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PS: I must draw your attention to the huge improvements that have been made to Museum during the winter due to gargantuan efforts by Ewen (Talla Shee) and Olive (Curator) and their team of stalwart volunteers. They have worked so hard and the facelift really shows well done everyone, and thank you so much to all involved, but specially Ewen and Olive.

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      Ewen, as Convenor of the Museum Trustees and Advisory Committee, is a huge tower of strength; he generates ideas, sees things to be done and is a tireless worker in our Museum, which now attracts many favourable comments from all quarters. Ewen is ably assisted from afar by Rod Clarke and Tokyo Bill in the United States.

      Another great support is John of Blackburn, who despite the fact that he lives a long way off in England has a great gift of unexpectedly appearing at weekends when he is needed most.

      Gordon and Jean Duffy of California, who spend half their lives in Scotland and half of that time in the Museum Library putting it to rights have huge support from Shelagh Noble, small in stature but what a ball of fire! Her enthusiasm for her projects in the Library and the new Museum DVD is totally infectious, an example to us all.

      Sadly Bill of Glenfarg can no longer continue as Treasurer due to his intensive business commitments. He has worked so hard and has his own very unique brand of humour. Where else would you find a Treasurer who can turn his annual report into a sales pitch for kilts, coolie hats and sick bags all made from Macpherson tartan wrapping paper?

      John of Montrose is listed as our Secretary, but we all know that the job is shared with his. Between them, they handle a mass of paper work, not just minutes and agendas but arrangements for our annual Scottish Gathering. What a pair!

      Lachlan of Glentridin is working hard on the project of bringing our much-admired Website into the 2 1st century. He is full of innovative ideas for linking up our Branches to make it easier for prospective members to find out what they want. George, our new Editor of "Creag Dhubh", who appeared from the depth of the south west of England to take over the reins and give the Journal the professional polish it needed. A true hero, who volunteered for his task, give him all the support you can.

      Last, but certainly not least, Olive, who looks after our Museum in her own inimitable style. Most of the favourable feed back from visitors refer to the Curator, who goes out of her way to find out about her guests' background and then make their tour a personalised one. It is not an easy job and we are privileged to have Olive there, help her all you can, we owe her a great deal. I have mentioned a lot of people and there are others as well. But these workers are too thin on the ground, they need assistance.

      If you think you can help in the Museum, assist the Secretary or Treasurer in clerical work or any other task, please let us know, we shall be delighted to see you.

      I shall conclude by wishing all Clansmen members good fortune now and at all times, looking forward to seeing you all in Scotland in the not too distant future.

Catherine Macpherson

(Back row L-R) Peter, Jeannie, her mother Pauline Edie, née Macpherson. and Peter's parents, Yvonne and John Levett. (Front row) Alistair, Eveline, Daniel and Graham.

      We are delighted to have younger folk leading us -- it is heartening for the future of our branch and we give them every support. On 17 October 18 of us left Invercargill, linking up with Winton members to drive to Mt Linton in Western Southland, which is the second largest station in New Zealand. As it is close to Jeannie and Peter at Twinlaw, they gave us a memorable day. Peter held sway with the barbecue and all manner of tasty extras were provided by Jeannie to augment our pot luck lunch. As usual, it was more like a feast. We watched a video of mustering the sheep at Mt Linton with the horses grazing near us and later Eveline, Daniel and
Graham Levett danced to stirring music. Ladies viewed the lovely home garden with tulips, narcissi, and trilliums, while the other folk had an hour's drive round the area with a commentary by Jeannie's Dad, George Edie, whose home is close by, at Birchwood Station. Our original clansfolk had strong links with the land and the rolling hills are beautiful. We thanked Jeannie and Peter and the Edie and Levett family for a splendid outing with our cousins. Our new chairman lives with Peter and their four sons and Eveline at Twinlaw in Western Southland. With Macpherson forebears on both sides of the family, they are well aware of their great heritage. Twinlaw farms sheep, cattle and deer and more recently Jeannie has been growing paeony roses commercially. The cooler temperatures suit the plants well. So with farming, horticulture and the many school and district activities Jeannie has few idle moments. She has been to the Badenoch areas as has her eldest son Anthony. We are indeed fortunate to have Jeannie, Peter and their families as keen clan members.

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Sydney. We hope that the Edinburgh Tattoo in Sydney in February 2005 might be productive for fellowship and membership expansion. We have established a good relationship with Museum Victoria concerning the possible long-term loan of a Cluny pistol dated ca 1785; we have made contact with a granddaughter of the late 24"' Chief of the Clan, Ewen George; our links with the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust continue; and we had a very pleasant surprise recently when Life member Ken MacPherson of Adelaide presented the Association with a Green Banner (with Clansman's badge, approximately 6' x 4') which was signed by Cluny in 198 1, and some Clan Macpherson badge items.

      Last year's report drew attention to the migration from Edinburgh of the family of Peter Macpherson, his wife Catherine MacBean and their eight children. The estate of the youngest child Helen was the catalyst for the formation of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust. The Trust funded the refurbishment of the State Library of Victoria's Genealogy Centre and renaming as the Helen Macpherson Smith Genealogical Centre. Gwen and I had the pleasure of visiting the Centre in November 2003. It is an excellent repository of local and international genealogical material. Subsequently, the Director of the Trust asked for assistance in tracing the ancestors and origins of Peter and Catherine, thought to have come from Skye. This has proved difficult to date. While the majority of the family eventually settled in Victoria, the name remains well known in Canberra. Past CMA Chairman JP Macpherson has kept in contact as he is a direct descendant of John MacPherson (a grandson of Peter and Catherine); one of two Macphersons who became Premier of Victoria.

      Our participation at Bundanoon continues as it does at the Gin Gin Wild Scotchman Festival. I am pleased to note that the Bundanoon Organising Committee was one of the first of several Australians to make a donation to the Lady Cluny Museum Endowment Fund. At Gin Gin, a piece of red Macpherson tartan was presented and announced at the Kirkin o' the Tartan service, while the local theatrical society performed a re-enactment of the Trial of the Bushranger James McPherson which Edna MacPherson Sabato wrote some years ago.

