Major Niall Macpherson, M.P., the new Chairman, acted as chairman at the opening ceremony and spoke of the, happiness of the occasion for all Macphersons and their friends. This was to be known as the "Clan Macpherson House," he said. "Clan" by courtesy of Cluny Macpherson. That event marked the fulfilment of a great ambition, and it was cheering to see so many of the Clan and so many guests present. Major Macpherson expressed special words of welcome to the Mackintosh of Mackintosh and his Lady; the Very Rev. Dugald Macfarlane, D.D., Kingussie; Col. and Mrs. Grant of Rothiemurchus; Col. and Mrs. Ritchie of Craigdhu; Provost and Mrs. Campbell, Kingussie, and the many other friends who had so kindly come along to the ceremony.
Apologies for absence had been received from Mrs. Macpherson of Glentruim; Lord Bilsland and Lady Bilsland of Kinrara; Capt. John MacLeod, M.P.; Mr and Mrs. Henderson Stewart; Sir David and Lady Robertson, and from Provost and Mrs. J. M. Grigor, Inverness. Major Niall Macpherson then called upon Lady Macpherson of Drumochter to open the House. Behind every successful man, Major Macpherson remarked, it had been truly said there is a good wife, and Lord Macpherson, the moving spirit in the work of the Association, had always had the fullest support and encouragement of his Lady.
A bouquet composed of white heather and red whortleberry (both collected on the Moy estate by the Mackintosh of Mackintosh especially for that Presentation) and red roses, was then handed to Lady Macpherson by Miss Jean Macpherson of Edinburgh. Lady Macpherson then addressed the gathering, saying how happy she was to have these lovely flowers of Badenoch. From the Chief down, she continued, the Clan was now dispersed far and wide, but the Association had not only acquired their own piece of land on Creag Dhubh, but now their own Clan House also in their own Clan country. It was to be a Clan House, as well as a museum for the valued relics and treasures of the Macphersons; and it would be a real centre for visiting clansmen coming from all parts of the world. She had often been asked, when abroad, by Macphersons who hoped to revisit their clan country, where to go and what to see. That House would provide the extra link to bind the Clan closer to its own people and its own land.
The Rev. J. S. Wood, M.A., Newtonmore, then offered prayer, and Major Niall Macpherson called upon his mother, Lady Stewart Macpherson, to present a small gift as a memento of the occasion to Lady Macpherson of Drumochter. In making this presentation, a silver key brooch, Lady Stewart Macpherson said she hoped it would always unlock happy memories of glorious Badenoch, and of Clan treasures and friendships.
In conclusion, Lord Macpherson of Drumochter spoke of the urgent need of the Association to raise funds to repay the purchase price of the house. He hoped that before the end of the day the first thousand pounds of the three thousand needed would be reached. Over £880 had been received up to that moment, and Lord Macpherson read several letters of good wishes from people in many parts of the world who had just sent donations, one being from an American lady in Kansas City in memory of her nephew, Harry Macpherson, junr., who was killed in 1943. Before the end of the day Lord Macpherson was in fact able to announce that the generous contributions handed to him had enabled the thousand mark to be reached and passed.
After the ceremony visitors and guests had an opportunity of inspecting the museum and seeing the relics which were on view.
Following the opening of the Clan House, an informal gathering of the Association was held in St. Andrew's Church Hall, Kingussie, where ladies of the Badenoch Branch and helpers were hostesses and served an excellent tea, and a large number of members enjoyed this opportunity of meeting one another.