Peter MacLaurin

Our condolences to the family of Peter MacLaurin who passed away Saturday, 9th January, 2010 at the age of 90.

As our Website Manager, Peter was responsible for the creation of this website, and had a great passion for the Clan.

He will be missed by all.

"Small but Active Clan" - The Scotsman

As a precursor to The Gathering 2009, over one hundred Clan Chiefs gathered for a Clan Convention in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.

One of the highlights was a speech delivered by our Chief. In it he urged other Chiefs that doing nothing was not an option: "We have a duty and we are expected to exercise leadership." Over forty Chiefs had decided to abstain from the meeting either, as the Chief said, because they were too shy or unwilling to serve as head of their extended families.

By all accounts his speech was well received, and the two-page article in The Scotsman that followed reinforced that opinion and described our Clan as "small but active".

It is hoped that a copy of the Chief's speech will be reproduced in the Annual Newsletter in Spring 2010.

Lochearnhead Games 2009

A very busy and active weekend approached. The tents were up, the weather forecast looked promising and tartan was everywhere. No, not Edinburgh but Lochearnhead. Most members had heeded the call to be at Lochearnhead first and at The Gathering 2009 second.

Hamish and Sue won the golf again and Kate MacLaren won the Junior Cup. Meanwhile five MacLarens enjoyed a fine and leisurely walk up Balquhidder glen to Lochan an Eireannaich. Beautiful scenery and good company. We met a kindly travelling gentleman taking his breakfast at Creag an Tuirc who thoughtfully took our group photo.

That evening we all enjoyed a Games Dinner when Steve Quillin, retiring Chairman of CMSNA, received a small gift as a token of his work to help bring our two societies together over the previous few years.

The day of the Games dawned fine, very fine and stayed that way all day. Sun and a gentle breeze to take away the midges. Perfect. More perfect still was the lunch put on for the first time for members in the Clan tent. Following on from the example set by our American kinsmen at Grandfather Mountain in 2007, the Clan Council decided to sponsor a lunch for anyone and everyone. By all accounts it was a great success and will, hopefully, be repeated in future years.

A big "thank you" must go to Fiona, Sue, Mairead and her daughter Anne for organising everything.

The Clan enjoyed the usual success in the Tug o'War and managed to come away with a prize. The Chief was with us all day and was there to support and encourage wherever possible.

The Gathering 2009

The Society was well represented at The Gathering in Holyrood Park. Our tent was manned on the Saturday by Catherine Crawford and her husband Hugh as well as Shona McLaren and George and Agnes Smail. During the morning, Catherine was presented to the Duke of Rothsay on his tour of the Clan Village.

Sunday saw the Chief, on his shuttle tour between Edinburgh and Lochearnhead/Balquhidder, put in a welcome appearance before heading north for the second time that weekend, this time to read the lesson in kirk.

Hamish, Iain and Fiona as well as Steve and Sylvia Quillin arrived with others during the morning. Over 150 people signed our Visitors' Book at The Gathering which may be an indication of the event's success.

Annual General Meeting

At the AGM in June, the Council welcomed Nicholas McLaren from Chelmsford and Dr. Patrick MacLaren from Glasgow to each serve a three-year term of office.

Southern Gathering