Peter MacLaurin, who died suddenly on Saturday 9th January 2010, was born in Glasgow on 11th April 1919 and was the eldest of four sons to Duncan and Margaret MacLaurin.

He was educated at Brynston School in Dorset and served in the Royal Artillery in Burma during the Second World War. In 1946 he entered the family business founded in 1849 which was in a weak position. Many of the competitors were also facing difficult times. His company, Smith & MacLaurin Ltd. of Milikenpark near Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire specialised in coated papers.

He travelled widely on sales and brought back new technologies and product lines that kept the business thriving as others started to close. Such was his success that in 1984 the Prime Minister and the Scottish Minister for Industry came to visit Smith & MacLaurin.

In his retirement he dedicated his time to supporting and nurturing small Scottish businesses enabling them to survive and prosper.

In later life Peter was a leading light in the Clan MacLaren Society and acted as a trustee for the AR & KM MacLaren Trust. Many of our Bursars were interviewed by Peter before any grants were made. His active participation in almost all Council Meetings will be greatly missed.

Peter, who lived for most of his life in Kilmacolm, is survived by his wife Yvonne to whom he was married for 64 years, his two sons, Anthony and Brian, his daughter Catherine, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Lochearnhead Games 2009

Picture: Terry, Cathy, Sue, Nick
and Larry at Creag an Tuirc

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

Picture: Catherine and Shona at the Clan tent

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.