Golf Society and Slavery – A talk by author Richard Blake

‘GOLF, SOCIETY AND SLAVERY’

A TALK BY AUTHOR RICHARD BLAKE

AT ROYAL SCOTS CLUB COFFEE MORNING, SATURDAY 18 MAY 2024 at 10:30am

Illustrated talk about a controversial Scottish Society family and their historic golfing links by Richard Blake, author of Sugar, Slaves and High Society: The Grants of Kilgraston, on 18th May 2024, at The Royal Scots Club, starting at 10:30am.

Blake’s book follows three generations of an upwardly mobile Scottish family and describes how fortunes were made, wealth squandered, lives lost at home and abroad, and two brothers made knights of the realm.

More than an account of a Scottish Society family, this is an exploration of opportunism, fortune, hypocrisy and tragedy, all viewed against the backdrop of the slavery in Jamaica that generated the wealth.

Blake’s talk at The Royal Scots Club will be about three Grant brothers and their shared passion for Golf.

Captains of three Royal Golf Clubs and winners of medals at St Andrews, Blackheath, Perth and North Berwick, John is pictured in the centre of arguably the most famous painting about early golf, a famous portrait by Sir Francis, the only Scottish President of the Royal Academy hangs in the Big Room of the R & A and a golf hole is named after General Sir Hope. The brothers had strong connections with the famous East Lothian golf courses: Muirfield, Archerfield, Gullane Links and North Berwick.

The literary coffee morning with author Richard Blake will be held on Saturday 18th May 2024 at The Royal Scots Club, 29-31 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6QE starting at 10:30am.

The event is free and is open to all, members and non-members alike, with numbers limited by venue capacity only.

Reservations should be made by via Eventbrite or by emailing The Royal Scots Club on events@royalscotsclub.com

Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase from the author on the day.