ramsay (12, 4 Bedrule Cottages, Denholm , Hawick)
148. Sue Turnbull (Northumberland)
149. Tom Turnbull (Bromley)
150. Thomas Turnbull
151. Thomas S Turnbull
152. Thomas W. Fea Family (California, USA)
153. Tina Turnbull (Rochdale, Lancs)
154. Tony Johnson (St Boswells)
155. Tony Turnbull (USA)
156. Treena Turnbull (USA) http://clanturnbull.com/
157. Tom Taylor (early 20's, Roxburghshire) 
158. Valerie Meehan (Jedburgh), her husband,  their five children, two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law and two grandchildren    
159. Veonica Labarthe (Turnbull Clan)
160. Wallace & Eleanor Turnbull (USA)
161. Warren Lang (Australia)
162. William C Trimble
163. William McConnell Bozman (Winchester, VA, USA)                   

News and Updates

SAVE FATLIPS - THE BURNING BEACON
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For all you Social Network Site enthusiasts - please copy and paste the above image onto your page to support and promote the campaign to save the castle!

July 2010 - Entrance door has been resealed in order to protect both the public and the castle.  The roof is facing imminent collapse and the castle is now too unsafe to enter.  Please respect this and do not force entry to the castle.  It will not be shut forever.

Fatlips is on Facebook!  Click here to visit the page.

April 4th 2008 - Fatlips makes it into the Hawick News!! 

March 2008 - Fatlips is on the cover of Border Life Magazine Spring Issue!!  Hopefully this will encourage people's interest and help promote the heritage on our doorstep. 

January 2008 - Fatlips is on Facebook!  Many thanks to the people who have already joined the group and added their comments and photos.

12 July 2007 - Paypal account is now up and running!  I will look into setting up a Paypal link from the site and if possible somehow displaying the account balance online.  If you wish to add your £1 please use gemma@rulewater.com through Paypal. 

10 July 2007 - Looking into registering as a charity and setting up a paypal link to hold donations for the campaign.  Watch this space!

14 June 2007 - Turnbull Clan gathering at Fatlips.  Well done to the 40 or so members of the Turnbull clan who marched up to the tower.  (Image Wally Turnbull 2007)

16th September - A reply has been received.  Needless to say Lord M. is as keen as we are to see Fatlips preserved.

29th July 2006 - The letter has been posted.

24th July 2006 - Good News!

• The Castles of Scotland Preservation Trust (COSPT) have agreed to be involved in supervising the renovation when/if the project is given the go ahead. This is fantastic news, they have renovated similar towers in the past and have a great deal of expertise in this area.  They have said they will support "renovation for holiday accommodation or other sustainable use".  It is ultimately up to Lord M. what Fatlips is used as, but I would like to think that all the people who have written to me hoping Fatlips will stay in community use shows that Fatlips would benefit from being a multi-use space (for a description of ideas of use, see The Burning Beacon's aims, on the 'Issues with Fatlips' page)
• The BBC Action Network conducted an interview with me in relation to the upcoming BBC Restoration Village TV series, and they are putting an article up to promote Fatlips on their site.  Thankyou BBC!
• The letter to Lord M is in draft format, almost complete.  Fingers crossed everyone!

12 July 2006 - My thanks go to Julie Thomson who suggested I take guided tours and sponsored walks up to the castle and any money raised goes towards the cause.  I am always willing to take people up to the castle and yabber away to them about how great it is, if my diary slots match theirs - just drop me a line!  This opportunity is currently available free of charge as I will need to wait till the landlord gives the go ahead to start raising money through it, but that would be a brilliant way to raise funds.

May 2006 - One idea to raise money for the Fatlips Fund is to get two million people to give the (not-yet-established) charity £1.  Thats the equivalent of two mars bars (or one and a half cereal bars, all ye healthy people), and it can't even buy you a coffee nowadays.  The Burning Beacon has already accidentally raised £21 by merely suggesting the idea, and this is currently in holding till the right time comes (I put more than £1 in).   I am not asking anyone for money yet, nor do you have to give money to become a Friend of Fatlips.  If for some horrendous reason The Burning Beacon is unsuccessful in its campaign and receives a "NO" from Lord M, then any money raised will be donated to the Castles of Scotland Preservation Trust, who renovate castles in a similar predicament to Fatlips. 

Comments from Friends of Fatlips

Jim Elliot - When I was a youngster in the fiftes  the Castle was a private museum, the contents were souvenirs from Canada and India brought back previous Lord Mintos.  There is a story about a man who stayed at the Castle he did not cut his hair finger or toe nails for a year."

