From Scotland.org

Scotland is covered in castles. Wherever you are, you're never far away from a striking ruin or charming castle which will amaze and excite you with its tales of past lives and loves. Over 1,200 stand today in a variety of forms, from mysterious ruins to city landmarks, family homes to museums. There are even some that allow you to stay in them, renovated into hotels and inns!

For centuries the inhabitants of Scotland have built fortifications and strongholds of one kind or another. It wasn't long before magnificent castles sprung up. It seems that anyone who could afford protection for their families and forces made sure that they had it. It has been estimated that there were once about 3,000 castles in Scotland and plenty of evidence remains to suggest this is true. They differ in size, condition and purpose, yet they all have become an important part of Scotland's history and lifeblood.

Alexander Fleming was born in Ayrshire on August 6, 1881, the son of a farmer. He moved to London at the age of 13 and later trained as a doctor. He graduated with distinction in 1906 and began research at St Mary's Hospital Medical School at the University of London under Sir Almroth Wright, a pioneer in vaccine therapy. In 1915, Fleming married Sarah Marion McElroy of Killala, Ireland (who died in 1949). When World War One broke out, he served as a captain in the Army Medical Corps, returning to St. Mary's in 1918.

In 1928, while studying influenza, Fleming noticed that mold had developed accidentally on a set of culture dishes being used to grow the staphylococci germ. The mold had created a bacteria-free circle around itself. Fleming experimented further and named the active substance penicillin. It was two other scientists however, Australian Howard Florey and Ernst Chain, who developed penicillin further so that it could be produced as a drug. At first supplies of penicillin were very limited, but by the 1940s it was being mass-produced by the American drugs industry.

Dr. Fleming spent years teaching, while also writing numerous papers on bacteriology, immunology and chemotherapy. He was elected fellow of the Royal Society in 1943 and knighted in 1944. In 1945 Fleming, Florey and Chain shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Fleming married again in 1953, to Dr. Amalia Koutsouri-Voureka, a colleague at St. Mary's.

Sir Fleming died on March 11, 1955 at his home in London of a heart attack. He is buried in St. Paul's Cathedral.

Business Casual or Highland Dress Encouraged. Enjoy performances by the Pipes, Drums and Color Guard of "D" Company - Buffalo City Guard Gordon Highlanders. Evening includes beer, wine & pop; well mixed drinks $1.00. You can also enjoy a basket raffle and 50/50 split.

Major Bruce A Henderson | (716) 823-1581
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