Art Historian Bryan Ferry lends his support.

A regular performer at the Duke's annual children's garden parties, art historian and minstrel Bryan Ferry is proud to have been associated with FACODA for a number of years. Only too happy to lend his support, he donated this personalised picture in 2005 to be presented to the Duke at the surprise "This is your life" event which was held near Inverary Castle itself.

A rare excerpt from "Raj Ahoy!", Duke of Argyll, 1907. Page 257.

... me approaching from the elephant enclosure. It was a rare opportunity to witness our natives and their natives interacting at an indentured level. "Where the devil have you stowed it! By God, you will feel my wrath", whispered Mr Humphreys at the startled Hindustan. "I will thrash your eyes!" I perceived that there was some unpleasantness, and I was pleased to have my Blunderbuss with me as well as Darwin. Were this business to escalate, a baring of his teeth and a threat to let him of the leash might be enough to quell the threat. Humphreys was continuing to berate the unfortunate fellow, but for what reason I knew not. "There is a quart pot missing, treacherous fiend, and I will have it back!" So! Theft was afoot. And where Theft leads, is Murder apt to follow. I gave Darwin a jab to check he was awake.

The Hindustan was hopping from foot to foot and gesticulating towards the elephant enclosure where I presently lay undiscovered. What was he trying to say? I caught Humphreys' next words and my blood froze. "If the Duke were to hear of you taking his Lisbon Wine, he would skin you alive, scurvy dog!" Oh dear, I thought, they've woken up to the dropping of the Port stocks, but fingered the wrong fellow. Does the Hindustan know I am but a few feet away? Does he know, is that why he is pointing and squeaking thus? I knew that I had to intervene, but fearing mutiny, I dared not let the men suspect me of drinking their Lisbon Wine.

I resolved to action, and letting my blunderbuss make my entrance I aimed above the pair of them and pulled the trigger. "Ho!" I called, "What is this talk of Lisbon Wine?" Darwin ambled at my side as I revealed myself from the elephant enclosure. (I should note that the elephants were no more startled by my eruption than they would have been by my smoking a pipe. Calm under fire, that's what I look for in a hunting steed.) Humphreys looked rare pleased to see me arrive and started to speak. "Stay your tongue!", I commanded. The Hindustan started to jabber and chirrup in my general direction. Thinking on my feet I ...

The Duke rewards Excellence

The Duke was in belligerent mood following this snub from petrol company Shell in 2005 / 2006. His efforts to reward excellence on the forecourt were ignored by Shell executives, leading the Duke to forego his motorised carriage for some weeks in protest.

At the time he had to be physically restrained and force-fed laudanum in order to prevent him from riding south to challenge Turner, Grimsell and Rasmussen to pistols.

The Duchess

By way of introducing you to some of his entourage, the Duke has released this recent image of his muse, his inspiration, his rock. Su Pollard, aka The Duchess.

Greetings from Inverary

As President of the Friends And Comrades of the Duke of Argyll, I would like to welcome you to the new FACODA web page. Now that you are directly linked to Inverary Castle you shall all have the opportunity to keep abreast of the Duke's progress, and to support him in his various endeavours.

The Duke has hitherto chosen to keep much of his good work unknown to all but a select, happy few. With the end drawing ever nearer however, he has decided that some of his papers must now become available to his noble followers at large. What papers do I speak of? You may well ask. I will be producing some of his finest works from yesteryear as well as presenting the Duke's ever growing body of work. All of which should add up to being a great contribution to the sum total of mankind's knowledge.