The author wishes to acknowledge with particular gratitude the help given by Mrs N. Lamond, widow of John Brown’s great-nephew, Hugh W. Lamond, and Mrs Ann Lamond-Webb, great-great niece of John Brown, for assisting with queries about the Brown family of Crathienaird, their extant papers and artefacts. And to Mrs Edith Paterson for family reminiscences regarding John Brown’s employment at Balmoral. Important comment on John Brown’s birthplace at Crathienaird was supplied by Dr Alistair Thomson. Each has provided original material on John Brown that does not appear in any other source.
A special thank you further goes to the following for supplying answers to queries, advice on sources and providing relevant materials which have helped greatly in the formulation of this book’s research: Michael Hunter, Curator, Osborne House; Peter J. Ord, Resident Factor, Balmoral; Dr Elizabeth James, The British Library; Peter Johnston, Berkshire Local History Association; Margo Strachan, Media Resources Manager, Aberdeenshire Council; Catherine Taylor, Central Library, Aberdeen City Council; Martin Simpson, Managing Director, The Deeside Water Co. Ltd; The Countess of Longford; Neil Irvine, Windsor Library; Pamela Clark, the Royal Archives, Windsor Castle; Susan Bellamy, National Library of Scotland; Revd R Taylor, Torphins, Aberdeenshire; and Jane Anderson, Blair Castle. Important field work has been undertaken by Mrs Barbara Swiatek, Berkshire Family History Society, and Margeorie Mekie.
Especial appreciation goes to my wife Dr Moira Lamont-Brown, for her companionship, support and encouragement on many research trips in pursuit of John Brown.
Each quotation is identified as to source as it occurs in the text, and copyright heirs and successors are recognised where known. Due acknowledgement is given to Tom Cullen who undertook research on John Brown in the 1960s and published his findings in his book The Empress Brown which extended and corrected work done in the 1930s by Evelyn Tisdall who wrote Queen Victoria’s John Brown. Individual acknowledgements are also due to Michaela, Lady Reid, for the short line quotes from her Ask Sir James, and to Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede for permission to quote from the Ponsonby Papers.
Each photograph is identified as to copyright ownership, and permission to reproduce the images is gratefully extended to all thus identified. Help in researching the images has been gratefully received from Bernard Horrocks, the National Portrait Gallery, Mrs Ann Lamond-Webb and Christine Rew of Aberdeen Art Gallery.