      Research into the whereabouts of a Cluny pistol included a very informative visit to Melbourne to inspect the pistol in November 2003. A formal request has been made by Ewen (Talla Shee) (Convenor of the Museum Trustees) to Museum Victoria for a long term loan of the pistol. At the same time 'cousins' in New York are trying to trace details of the US dealer, Herb Glass who appears to have been a key player in 'exchanging' the Cluny pistol with the Museum. The New York research has been interesting in itself and will make fascinating reading if some of the 'facts' elicited to date are confirmed. There was no doubt that the small oval shaped lozenges on the sides of the metal butt of the pistol bear the inscriptions 'Cluny Macpherson' and 'Creag Dhubh'. The former has an engraving of possibly part of the Chief's arms while the latter has an engraving that looks like a hill and valley. And there can be little doubt that the design and shape of the pistol is the same as those shown in the R R Mclan print of our former Chief, Duncan of the Kiln*, son of Ewan of the 45. The 100th Anniversary Maclean (NSW) Scottish Gathering (where the street fight poles are painted in a range of tartans -- there are 3 Macpherson painted light poles)) was held over the Easter weekend 9/10th April 2004. The Gathering attracted 33 bands mainly from mid and northern NSW and Queensland for two days of competition, plus a band from St Andrew's School in

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* It is more likely that the R R McIan portrait is of Ewen "Old Cluny" (1804-1885). The McIan portaits were done in the 1840s long after Duncan of the Kiln (1748-1817). --RM.

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Christchurch NZ, average age 16, which performed extremely well winning the Grade 3 competition. Gwen and I enjoyed ourselves in that the range of activities was quite different to Bundanoon. I also had the opportunity to talk to Don McPherson-Rodger who was instrumental in forming what is now known as the Sunshine Coast Caledonian Pipes and Drains. Originally formed in 1975 the band wears the Red Macpherson tartan. The other interesting observation was the large number of Macphersons associated with the Gathering.

      The Lower Clarence Scottish Association has amongst its office bearers, Patron Mary McPherson, Life Member and Secretary Bob Macpherson, Senior Chieftain and Chief Steward Neil McPherson, and Drumming Judge Sam MacPherson from Brisbane.

      We maintain our links with the Scottish Australian Heritage Council and support its first July Tartan Day celebrations in Sydney, a feature of which, together with Scottish Week in November is the conduct of Citizenship ceremonies. A number of former Scots have now become Aussies.

      The major interest this year has been research into the life of Ewen George Macpherson, 24th Chief of the Clan. By gaining access to his WW2 Australian Army Record of Service and other documents, we have been able to better trace his whereabouts after he came to Australia in about 1910/11 after he left school at Rossal in Manchester. He returned to England in 1914/15 and joined the Royal Scots Greys as a cavalry trooper, We believe he was seriously wounded but cannot verify the belief until access is gained to his WWI Service Record and Medal card. This is taking time as many UK WWI records are being reconstructed by the UK Ministry of Defence. John Stuart Macpherson of Blackburn is keeping an eye on developments.

      We are aware that Ewen George's medals are in the possession of his younger daughter Heather who lives in Darwin, but are yet to be identified. Ewen's granddaughter Karen Cooper lives in Darwin and remembers her late grandfather rather fondly. With Karen's assistance we are trying to identify other places in which EG and his family lived. Some are known, eg, Darwin and Katherine, and with help from 'cousins' and friends in the UK, we are seeking to expand our limited knowledge of EG's time at Rossal School (1905-1908) and his service in the Royal Scots Greys in WWI.

      We look forward to the Edinburgh Tattoo being held in Sydney in early February 2005. A group of 81 will attend under the Clan Macpherson banner.

      In conclusion, I record my appreciation to the Chief, Chairman and officers of the Council, Chairman of the Trustees of the Museum, Curator Olive, Webmaster Lachlan and Editor (Cousin) George for their continuing support and encouragement in the affairs of the Australian Branch. I also express my appreciation for the excellent support of the office bearers of the NSW Branch, Edna MacPherson Sabato in Queensland and N Douglas McPherson in Western Australia.

John L Macpherson, (Mittagong) (Pictured above with his wife, Gwen)

     The South African Branch was very much saddened to hear of the untimely death of Sheila, Lady Cluny and we all send our condolences to Cluny and his family. Those of us fortunate enough to have met her will recall how friendly she was and what a great sense of humour she had. She always put people at ease whether the gillies or their laird. Things have been quiet in South Africa. Hughla and Allan are keeping well but getting rather ancient. Huntly was ill last year but is much better now.

      Huntly and his brother Selwyn are building up a family tree and ask Clan cousins to help. Details are in a letter sent to Craig Dhubh and published in 2003. We almost had a Beau Geste in the branch. Huntly's son, James, applied to join the French Foreign Legion and passed all the stringent entry tests. He was ready to go when a health problem arose that precluded him from enlisting. William Gillies keeps in regular touch from Zimbabwe and we certainly appreciate this. He was born in Laggan and served on the Rhodesian Railways for over 30 years. He knew Andrew (ex-Curator). His son managed a trip to Scotland and spent a Saturday at the Rally, where he met John and Iris of Montrose. Trelda and Ed Ostrosky (life members ) live in Horwick near Durban and their daughter organises falconry displays. Their son is a helicopter pilot with the South African Air Force. Cluny and Sheila stayed with them in 2002. Graeme spent a few months in the West Indies enjoying their hot weather. Kevin and Terri are still busy with his architectural practice and their manufacturing factory. Cameron is still doing well. He is in his final year at Witwatersrand University doing a BSc molecular and cellular biology & genetics degree. He is also doing very well in martial arts.

      He has recently won the gold medal for the South African National Tournament for Koshu school. The style he uses is known as Southern Louhan (Monk Fist). This gives him a place in the South African team, which will compete in the world championships to be held in 2005 in Washington US and we all hope that Graham and Vanessa (Jo'berg) will soon be able to attend the Badenoch Gathering. Their problem is that they are both keen aviators and the famous 'Oshkosh Air Show in the USA where they go every August is at the same time as our Scottish rally. We also hope that Jane and Fiona will also get to the 2005 Rally. We send our love and best wishes to Cluny and all the Clan.

Allan D MacPherson

A dancer with the Epping Forest Pipe Band at the ball
      It is now up to the E & W committee to respond to the information which we have gleaned so to make the CMA as vital and worthwhile in England and Wales as possible. To that end, (wait for it), Donald held a wine tasting at last year's AGM in May 2003 and at this year's, Robyn Kirk, a student at the London Guildhall School of Music sang some Bums' numbers for us quite beautifully. She is to sing again for us in November.

      The Chairman held his summer party in Hampshire in June 2003, but not in fact this year. In November 2003, for the first time, we held the London Ball in the Caledonian Club, Halkin Street. It was felt that we were due for a change after many years at the Russell Hotel in Russell Square, which has of course served us well in the past. We had a terrific evening. We had a pipe band from Essex courtesy of Simon Bredan and Fred Pearson. The seating plan in the Caledonian Club was as for the Lord Mayor's Banquet. This had the salutary effect of parties intermingling with one another and any individuals and couples being incorporated into the whole. It was also nice for the Chairman not to have to add ss a gaping void on the dance floor when welcoming the members and their guests. After toasting the memory of Sheila, Lady Cluny, he went on to claim Mike Catt as a (possible) member of the CMA (E&W) Branch -- he plays for Bath -- so that although Scotland was out of the Rugby World Cup, at least the Clan could claim representation in the victorious

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England XV. How we laughed! The E & W Branch should have set up its own page on the CMA websiteon: by the date of publication.

