Although to be found today throughout the length and breadth of Scotland, Lanarkshire and the Borders were the original stamping grounds of bearers of the Aitken name. It was in the Borders that they forged a close kinship with the distinguished Clan Gordon, who were later to also hold sway in the northeast of the country. They have achieved fame and distinction at both home and abroad through a rich variety of endeavours and pursuits. William Maxwell Aitken was the highly colourful and influential Canadian-British newspaper publisher better known as Sir Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, while Jacqueline Aitken is the best-selling British children’s author, published under her married name of Jacqueline Wilson, and best known for her Tracy Beaker character and television adaptations of the tales in which she features. The stirring tale of the Aitkens of both yesteryear and today is recounted here.
