Struan Stevenson, Conservative MEP for Scotland 1999-2014, delivered this speech at the 'Friends of the Maclaurin Bistro Supper' at Rozelle House, Alloway, Ayr on Wednesday 3 December 2014. The speech was transcribed into a blog post on the Scottish Conservatives website.

Stevenson describes his long-standing passion for art, having been appointed Director of the Richard Demarco Gallery in Edinburgh in 1986. He goes on to tell the story of how Ayr purchased Moore's Draped Reclining Figure, 1976-79 (LH 705, cast 2) for the Rozelle Gallery. Accompanied by his wife, Stevenson describes his visit to Hoglands on 1st November 1979 to view LH 705 in Moore's studios. Gives an insightful account into what it was like to be a guest in Hoglands, describing having coffee with Moore and Irina, before setting off for a tour of the grounds and studios.

Stevenson accounts for Moore's broken leg, leading him to give the tour from his car while Stevenson and his wife walked the grounds. He makes particular mention of the elephant skull and how it had been a gift from Julian Huxley. He also notes a meeting with Alan Bowness, who had come to Hoglands to see the newly completed Three Bathers - After Cézanne, 1978 (LH 741).