Angus Macpherson

      If there was a prize for enthusiasm, then surely we would have the winners. A family from Glasgow decided that their first attendance at a clan function would be the Scottish Branch BBQ. They read the notice advertising the event at Newton Castle, 'with kind permission of Cluny' -- however with a bit of word association here and there, they understood it to be Cluny Castle near Newtonmore! On the morning of 12th June they set off early from Glasgow and drove to Newtonmore. They made their way to Cluny Castle, but found no-one at home. They returned to Newtonmore and asked at the Museum where the BBQ was being held. Olive told them it was being held at Newton Castle, Blairgowrie, and undaunted they set off, finally arriving at Newton in the late afternoon. Bill, Glenfarg fired up the BBQ again and they joined us for the rest of the day. I am very glad to say that they have not been put off by their experience and hope to attend more branch functions.

      You may remember last year I mentioned that the Scottish Branch was going to represent the Clan at the Cowal Highland Games. We took a table in the clan tent, and although there were eight clans present and we all enjoyed ourselves, the committee chose not to return this year. We did manage to recruit one new member -- for the England & Wales Branch! This year we were invited to the Inverness Highland Games and several of us joined another 27 clans in a huge marquee at the Bught Park.

      We have reduced the number of newsletters we issue during the year. We found that members are unwilling to contribute and we receive no feedback even when we ask for it. The latest Rant included a questionnaire, asking members what they wanted from their newsletter. There were two additions to the committee during the year and we welcomed Annie Le Roy-Lewis and Jan Macpherson (Glenfarg) to our group.

Shelagh Macpherson-Noble

      The Gathering begins with a flurry of meetings -- the Council, The Trustees, The Museum Committee and other small but active groups - to tackle administrative and policy matters for the past and coming years. The Council met on Friday 6 August, 2004 at the Duke of Gordon Hotel, with chairman Catherine Macpherson, presiding.

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Mike Kendall, who had donated the whole of his collection of Highland memorabilia, including clothing, to be sold for the museum (see also his report in this issue). It had already brought in nearly £4,000 and another £ 1,000 at least, was expected. However, the museum needed the money: with nearly £2,000 being spent on the heating system of the curator's flat, above the museum. The 'Sheila, Lady Cluny Museum Endowment Fund' now stood at some £28,000 invested and £1,000 in the bank.

      Ewen then showed a short video about the importance of ensuring 'equal access' to the museum for sections of the public who could not walk or who needed extra facilities: for example it was now legally essential to have ramps for entrances to allow wheelchairs in and out.

      Branch chairmen for Scotland, and England & Wales gave their reports (read about them elsewhere in this issue). Shelagh told us the saga of the couple who travelled half way around Scotland to attend the barbecue at Newton Castle and the new members who did this were praised for their persistence.

      Angus regretted Annie Le Roy-Lewis's move to Scotland and said "England and Wales' loss is Scotland's gain" -- which was echoed by Scottish members. 'Tokyo' Bill praised the Clan's Webmaster, Lachlan Macpherson of Glentruim for taking over the website from the late Dave Murdock. There was now an improved dial-up, and the site had been streamlined. Council expressed the hope that Lachlan could get more help with keeping the site updated. (The website address is www.clan-macpherson.org -- take a look: it's excellent.)

      John Stuart Macpherson (John 'Blackburn') emphasised that if the association were to raise more funds, we would be able to undertake better support of the Museum and clan activities. He said he would be happy to apply for the necessary licences to allow members to take part in 'lucky draws', raffles and fund-raising lotteries. There was general approval of this, once the differences in tradition of these activities between the Americas and the UK had been discussed.

      The matter of association membership was raised -- and it was decided to appoint a small trans-Atlantic group to discuss how this might best be addressed. Life membership was all very well, but with people living so long these days, the small fee raised did not 'last' very long and the clan had to depend on the annual subscribers for regular income.

      The Americans have been discussing five-year membership programmes, which would mean less administration and easier payment -- but the group will be meeting in cyberspace to see if any better ways can be worked out. Clan members are welcome to submit suggestions to Council members.

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      Ewen MacPherson, convenor of the museum committee told us about the new clan necktie -- a high quality product in 'heraldic blue' with a woven coat of arms -- on sale at the museum for £ He also said that a new and updated (fifth) edition of Alan G Macpherson's book The Posterity of the Three Brethren; a short history of the Clan Macpherson was now

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avaailable at £6 from the museum. A new featureof the book is an eight-page music associated with the clan. This was funded by the Canadian Branch.

      To end the meeting, Sir William Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie, our chief, congratulated Council and all the branches for their progress and thanked everyone for all the time and effort they had given to the Clan. It had been a very sad year for him, but he was grateful for the support he had received from the Clan -- indeed he had received some 700 letters from around the world when his dear wife had died. It made him very conscious of how close the Macpherson family was, even though they lived in so many different countries. He said how good it was to see so many national branches of' the association thriving -- but a sad event such as Sheila's passing demonstrated that all the branches were not separate entities but still firmly part of the one association. It did not take long, however, before Cluny's sense of fun lightened proceedings. He recalled the story of a previous

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gathering when someone had come up to a clan official saying 'There are some Hungary Macphersons at the back of the hall' and the official had replied 'Give them a plate of porridge and wish them well! Cluny also instituted a new competition for the worldwide family of Macphersons -- for the most unlikely tall story -- and Creag Dhubh will bring you the results of this as we go along.

The tall story competition
      Cluny told us why he had been limping, during the opening day of the gathering. "It was because I twisted my ankle chasing a peacock," he said. The peacock was an unwelcome -- and frequent -- visitor isitor to Newton Castle. Its 'song', loud and inharmonious was enough to drive anyone potty -- so Cluny took after the peacock with retribution his mission. Hence the accident and the limp. "An unlikely story you may think, but perfectly true -- and funnier, after the event. But it reminds me of my days as a barrister, when a solicitor brought a client to see me. He had a bandaged arm, about which I enquired -- only to be told he had been bitten by a hippopotamus. It turned out to be perfectly true and one didn't like to laugh -- but on consideration, I suspect that many of us have such true stories and we should have clan competition to find the best one -- the winner receiving a suitable prize."

