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Despite his lengthy exile in England, Sir Stewart has obviously not forgotten Aberdonians' reputation for canniness with money. He regaled the quincentenary audience with the one about the newly bereaved widow enquiring about the cost of a death notice in the paper. The cheapest rate was Pounds 1.50, and she therefore opted for the stark message "Sandy's deid". On being told that Pounds 1.50 entitled her to five words, she amended this to: "Sandy's deid. Lada for sale".