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Title: SCOTTISH NEWS MAGAZINE, FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR. R. B. CUNNINGHAM GRAHAME

Reference number: 5936

Date: 1936

Sound: sound

Original format: 35mm

Colour: bw

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 2.20 mins

Description: The funeral of Robert Bontine Cunningham Grahame (nickname “Don Roberto") held at the Lake of Mentieth. Those in attendance include Christopher Murray Grieve (Hugh MacDiarmid), the Duke of Montrose and other prominent nationalists and politicians of the day (known then as the National Party of Scotland).

Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham is buried in Inchmahome, an island on the Lake of Menteith. He was often known as 'Don Roberto'. He was appreciated by figures ranging from Hugh MacDiarmid, George Bernard Shaw, Joseph Conrad, GK Chesterton and Engels. Partly Spanish by ancestry, he claimed descent on his father's side from the Scottish monarchy. Most of his childhood was spent in a grand mansion in Gartmore. At 18 he set off for Uruguay, where he worked as a cowboy. Back in Britain, he championed the working class of the industrial cities, and was elected for North Lanark on a Liberal ticket but with a socialist programme. Later. he became first president of the Scottish Labour Party, with Keir Hardie as secretary. The woman he married was as extravagant as himself. On her marriage certificate she signed herself Gabriela de la Belmondiere, and claimed to be a Chilean of French aristocratic descent. Only long after her death did the family reveal that Gabriela was actually plain Caroline Horsefall from Yorkshire! Graham took up writing in his 40s. He uses Lallans in many of his Scottish tales. His last cause was Scottish Nationalism. He helped found the National Party of Scotland, one of the consituent elements of the SNP. [excerpt from unidentified press cutting]

Shotlist: title credit (0.13) the coffin of Mr. Robert Bontine Cunningham Grahame (nicknamed 'Don Roberto') is carried down church steps, draped in Saltire flag, accompanied by people in solemn procession (0.36) shot taken from front, as piper leads procession from the church (line of black cars can be seen to left of shot); gvs people walking slowly past camera - these include Captain Angus Cunningham Grahame, Lady Brook, Mr Robert McLeod, Mr John McCormick (possibly also Christopher Murray Grieve, also known as the poet Hugh MacDiarmid) (1.08) slow tracking shot of coffin and crowd making their way along jetty where a short ceremony is performed by Mr William Power, President of the Scottish PEM (1.14) the coffin moves away in small boat across Lake of Mentieth (1.36) funeral party at Augustine Monastery (1.54) c/u Duke of Montrose [slightly oof] (2.00) gvs ruins and funeral party standing around; final shot shows scene framed in archway (2.07) END (2.15)