Please submit entries for the 'Tall Story Competition' to The Editor, Creag Dhubh, 72 Bath Road, Wells, Somerset BA5 3LJ United Kingdom or by email to gmacpherson@farmline.com. The competition will he judged by former High Court Judge, Sir William Macpherson of Cluny, TD. The prize has yet to be decided.

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Geocaching -- a new sport
      An unexpected feature of this year's hike was our introduction to Geocaching (pronounced Jeeoh-Cashing, like a cheque). It is an adventure game that involves finding hidden caches of goodies using a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver -- an electronic device that can determine your approximate location (within around 6-20 feet) anywhere on the planet. The unit also aids in navigating from a current location to another location where a cache is said to be stashed. The game is organized on a global basis with rules and awards that are fully explained on the website at www.geocaching.com. Basically, participants seek out a series of caches of inexpensive trinkets housed in a plastic boxes the size of a loaf of bread -- that have been bidden by other game participants. The website tells us that Geocaches can now be found in over 200 countries!

      The GPS unit only gets you to the vicinity of the cache; once there you have to search for it. After finding a cache you report the code word associated with that particular cache to prove that you actually found it to Geocaching.com via email. This results in the award of points that accumulate as more and more caches are found. You are allowed to take one of the trinkets from the box and asked to leave a trinket of your own. We were introduced to this game by Jean and Gordon Duffy who have been playing it for several years now. They particularly like to tell about what they found in the Sultan's Palace in Istanbul, Turkey. In fact, if the truth were to be told, they were the ones who suggested the Insfiriach Forest as this years venue because they were interested in finding a cache that is located there. It turned out that it was located early in the circuit from the parking lot where we started. Jean and Gordon had no difficulty finding this cache in that they were aided by several of the Macpherson hikers. However, I'm sure they would have found it anyway, with all their experience with the game.

Inshriach terrain and the other rain

      The Forest is blessed by four lochans located roughly in its centre. The trail we followed led us around Creag Far-leitire, a small hill of 360 metres -- 160 metres above its base. Thus, it wasn't much of a strain for a near octogenarian such as me. A consultation of my Gaelic dictionary told me that the name of the hill means 'over the hill to water' -- an apt name in that the reward for ascending to the top was a beautiful view of the four lochans to the south and Loch Insh to the north. The largest of the lochans is Lochan Uath which means 'frightful pond'. I wonder how it got that name? The River Spey widens to form Loch Insh due to a series of rocky islands that impede its flow. I've been told that during World War II the need for arable land for food production was so great that serious consideration was given to dynamiting these islands so that the Spey would contract to its width elsewhere. Fortunately this idea was abandoned before it was undertaken for now the Loch provides enormous opportunities for the enjoyment of all sorts of water sports and a source of employment for the local populace.

      I mentioned earlier that the hike participants missed being soaked by a torrential downpour by less than five minutes after finishing. Throughout the climb around Creag Far-leitire we experienced a

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      Taking the B970 road back to Newtonmore we experienced a series of immersions of our cars when we ploughed through the water that had accumulated in the low spots of the road. After reaching the Museum and parking at the Glen Hotel, we entered and discussed our adventure over a pint. Little did we know then what lay in store later on. Although the rain slackened and the ceased in Badenoch and Strathspey that day, south of there it continued unabated so that the local streams that flank the A9 highway as it proceeds to the south -- the Truim, the Garry and the Tummel -- were raging torrents when we drove by them on the following day. A day later, it happened -- a gigantic landslide oozed across the highway in the vicinity of Dunkeld. Perhaps you saw it on the news where one car was completely engulfed by mud and water so that its occupants had to exit though the side windows -- safely, thank Goodness. The A9 was blocked for days and some of our cousins who chose to drive South on Wednesday ended up being diverted over to Deeside so that the normal drive time to Edinburgh of some three hours was extended to eight. But they did make it in time for the joint visit to the Edinburgh Tattoo that Catherine and Sandy organised for that evening after a supper of mince and tatties.

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      The Bundaberg Pipe Band provided the music for the Parade, and performed later at the museum complex. The Theatrical Society performed a re-enactment of the Trial of the bush-ranger, from a script I wrote several years ago. Very well done! The huge number of Market Stalls in the museum complex did a roaring trade all day.

      All in all, it was a very enjoyable, successful event, with large crowds of people all day. A sudden heavy storm dampened things_ early in the afternoon, but the sun came out again soon after, and we carried on in true Scots tradition.

      Next, thanks -- to everyone who has sent such lovely photos for consideration. I hope everyone who asked to have them returned has received them back again. And also thanks to all those who have responded to our appeal for articles. Special thanks once again to Bill (Glenfarg) for his great assistance without which the journal would still be stuck in the works. And to Chairman Catherine and her consort Sandy for advice and checking; also to Ewen (museum) and Annie (treasurer/registrar) for their meticulous proof reading. Thanks too, to Branch representatives who have sent in reports and photographs -- their contribution is essential to Creag Dhubh having 'something for everyone'. One of my predecessors as Editor, Margaret Hambleton, has been diligently indexing Creag Dhubh from its first edition. She has it on computer and, given resources to cover copying the data on to floppy disc or printout, she is happy to supply a copy to Clan Association members who get in touch with her by email at 106370.3143@compuserve.com or by writing to her at 9 Kilchurn Court, Edinburgh EH12 8GN, Scotland. Margaret has now embarked on a new project, indexing Creag Dhubh by author -- but that will take a little more time before copies of it become available for clansfolk.

George A Macpherson

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      The Exhibits subcommittee continues to make significant improvements, and visitors will notice extensive changes in the layout and displays next season. We are in negotiations with the Museum Victoria, Australia, for the loan of a Murdoch flintlock pistol owned by Duncan of the Kiln. Our publicity efforts have increased and for the first time 15,000 leaflets were distributed by a contractor to 197 outlets in the Badenoch & Strathspey, Inverness & Naim, Fort William & Lochaber and Pitlochry, Perth & Stirling areas. The Library Subcommittee works hard and enthusiastically with upgrading this special facility. Please make use of it.

      With the assistance from Gordon in Canada a new Clan Association tie has been designed and is on sale and available from the Clan Museum for £12. The income from the sales will be used to assist Bruce in organising the 60th anniversary Clan Gathering in 2006 -- a successful Clan Gathering does generate income for the Clan Museum.

      The Museum Shop started in a small way many years ago and has grown considerably and the income accrued plays a major part in the finances of the Museum. A small subcommittee has been formed to consider the implications of the 'Shop', including its size, stock, sales methods and display area. A review of the theatre area is also underway and consideration is being given to a new 'orientation' panel to assist visitors to get the most from their visit to the Museum. The full implications of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 had to be implemented by October 2004 and the committee took this responsibility most seriously. The introductory video shown to visitors at the Clan Museum is now aged with much of the content out of date. A small subcommittee has been ardently working on producing a new introductory DVD and this should be ready for next season -- a longer version will be available for purchase.

