President’s Notes on a Clan Year  May- Sept 2010

In May Joan and I drove to Worthing, for the get-together at the Beach Hotel, which included a committee meeting followed by lunch, both organised by the indomitable Val. The highlight of the committee meeting was the arrangement by Val of the printing of ‘the Lion’s Face’ in booklet form, at a very good price, which it was agreed should eventually be sent to all members. Other matters discussed included the web-site, and arrangements for the gathering at Ballater in August.

Lunch was a very welcoming and friendly affair. Past president Andrew very kindly provided us with splendid overnight hospitality and a fine view of the Isle of Wight from the highpoint of his farm.

On the 7th. August, Joan and I co-hosted a tent, at the Aboyne Games, with David and Carolyn Irvine of Drum. David is the 26th chief of that ilk. We had a very good attendance including several clan members, notably Sir Angus and Lady Alison Farquharson, my cousin Maureen and partner Brian from Auld Earn, and all the way from Aix en Provence the charming Marie-Clotilde Escalle.  Especially gratifying was the presence of our son Jim and his family.
Although only 5 years old, William Farquharson a grandson of Angus and Alison distinguished himself by winning a race! Not only that, but he repeated his success some 3 weeks later in Strathdon, at the Lonach games!!

On  the following Wednesday, the car was loaded with tent and poles tables and chairs, display boards, banner and pole, boxes of wine and soft drinks, kilts and clothes etc, Clan books and documents. Not without some difficulty we managed to squeeze in too! With groaning springs we set off for Ballater, and arrived at a damp field, to find plenty of willing helpers to pitch the tent. Afterwards we had planned to eat at the Station Café, but found it closed at 6pm! Undaunted we repaired to the Glen Aden Hotel, where we spent an enjoyable evening.

Next day dawned dull and damp at times. To our relief the tent was still standing, Franco our chef had arrived and the tables and chairs hired from Turriff Marquees were located in the secretary’s tent! Joan was then very busy setting out and laying the tables before others arrived, needless to say she did a grand job!

About mid-day the rest of the Clan started to arrive, they included Sharon Farley and Roxanna Vuskalns from the USA, Stewart and Betty; Gordon and Maureen; Gordon and Jane, Ian and Jane and Ian’s brother Paul, Val and John; Margaret Finlay; Alan Caig, Andrew and Emma; Michael and Jane Hill and Ansgar and Christine from Germany Later we were joined by Andy and Linda Forbes-Hill, very good friends of Joan and myself, and together we enjoyed a splendid lunch, freshly prepared by Franco. After lunch the rain clouds dispersed and the sun graced us with its presence for the rest of the day.

At 14.45 hours, preceded by the Ballater and District Pipe Band the Chief was escorted into the ground to take his seat as patron of the Games in the grandstand. The Chief was accompanied of course by Madam Farquharson, and later in the day they visited the Clan tent .Other visitors came from all over – Australia, the USA, Latvia, France and Belgium, such is the power of this small Deeside valley and the pull of  history., ‘ yet still the blood is strong the heart is Highland’.

The Chief and Madam Farquharson were escorted to their car by the Clan preceded by Stewart carrying the banner, and followed by the band, which included Ansgar!

The tent was dismantled and packed away until next year, following which most of the party retreated to the ‘Glen Aden, where to more music from the pipes and drums (including Ansgar) a fine occasion drew to a pleasant end.

To the hills.
It is hard to find words to do justice to as memorable day as Friday the 13th.  The party met at the Invercauld Estate offices at Keiloch, where we were welcomed by the estate factor Simon Blackett, who introduced the archivist, Sheila Sedgewick who fascinated all by some of the results of her work at Invercauld. Amongst other items was a document dating from the 15th century and a piece of linen tartan said to have been worn at Culloden in 1746. This was followed by an equally absorbing talk by Simon relating the complexities of managing such a huge and disparate estate as Invercauld.

Then we set off in a caravan of Land-Rovers and at first the ground rose through the wooded glen of the Slugan burn. Beyond a deer fence the heather and grasses were noticeably less luxuriant and when the watershed (750m) overlooking the river Gairn was reached the vegetation was stunted. Before us was the vast bulk of Ben Avon (pron. Aan), but the cloud base was low obscuring the summit, At this point Neil Bain, very much a local guide, told tales of mystery – who was the man whose headless corpse was found in the upper reaches of the Gairn? The site of an ancient distillery was pointed out- it was illegal of course, but so remote it ran little risk of being detected!

Following the Gairn, we descended close to Loch Builg, where according to the Chief, arctic char are to be found. Red grouse were often seen and a few red deer were reported. En route we came up with three men working at the side of the track, whereupon the Chief said ‘stop the car’ and opened the window and the look of sheer delight on the face of Jim Davidson the head ‘keeper on recognising his old laird, made one’s heart leap to see. Eventually the Gairn was crossed and Cairndavon Lodge and the portaloo were reached.  Sadly only one room of the Lodge remained, but it contained a treasure in the form of a beautiful mural painted by Philip Erskine in1967 an officer of the Royal Guard when the Queen mother rented the property. And then again in 1998 when the original had been vandalised the artist returned from South Africa to repeat his master piece After admiring the art, we were fascinated by more accounts by Neil Bain – as a boy he had lived at the Lodge- where his mother had been cook/housekeeper and in the summer it took 20 minutes to cycle the seven miles to school, but over an hour to return home. In the winter he lived in Braemar! We were then treated to a first class picnic, prepared by Simon Blackett and his family, in particular Annabel, she of the mouth-watering chocolate brownies, Simon’s daughter, who was with the party.

