>Ok, I hear Elgin pronounced with a hard g in the BBC programs that are received here ... Prior to the proliferation of BBC programs received I had always heard it pronounced EL-jin

Yes, Elgin has the same "g" here as Elgar, keep the other "g" for the gin that goes so well with the music (Motz-art, for preference). If the gin gives you a cough then try a Van Gogh (it rhymes). There's no such unanimity on where you put your car on a starry night - a gar-a-szh or a gar-idg. Funny things g's!