      Olive, as Curator, does a truly grand job looking after the visitors, maintaining the premises and selling goods in the shop. During the 2003 season, visitor numbers totalled 3,740 with the sum of £8,247 in gross sales and £3,087 deposited in the collection boxes. For the 2004 season, the figures were 4,205 visitors, £11,067 sales and £3,202 collection boxes. Olive is to be congratulated on achieving a record figure for sales -- more than doubled during her period in post. Despite the closure of the Ralia Tourist Centre and a number of local hotels and businesses in Newtonmore, our visitor numbers are the highest recorded since 1990. This may be in part due to the professional distribution of the leaflets described above. A record amount was also realised in the collection boxes and this may be the result of new notices that are displayed within the building pointing out the cost of maintaining the museum.

The Mike Kendall Donation
      As a young boy, Mike Kendall appreciated listening on the wireless to the late, well-known, Sandy Macpherson at the BBC Theatre Organ. He served in the Royal Navy from 1950 to 1960 and his chum for a period was a sailor named Alan Macpherson. When Mike first stepped ashore at Rosyth Naval Base in Fife, he had the tremendous feeling of déjà vu. Over the

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intervening years Mike grew to enjoy all things Scottish in general and the Highlands in particular. With his tenuous Macpherson connections he was drawn towards our clan. Mike discovered the Clan Macpherson Museum and regularly telephoned Andrew (Curator), resulting in long and enjoyable conversations. Andrew encouraged and supported Mike's application to become a member of the Clan Macpherson Association. Over the years he wondered how he in turn could support the Clan Museum. One of several hobbies enjoyed by Mike has been collecting Highland paraphernalia of every description. Recent years have seen a decline in his health resulting in the amputation of both legs below the knee, and he decided to dispose of his extensive Highland collection and contacted the Clan Museum. The Trustees were given the authority to sell any items that were not suitable for the Museum collection but with the proviso that the proceeds must go towards the Clan Museum.

      On 9 June a vast amount of high quality unused Highland kit was collected from Mike's home. This included kilts, jackets (day & evening), sporrans (day, evening & piper's), belts, sgian dubhs, targes, swords, shirts, plaids, belted plaids, hose, shoes, bonnets, badges, pins, brooches and a large number of excellent books. Almost sufficient to open a small shop! Receiving the collection coincided with the Scottish Branch BBQ at Newton Castle on the 12 June. It was a grand day and the kit was laid out on the lawn and by the end of the day a total of almost £2,000 had been raised. With sales from advertising, personal contact and during the Clan Gathering, a figure of exactly £5,000 was subsequently reached. An excellent replica of the targe found by Duncan Forbes at Culloden, a replica 18th century sword together with a buckled shoulder sword holder, a hunting Macpherson tartan belted plaid and a large number of excellent books have been retained for the Clan Museum.

      This unexpected windfall will be used to cover the cost of erecting signs on the A9, Laggan and Perth roads. However, we must first obtain the necessary Quality Assurance grading from the local Tourist Board before we can apply for permission to erect the signs. The signs were first suggested about 25 years ago when the bypass was opened but we have never had the financial resources to implement it. In addition, a cash register will be purchased and the surplus used to improve the shop and theatre area.

      Thank you Mike for your generosity to the Museum.

Artefacts
      Dress coat worn by John Alexander Macpherson whilst Premier & Chief Secretary of Victoria, Australia. Also two inscribed silver trowels and silver salver presented to John Alexander Macpherson. From his great great grandson, J.P. Macpherson, Fleenasmore, Nairn.

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      A trendy new-look magazine for the fanning and crofting fraternity, which is written, edited, designed and printed in the Scottish Highlands, is available free across Scotland from farm-based outlets every month. This eye-catching publication, which was launched at the beginning of September 2003 has already had leading national agricultural publications following suit and changing their image. Skye lass, Eilidh MacPherson, returned home to the Misty Isle after spending two and a half years in New Zealand where she wrote full-time as regional reporter for the NZ Farmer Magazine, covering Southland and South Otago. She also freelanced for a number of other publications including the Otago Southland Farmer, Southland Times and NZ Shearing Magazine. "Experience gained from writing in New Zealand -- covering monitor farms, benchmarking and subsidy removal is very relevant here in the UK at the moment," she says. Eilidh, who graduated in agriculture from Edinburgh in 1989, has worked in the agricultural industry as a sheep shearer, lamb marketing manager, lamb buyer, Scottish Quality Beef and Lamb

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Association employee -- and shepherdess in the Scottish Borders. Now as a journalist she herself provides all the photographs and writes most of the copy for the magazine. Her editor from the New Zealand Farmer -- Hugh Stringleman -- who gave her a break in the Land of the Big White Cloud has joined forces with her once more and is compiling market reports from NZ, OZ and the USA. The magazine -- farmingscotland.com -- makes full use of colour throughout and although she initially used Inverness based designers, Eilidh is now responsible for the design and layout herself. farmingseotland.com is distributed to livestock markets, abattoirs, farm shops and Department offices across the whole of Scotland -- the mainland and islands as well as just over the Border at Longtown and Carlisle livestock markets. "Check out the website www. farmimgscotland.com and. c om to see past issues online."

      How many Nepali children can dance Strip the Willow and the Grand Old Duke of York? Well, about 100 of them, living in a village called Syangja, an hour outside Pokhara in Western Nepal, where I spent four months of my GAP year in a school teaching English. I caused great mirth amongst my family and friends when I listed Scottish dancing among the subjects I reckoned to teach, but the Nepalis made for surprisingly enthusiastic students, even if the boys and girls refused to dance together! The school where I was teaching was established by a group of ex-Ghurkhas, committed to improving the education of children in rural Nepal. One of the better schools in the area, it was fee paying, with fees for day children amounting to about £2 per month. Many of my pupils' parents had been forced to skimp and save to provide their offspring with such an education, perhaps in the hope that they would have an opportunity to escape the life of toil and hardship that had been forced upon themselves. One would imagine that such people, whose lives are occupied by such burdensome and mundane tasks as hammering large rocks into small stories all day for road building, or cutting foliage high in the hills and bringing it down to their little farms in order to feed their goats, would resent someone from the West with its obvious wealth and advantages. Far from it: I was constantly invited to the homes of my teachers and pupils to share meals which they had painstakingly prepared, often with a slaughtered chicken or goat, and while they were desperate to learn of life in Britain, I was never made to feel embarrassed in the face of their poverty. Nepal is relatively well documented in the news at the moment, due to the continual activity of the Maoists -- anti-monarchist rebels who are wreaking havoc on the country with continual strikes and attacks in an attempt to force the King (already unpopular due to suspicions that he had a hand in the Royal massacre of 2001) to step down from his position. Whilst I never felt a direct threat from this band of rebels, there were constant reminders of their underlying presence -- ever more frequent strikes, 3000 army and police patrolling our town, and, once, red handprints -- the Maoist emblem -- adorning every telegraph pole on our walk to school. These all left me with a vague feeling of unsettlement, despite the fact that I knew I could get out at any time. For nearly every Nepali that simply is not a reality: but the capacity of my Nepali students to enjoy themselves despite all this, even with some Scottish dancing, was amazing.

