Traquair Kirk

A wet and gloomy day - but this 18th century church is just along the road.  

There has been a church on the site since the 12th century.  The scions of wealthy landowners lie in the graveyard.   

Just at my feet in this photo is the grave of Charles Tennant - a tragic figure who died from Hepatitis C at the age of 39 - a result of his earlier heroin addiction.  He was born and brought up at Glen House nearby, and was at one time heir to the title Baron Glenconner.   In 1978 he famously stole and sold private pictures of Princess Margaret, who was a family friend and regular visitor to their house in Mustique.    For this his father publicly disinherited him.     His older brother died of AIDS.   His younger brother badly disabled from an early motorcycle accident.     Charlie died in 1996.     What tragedies!  Interestingly his grave lies far from the family plot.

However, after his brother's death, Charlie broke his addiction and then campaigned tirelessly for understanding for sufferers from the evils of heroin.   It could be said that he won through - but too late to save his life.