President’s Welcome

I was born in Aberdeen in a snowstorm on 16 05 1935.I attended two secondary schools in England, my schooldays finishing with two years at Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen. I then  entered Aberdeen University and studied medicine graduating in1959. Apart from a highly educational spell as a family doctor, my working life was spent in hospital medicine, including developing a geriatric unit, developing a stroke unit, and finally filling the post of medical director of a mental health trust. I was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London in1985.

Along the way I developed a keen interest in rugby football, rock climbing -in my youth - mainly in Scotland, although I did go trekking in the unforgettable Himalayas when i was a mere stripling of 64! In addition I became very involved in offshore sailing (Fastnet race etc).

When I was at school and in my early years of medical studies my grandfather was president of the then Clan Farquharson society, and I used to accompany him to a few functions, he was very knowledgeable about Clan and Scottish history, much of which has stayed with me since those far off days.

But it was not until we retired to Scotland, and came across the Clan tent at the Ballater games in 2004 that a link with Clan Farquharson UK was made. This link was largely due to our Hon. Sec. Val., who recognizing the kilt, said 'but you must join,' Join what? said I ,' Why Clan Farquharson of course' said Val., 'but I have been a member all my life!' was my riposte, but we signed up, of course.

It was only on reading Geoffrey Farquharson's seminal 'History' that the final link in my genealogy was revealed. It seems I am descended from Finlay, the youngest son of Finlay Mor, through the Allargue family via old John Farquharson a tenant farmer in Glenbuchat, who was my great, great grandfather.

It was therefore with no small degree of pride that I accepted the honour of becoming president in august 2009. I am most grateful for the support of the officers and the committee, and especially the unfailing help of my wife Joan.

This seems a very long letter, but like M. Pascal, I did not have the time to write a short one!