      Edith started piping under the tutelage of PM. William MacRostie of Edinburgh when she was twelve years old, and won her first competition at the Glasgow Mod when she was fourteen. When she was a pupil at Inverness Royal Academy and had turned sixteen she was taken on by the great John MacDonald at his home on Percival Road where she went twice a week for lessons for a couple of years. He made her fit to compete in the senior competitions against many of the top piping practitioners of the day, MacDonald was then in his nineties and Edith must have been one of his last pupils, Later she was tutored by P/M. William Young of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders In 1946 she was 1st in Piobaireachd and 2 nd in the March at Glenurquhart, and in the following year repeated her success in Piobaireachd at Glenurquhart and also at Invergordon where she won the Kincraig Challenge Cup. It was the appearance of her name on the Cup as winner in 1947 that drew the attention of Piper & Drummer to her story in 2004. In that vintage year she was 1st in the Strathspeys and Reels at the Strathpeffer Games; 2 d in Piobaireachd at Dingwall; and took the 2 nd Dunvegan Medal and 4th Prize in the Marches at the Skye Gathering. She also was 1st in' Piobaireachd at the Dornoch Games at Skibo Castle and was presented with the Mrs Roswell Millar Gold Medal by Andrew Carnegie's daughter, Margaret -- her own birth in 1897 commemorated in the pipe tune "Miss Carnegie's Welcome to Cluny Castle". Her success in 1947 brought the comment in the Sunday Mail that "Her greatest regret is that she won't be allowed to pit her piping skill against the world's finest pipers who will compete at the Northern Meeting next Week in Inverness. Women are debarred from competing. Miss Macpherson cannot understand why."

      In 1948 Edith won the 2 d Dunvegan Medal again and was 3rd in the Jigs, and won the 3rd Dunvegan Medal in 1949. Her musical achievements in Skye won her the admiration of the renowned piping scholar and judge Seton Gordon. But restrictive rules against female competitors, then in vogue, prevented her from competing in the "majors" at Braemar, the Argyleshire Gathering, and the Northern Meeting, and her career took a change in direction.

      Edith Macpherson took up studies in singing under Mr Cuthbert Smith of the Royal College of Music and became an accomplished pianist. She also became a prize-winning Highland dancer and eventually a member of the adjudication board of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing; she has judged Highland Dancing at the Braemar Gathering for the past twenty-five years, and -- in her mid-seventies -- currently runs

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a School of Dancing in Inverness. So with this pre-eminent record behind her, who exactly was Edith Macpherson and what of her Goat ? Why did Pipe Major William Young celebrate her prowess on the pipes with such an oddly titled tune ? She was born at Tombain, a Morayshire farm near Dunphail belonging to her mother's family, the Naims. Her father, Donald Lachlan Macpherson, established a builder's business in Inverness where her mother ran a guest house, and which has been her home since the age of five. Her great-grandfather Murdoch McPherson with antecedents reaching back into Badenoch -- had the Inn at Craggie near Daviot where her grandfather Lachlan was born The title of William Young's pipe tune was a reference to a pet goat which she had when a small child at Tombain.

      So, some 60 years after her triumph, the Clan Association belatedly salutes Miss Edith Macpherson of Inverness, First Lady in the Piobaireachd.

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      The Clan Macpherson has many living members who have made more than the average mark on world society. Creag Dhubh, over the years, will be recording some of these achievements -- in a personal way. The first article in the series is by William Wylie Macpherson -- otherwise known in the music business as Bill Martin. He has won numerous awards -- such as Songwriter of the Year and Scotland's Songwriter of the Decade, as well as many others. But he is best known for his two biggest hits, "Puppet on a string" and "Congratulations". Creag Dhubh asked Wylie how the latter song changed his life.

      It is easy to tell you how my song "Congratulations" changed my life -- it has taken me from a house near the Govan shipyards to a house in Belgravia. In the heady days of the sixties my ex-partner and I won the Eurovision song contest in 1967 with "Puppet on a String". A song so different because it was the year of the Beatles "Sgt Pepper, the 'Flower Power' songs like "If You're Going to San Francisco", "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and The Rolling Stones. A year later we decided to try our luck for the 1968 Eurovision. We were told Cliff Richard would be the singer and we wrote what we thought was a classic -- called "My Magic Music Box" - you have never heard of it and I can't remember it!! Our old publisher said the song was good but I am sure you have something better.

      We worked all day and Phil came up with the start of the melody and the words "I think I love you, I think I love you, I think the world is fine if you will say you're mine". I said it's rubbish -- you don't say to someone "I think I love you" -- you either say I love you or not. Phil said help it. So that night I thought "I Think I Love You" is five words -- why not one word with five syllables -- "Congratulations". The song was born and the rest of the lyrics and melody came easily.

      It won the British heat by a landslide and we knew we were on to a giant winner as it went to No 1 -- Cliff's first No 1 for three years, because he had stiff competition from the Beatles and others r in 1968. At the Albert Hall in April that year we were the favourites to win. I dressed for the black tie event in my Highland regalia the Macpherson tartan -- yes, I was born William Wylie Macpherson -- Wylie Macpherson to my friends. As the voting progressed Bill Cotton Jnr, the head of the BBC TV at the time, came round to us, Bill and Phil, in the audience. He gestured for us to come back stage, as were so far ahead, to be presented as the winners yet again. As we got back stage we heard a surprised audience groan -- we had been pipped at the post by Spain. Some people say it was because the BBC TV could not afford to present it for a second year and Spain wanted to -- who knows -- I only know the song that was the winner was called "La La La La La" by Massiel. The lyric contained 62 La La La La's! Hardly a song to remember! We didn't care about coming second we knew we had a classic song and needless to say to this day everyone thinks it was the winner of the Eurovision and went on to be recorded in many languages. I gave up counting after 20. It was No 1 all over Europe, Australia, South America and Japan selling some 10 million records and to this day is played all over the world on Radio and TV.

