The only one I ‘knew’ the answer to was number 3, as I know the Stephenson was an Englishman and the other two Scots, but only cos I like old engineering stuffs and that. 😳
The others, I can honestly say, are about subjects which fall outside of my personal sphere of inertest. Scottish history has never bin of much significance to me, as a Londoner, because my cultural experiences and references come from anywhere but Scotland really. That’s not to say Scotland isn’t ‘important’, but tbh stuff like Spanish, Asian, West Indian and African cultures have more visible influence on life down here. I am aware that the work of figures such as Alexander Graham Bell, John Logie Baird and Alexander Fleming have made an incredible impact on the lives of people here and globally, as has the work of the great Kenny Dalglish, but it’s rare that such great figures are recognised as Scots, more often ‘British’.
I think Scotland should be recognised in terms of the incredibly disproportionate amount of great people, ideas, inventions and movements, far more than it currently. is. As an Englishman, I should not be so ignorant of the significance of a country which is in Union with my own, and one I’ve never even visited. Indeed, many of my friends have never visited Scotland, yet have been to all corners of the Earth.
Scotland does need to work on a few things though, such as parochial and sectarian attitudes and that, cos that puts people off visiting, tbh. I’ve known a fair few people who’ve visited and bin abused by Scottish people, and even Scottish friends of mine have spoken about the animosity towards the English. Granted this is the behaviour of a minority, but it’s quite off-putting.
And I feel Scotland needs to work on it’s image a bit more; the tartan and bagpipes, whilst obviously part of Scotland’s culture and that, are a bit outdated and twee now really. I mean, if I think of Scottish music for example, I can’t get much past Wet Wet Wet, The Proclaimers and Sheena Easton. That’s not good, is it? 😐
Oh and sort out your flipping weather. It’s crap.