Gill Day - "It was in 2005 that I scrambled up the crag to Fatlips castle and I think it is a shame it has fallen into such a state of dis-repair. It does look as if it's standing watch on the surrounding area just waiting for someone to come and stop the decay and rot.  I for one would love to see it restored as I have recently embarked upon tracing my 'roots' and being a decendant of a Turnbull."

Carol Emslie - "My family and I lived in Denholm in the Old Police Station from 1974 to 1978.  I taught the Infants at the school there under Mr. Evans.  Does any of that ring a bell?  I used to take the children up to Fatlips Castle often, either for a picnic or just for the fun of going up there.  We all have a deep and abiding love for the place.  I always thought of it as Rapunzel's castle!  Two years ago I had the wonderful opportunity to take my 12 year old grandson there and share it with yet another generation of my family." 

Tony Turnbull - "I have t-shirts I wear to school with the tower on it.  I am a school teacher for the 7th and 8th Grade students in the US.  My kids know all about Fatlips."

Marie Turnbull "The Turnbulls from Australia absolutely support anything you wish to pursue to save Fatlips Castle ... Considering the huge influence our family had in the past in the Borders,  NO Turnbull building has been saved yet to commemorate that influence, so I think I'd be putting the 'hard word' on some of these groups for help.  So do what-ever you need to do even if we need to take up some sort of a collection to help."

Donna M Smith "I am a descendant of the Turnbulls.  I would like to see Fatlips Castle saved and restored.  It may  not be Buckingham, but it represents us and I should hate to see it be torn down or just fall down.  It is our history.  Please help save our castle."

David Knox - a former Geordie who now lives in South Australia fell in love with Fatlips in 1996 and would love to see it saved.

Keith Douglas, formerly of Denholm, wishes his 18 month old son to be a Friend of Fatlips as he spent many days in his own childhood exploring the castle and the hill, and would like it to still be there when his son is old enough to do the same.

James Pringle supports the restoration.  He is interested in castles though learning about his ancestors from the Scottish Borders. They built Smailholm Tower in the 15th Century, bought Greenwood Tower from the Seton familyin the 17th Century and were Constables of Cessford Castle in 1457.  The Pringles are currently trying to raise money to stabilise Torwoodlee Tower, near Galashiels, Good Luck Guys!!

Jim Shanks has lived in the area for 50 years and he says it breaks his heart to watch Fatlips' steady decline.  Jim has dedicated a Standhill Cheese to commemorate the Tower.

Pat (Hunter) Caris - "I was born and brought up in the Borders and attended Hawick High School in the 1960's.  I was one of the group who travelled (with Madge Elliott from Hawick) on the Waverley Line's final train to deliver a petition to Downing Street in an effort to save the line from closure as a result of the Beeching Report.  I have watched the deterioration/demolition of many fine buildings throughout the area such as the Victorian railway stations including the one in my own village of Newtown St Boswells - it never ceases to give me pain as I look upon the local supermarket and car park which stands on the site. The lovely conversion of the building now known as The Hub in Hawick lifts the spirits but the demise of the mill buildings and new pastiche replacements cause the spirits to shudder.  I wonder what will happen to the lovely old Cottage Hospital buildings! "

Scott Turnbull - Fatlips is my ancestral home.  We at Clan Turnbull International would love to see it saved.  We have been trying to do something but didn't know where to start.

Simon Joy: "One point I would like to make concerns the idea of finding 2 million people to donate £1. I don't know if you are aware of the control arms, million faces campaign (the link is at the bottom). It is a campaign for tighter regulations for the worlds arms trade and involves people sending in photos or drawings of themselves. It is an international campaign with the aim of collecting 1 million faces, but the targret for the UK is I think 150,00. The campaign has had a fair amount of publicity and still hasn't reached its target, which just makes me think that finding 2 million people to give money (no matter how small the amount) to save a small castle may be a little unrealistic. (sorry to sound so negative)
Maybe a better way of fundraising would be through good old fashioned sponsored events. You also might be able get more people to sign a petition than donate, which could put pressure on the owner to take action. These were just some ideas but I thought they might be helpful.
Keep up the good work, Simon.   http://www.controlarms.org/   "

In response to this, I don't want to progress any ideas with regards to fundraising too far as yet, until I have written to, and received a reply from Lord M. or M. Estates, as I do not wish to upset them in any way.  But the petition is online and steadily growing, and making people aware of Fatlips' plight (and others like it).

Tina Turnbull - "I am a Turnbull and recently found Fatlips by accident on the internet. I went this weekend just gone and I spent all day there. It is truly a beautiful place and now I have found it I would like it to be there forever more for future visits."

Valerie Meehan - "I have often driven past the castle on the hill and though how lovely it could be if only someone would restore it. It has such a stunning setting - I would love to live there!  " 

This petition was started in May 2006.