      How come Wylie Macpherson became Bill Martin? When I came down to 'Tin Pan Alley' in London in 1962 to be a songwriter every music publisher I met seemed to be called Cyril - finally the fifth Cyril I met - Cyril Gee - said you can't call yourself Wylie Macpherson it's too Scottish, too like The White Heather Club -- why not call yourself Bill

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Martin. I said why and he explained the significance of 10 letters -- he said it's lucky for a songwriters like Lionel Bart, Cole Porter, Lorenz Hart, John Lennon -- it wasn't until I had written "Puppet" and "Congratulations" that I realised he forgot to tell me about Oscar Hammerstein, Burt Bacharach, George Gershwin -- so I became for song writing purposes Bill Martin but my four children are all Macpherson -- Meran, Alison, Melanie and Angus Macpherson.

      I remember when the great songwriter Jimmy Kennedy died -- he wrote "South of the Border", "My Prayer", "Hokey Cokey", "Teddy Bears Picnic" and many more -- the eulogy at his funeral was given by Dennis Thatcher as Jimmy had been his barman during the war. This would stand me in good stead when my wife Jan and I were invited to 10 Downing Street to meet Mrs Thatcher in 1983.

      Lots of other people were there at Number Ten but as we were about to meet the PM and have our pictures taken they decided the room was too full so my wife and I were ushered into another room which was empty. I complained (a) that we did not get our picture taken with the PM and (b) we were in an empty room! Sir David Butler the PM's secretary quickly arranged for a picture to be taken which was reluctantly given and our room started to fill up. The PM's secretary Sir David obviously felt sorry for us and gave us a tour of number 10. When we arrived back to the main room the cocktail party was in full swing. I decided to take the opportunity to talk to Mrs Thatcher and explained I had heard her husband giving a beautiful eulogy for my song writing friend Jimmy Kennedy she then asked what I had written as a songwriter and I mentioned "Congratulations". She said that must be wonderful but I said "Not as wonderful, Prime Minister, as the day our victorious troops were sailing down the Solent in 1982 after the Falkland war and the massed brass bands were playing "Congratulations". The PM beamed and said: "you were the chap who didn't have his picture taken properly." She called over the photographer and the Speaker of the House Bernard Wetherill and my wife Jan and we now possess a wonderful picture signed "Congratulations" by Mrs Thatcher.

      There is not a party, a wedding or event where "Congratulations" is not said or sung. A few memorable moments of many with this song was the Queen Mother's 100th Birthday -- as she came out onto the balcony the band played 30 seconds of "Happy Birthday" and four or five minutes of "Congratulations" with the Queen singing along! Who can forget Cliff Richard at rainy Wimbledon singing "Congratulations". I was proud, too, to hear the song at the Golden Wedding celebrations of my parents, Ian and Letitia Wylie Macpherson. At the funeral of a song writing friend of mine, Mort Schuman, they played one of his songs "Save the Last Dance for Me". Sir Tim Rice pushed me in the ribs on hearing this and said you had better write a decent song -- can you imagine when you go they will play "Congratulations". My wife Jan has said she will get the pipe band to do this! As Golf Captain of the Royal Automobile Golf and Country Club in 1980, we gave the first Bob Hope Tournament. It was a thrill for me when at the Gala Dinner Bob Hope, Sevriano Ballesteros, Gary Player, Scan Connery and many more celebrities were clapped into the dinner to my tune "Congratulations". A great moment for the song was in 1970 when George Harrison was the first Beatle to make his own album after the Beatles broke up. John Lennon walked into the studio and George sang "Its Johnnie's Birthday" to the tune of "Congratulations". Needless to say it was on the album and not only did we get the correct credits saying the song was based on "Congratulations", written by us, but it sold eight million albums and we got paid as well! There is not a party, a wedding, or event where the word "Congratulations" is not said or sung.

      You can check Wylie's website www.billmartinsongwriter. com for more detail. 4nd The Editor of Creag Dhubh welcomes proposals for other 'Making their mark' articles.

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     Lieut. James Macpherson, who was in the East India Company Service from 1782 to 1804, and who became the second of Belleville on the death of his distinguished father in 1796, is stated in the will to have been the son of Elizabeth Fretwell alias Bradshaw. He is alleged to have been born about 1767 when his father was thirty or thirty-one years of age and but recently returned from his post as secretary to the Governor of West Florida. His gravestone in the Kingussie kirkyard, however, indicates that he was sixty-eight when he died on the 13 th April 1833, suggesting that he was born in 1764 or early in 1765 when his father was twenty-eight and in East Florida; this in turn suggests that he was conceived in 1763 or early in 1764 while James was still in London. The IGI does not list a Fretwell-Bradshaw or Bradshaw-Fretwell marriage at any time and anywhere in the British Isles -- more specifically in England -- to account for the 'alias'. Nor does it list a baptism for James under the names Macpherson or Fretwell (or any of their variant spellings). The only child christened James Bradshaw that might have been the future lieutenant and laird of Belleville was baptised at Saint Olave Southwark, London, on the 12 th July 1767. But he was the third of four children born in normal sequence to William and Mary Bradshaw, his siblings christened at St Leonards Shoreditch. The 1793 will implies that James bán Macpherson knew that Elizabeth Fretwell alias Bradshaw was then alive, but he gave no clue as to her whereabouts -- perhaps because his son and executor already knew where she was. Lieut. James Macpherson's mother remains elusive.

      Ann, third of Belleville, is alleged to have been born about 1778 when her father was about forty-two years of age. She is stated in the 1793 will to have been the daughter of Elizabeth Camm alias Marshall, "currently of Lucas's Green near Bagshot, Surrey". The IGI lists no Camm-Marshall or Marshal-Camm marriage to account for the 'alias'. Nor does it reveal a baptism for Ann under the name Macpherson. But it does list the christening of an Ann Camm at Saint Andrew Holbom, London, on the 21st June 1778, to Thomas and Elizabeth Camm. She appears, however, to have been the fourth child of this couple, her older siblings christened in March and April 1773 in St Botolph-without-Aldgate and in June 1775 at St Olave Southwark. The IGI also lists the christening of Anne Marshall at Shorne, between Gravesend and Rochester in Kent, on the 9th May 1779, to a single mother, Elizabeth Marshall. The latter event more probably refers to Ann of Belleville. There is some evidence that she was under the guardianship of Kenneth Macpherson (or MacKenzie) in Walcot Place, London, in 1789 when she was ten years old.

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      The will also refers to "a son of Mary O'Connor, born in the year 1783, who if found worthy of the attention of the executors should have two hundred pounds bestowed upon him at the discretion of the executors". James evidently believed this child to be his, though he does not claim him specifically as such. No provision was made in the will for Mary O'Connor. The IGI failed to provide an identity for this child or his mother, both of whom remain elusive.

