Harry Lauder's Walking Stick: The Story Behind the Contorted Filbert

Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is the folk name of contorted filbert, Corylus avellana L. 'Contorta'.

Notes contributed by B. J. Thomas, found on E-bay:

Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950)

Sir Harry Lauder, popular singer and entertainer, won international renown, born at Number 4 Bridge Street, Portobello, Edinburgh.

As boy, worked in flax-spinning mill in Arbroath, attended school, was a miner. First appeared on stage in Arbroath. Natural singing voice, talent for composing simple, tuneful songs.

Stage persona depended on kilt, curly walking-stick, talk of bawbees and allusions to tight-fistedness. Critics complained he caricatured the Scot.

Robust patriot, raised huge sums for war charities during Great War (1914-1918), entertained troops in trenches in France under enemy fire. Knighted January 1919 by King George V. Entertained troops, broadcast with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra during WWII despite advanced years. At docks when American food ships came to Glasgow, publicly thanked crews for assisting Britain's hour of need.

Popular in Scotland, England, and overseas. Wearing kilt, carrying crooked knobby stick, never demanded huge sums but gratefully accepted, became highest paid entertainer of his time.

Songs like "Roaming in the Gloaming" and "Keep Right On to the End of the Road" retain magic, part of Scotland's folk music.

Knighted 1919, 1927 Freedom of Edinburgh award. Sir Harry Lauder died at Lauder Ha' on 26th February 1950.