The caravan set off following the Gairn, with fine views of Lochnagar, the skies having cleared. Behind us on a trailer was the precious portaloo! The terminus was Keiloch. It was a wonderful and unforgettable experience.

Saturday 14th August. The AGM was held in the back room of the Glen Aden hotel. Tea or coffee and biscuits were available The Chief opened the meeting, welcoming all and congratulating Sir Angus on being granted a knighthood and drawing attention to the winning exploits of Tom Farquharson at Wimbledon. There was a good deal of discussion on the continuing need to recruit new members and to make our activities more attractive to the young, although the membership over the past 12 months had increased a little.

The meeting was pleased to hear from Treasurer Gordon that our finances were in a healthy state –I thought he would make a better chancellor of the exchequer than the present incumbent!!

Andrew had made great progress in bringing the website up to date, with the help of Morag, who had originally designed the site.

As president, the time was pressing, I passed up the privilege of addressing the meeting, but I wish now to record my thanks to all the officers and committee and all others who  had helped to make a most successful year of 2010, and  also to make special mention of my wife Joan, without whose support, energy and encouragement, I would have been at a loss.

I am pleased to relate that all the officers and committee were noble enough to volunteer for re-election and were appointed en bloc.

At the committee meeting that followed the most interesting item for discussion, concerned a pipe banner bearing the arms of Invercauld, which was to be sold by auction at Edinburgh the following week. The banner was estimated to be over 100years old. There was unanimous approval that we should bid for the relic up to the sum of £600, but an individual who wished to remain anonymous, volunteered to provide a further £400, if required.

The committee, like the AGM were very appreciative of the efforts of Simon Blackett, who with help from estate workers and family, had made our trip into the hills, so hugely enjoyable. Gordon, who had organised the event from the Clan’s side, also deserved many congratulations.

The Clan dinner was held that evening in the Albert hall, which unfortunately had not been thoroughly cleaned since the Ceilidh the previous evening. Despite this a good time was had by all, the Chief and  his party were piped in by Martin Johnson. Angela and her team from the Glen Aden again worked a miracle with the catering considering the facilities, or lack of them in the hall!

I thanked Andrew the farmer for organising the event, and many others, but forgot to mention Joan, for which omission I have been sentenced to 1000 lashes  and to be deported back to England – ah well I live in hope of a reprieve!!

Sunday the 15th. was blessed with the most beautiful weather. A few of us gathered at the Cairn na Cuihne at 1430, the remainder of the Clan party having to catch ‘planes, trains or drive many miles. In addition the piper failed to appear and there was no Desmond Quaite to minister to the spiritual side.

However the Chief said a few words, and read the following quite emotive prayer:-

May the Lord support us all the day long,

Till the shades lengthen, and the evening comes, 

And the busy world is hushed

And the fever of life is over

And our work is done.

Then in His mercy

May he give us a safe lodging

And a Holy rest

And peace at the last, Amen
 

Prior to our meeting  Sir Angus accompanied by Alan Caig had laid a stone, from Tillygarmond, on the Cairn, in memory of his friend, fellow clansman and predecessor as Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, Colin Farquharson of Whitehouse.

Everyone there thought this not only a most fitting tribute to a distinguished clansman, but it also created a continuing use for an ancient monument, not called the cairn of remembrance for nothing.

Saturday 4th. September saw Joan and I at the Royal Braemar Gathering, having met Alan Caig at Ballater on the way. We were blessed by fine, warm weather  and also by an early visit from the Chief and Madam Farquharson, who greatly admired the pipe banner, collected by Alan from Edinburgh and carried by him to Braemar.(purchase cost £265).  Later the same day the banner was inspected by Gordon Casely, a piper in the Lonach band, but also an expert in Scottish heraldry. The relic was identified  as being a marital banner of James Farquharson (b1808) and his spouse, Janet Hamilton Dundas. James was the 12th. Laird of Invercauld , the banner was not their only shared interest,  they had nine sons and four daughters!! The plans for the banner are that it should be renovated and preserved as far as possible and formally presented to the custodians of Braemar Castle, as part of our 10th anniversary programme at Ballater, in 2011.

Once again there were many visitors from overseas who visited our display.
The Chief let it be known that next week he was driving Pat and himself to the South of France from Norfolk not a bad effort from a man in his 92cd. Year! When asked, Pat said she did drive ‘but Alwyne doesn’t like me to!’  ‘I keep look out!’

Her Majesty left just before the Gathering finished and she waved to me …..I think.

Looking forward to seeing you all again in 2011, the 10th Anniversary of Clan Farquharson UK.