President’s APPEAL for the restoration of a Piper’s Banner.

Great News! Clan Farquharson UK celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year, an occasion for us all to enjoy.

Part of the celebration will include the presentation by the Chief of a unique antique pipe banner to the custodians of Braemar Castle. We intend it be on permanent loan and on display. The presentation will be part of our Ballater week activities during our Gathering in August 2011.

The artefact is known as a ‘marital banner’ and displays a combination of the Invercauld Arms of James 12th of Invercauld and the Arms of his bride, Janet Hamilton Dundas, to mark their marriage in 1833. Janet gave birth to no less than nine sons and four daughters and died, no doubt from exhaustion, in 1869!

Pipe banners display the personal Arms of a Chief and are cut slanted at the top to fit the long bass drone so that the banner hangs down the piper’s back. Such banners were and are used by the personal pipers of chiefs or lairds.

However the cost of restoration and mounting of the decorated silk banner is not insignificant and amounts to about £2400. Whilst an anonymous sponsor has been found who will underwrite the cost to enable the work to proceed, this document is an APPEAL to encourage clan members to contribute to the cost of restoration of the unique and historic artefact So I APPEAL to you all for contributions. I have already received donations in excess of£100, but no sum is too small, and all will be confidentially and gratefully received.

Remember the old Scot’s saying ‘ Mony a mickle maks a muckle’!

Please use the form to make your donation.

Thank you in Anticipation

Alistair Farquharson
President Clan Farquharson UK