      Lieut. Charles Macpherson, who was in the East India Company Service 1799-1800 and was drowned at sea in the latter year, and Juliet Macpherson, his full sister, were stated in the 1793 will to be the children of Monica Hartshorne alias Hard, "currently lodging at 3 Duke Street, Westminster". Juliet is alleged to have been born about 1786, when her father was about fifty years of age, Lieut. Charles presumably a year or two earlier. The IGI lists no baptism under the name Charles Hartshorne or Hard in the London area. But a Charles James McPharson was baptised at Saint Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, on the I Ph June 1784, the parents listed as James and Maria McPharson. The child's given names, the Westminster location, and the father all suggest that the entry refers to Lieut. Charles McPherson; only the mother's name raises some doubt. Reference to the actual parish register of Saint Martin-in-the-Fields (page 232), however, provides the precise and correct entry for the christening of Charles James MacPharson:

      In the case of Juliet the IGI evidence is unequivocal. Juliet Macpherson was christened at Saint Paul Covent Garden, Westminster, on the 21st April 1786, her parents listed as James and Monaracha Macpherson. The mother's given name is so unusual as to suggest some garbling in the original parish register, and this is confirmed by reference to the parish register of Saint Paul Covent Garden:

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west of Norbury, in 1680. The villages of Norbury and Roston lie about five miles southwest of Ashbourne and some six miles north-northeast of Uttoxeter. The 'alias' Hard in the 1793 will appears to be a variant of Hart, an abbreviation which the IGI attaches to Monica's baptismal listing. Monica Hartshorn was evidently twenty-five when she gave birth to Charles, twenty-seven when she gave birth to Juliet, and some twenty-two years younger than James Macpherson, first of Belleville.

      By 1784 James Macpherson was evidently willing, perhaps insistent, that he should give his child his own surname. How he squared this with Church of England custom and the prescriptions of English Common Law, both of which required illegitimate children to be known by their mother's surname, is a question. Did he simply use his political influence in Westminster, or did he deliberately ignore the niceties of English custom and follow, instead, the tradition of his own people where illegitimacy was concerned? Natural children, in the Highlands, were always considered to be members of their father's clan and, therefore, always bore his surname. Whatever the case, the record of Charles James and Juliet's cbristenings raises the possibility that something similar may have occurred in the cases of James Fretwell alias Bradshaw and Anne Marshall alias Camm who also carried their father's surname into adult life. As a corollary to this, it seems certain from their later intimate association, that James Macpherson treated the four half-brothers and -sisters as a single family, ensuring that they bonded together despite their disparities in age.

           "Friday last [13 th] C.V.R. dined there. James had been indisposed since the great storm, yet received his guests with much kindness, seeming, however, languid and dispirited. Toward evening he sunk much, and retired early. Next morning [14th] he appeared, but did not eat, and looked ill. R. begged he would frank a cover for Charlotte; he did so, and never more held a pen. When they left the house he was taken extremely ill, unable to move or receive nourishment, though perfectly sensible. Before this attack, finding some inward symptoms of his approaching dissolution, he sent for a consultation, the result of which arrived the day after his confinement [15th]. [This would appear to be a reference to the new codicil to his will] He was perfectly sensible and collected, yet refused to take anything prescribed to him to the last, and that on this principle, that his time was come, and it did no avail, He felt the approaches of death, and hoped no relief from medicine, though his life was not such as one should like to look back on at that awful period. ... It pleased the Almighty to render his last scene most affecting and exemplary. He died last Tuesday evening [17th] ; and, from the minute he was confined till a little before he expired, never ceased imploring the divine mercy in the most earnest and pathetic manner. People about him were overawed and melted by the fervour and bitterness of his penitence. He frequently

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and earnestly entreated the prayers of good serious people of the lower class who were admitted."

Mrs Grant's letter then proceeds to comment on his character and personality and to animadvert upon his religious principles -- or lack thereof-- and his chosen style of living:

           "He was a very good-natured man; and now that he had got all his schemes of interest and ambition fulfilled, he seemed to reflect and grow domestic, and shewed of late a great inclination to be an indulgent landlord, and very liberal to the poor; of which I could relate various instances, more tender and interesting than flashy or ostentatious. His heart and temper were originally good. His religious principles were, I fear, unfixed and fluctuating; but the primary cause that so much genius, taste, benevolence, and prosperity, did not produce or diffuse more happiness, was his living a stranger to the comforts of domestic life, from which unhappy connexions excluded him. Tavern company, and bachelor circles, make men gross, callous, and awkward; in short, disqualify them for superior female society. The more heart old bachelors of this class have, the more absurd and insignificant they grow in the long run; for when infirmity comes on, and fame and business lose their attraction, they must needs have somebody to love and trust, and they then become the dupes of wretched toad-eaters, and slaves to designing housekeepers. Such was poor James. who certainly was worthy of a better fate. His death, and the circumstances of it, have impressed my mind in a manner I could not have believed. I think we are shrunk, and our consequence diminished, by losing the only person of eminence among us. 'Tis like extinguishing a light the exit of this extraordinary man."

The words placed in italics seem to refer to what was reported of James' lifestyle and were aimed at his successive mistresses, particularly Monica Hartshorn and, perhaps, his current housekeeper Margaret McPherson. They undoubtedly represent some level of social prejudice on the part of the Rev. James Grant's ill-informed wife.

      James Macpherson died at Belleville, in the mansion-house built for him by his late friend, the famous architect Robert Adam, on the 17th February 1796, and was buried beside him in the south transept of Westminster Abbey on the 15th March as instructed by the terms of his will, "Westminster being the City where", as he said, "I lived and passed the greatest and best part of my life". On one occasion, when James Macpherson was visited in London by Dr Hugh Blair of the University of Edinburgh, he was asked why he lived in England as he could surely not be fond of John Bull. He quipped in reply, "Sir, I hate John Bull, but I love his daughters". Elizabeth Fretwell alias Bradshaw, Elizabeth Camm alias Marshall, and Monica Beresford Hartshorn were the women he loved, albeit at wide intervals of time. In 1793 he made provision for their future support, as he had undoubtedly done in the preceding years. In 1796 Elizabeth Bradshaw must have been between fifty and sixty, Elizabeth Marshal between forty and fifty, and Monica Hartshorn was thirty-seven years old. His executors were instructed to set up annuities for each of them, to be paid half-yearly during their lifetimes: £100 for Elizabeth Marshall, £60 for Monica Hartshorn, and £40 for Elizabeth Bradshaw. In addition they were to receive bequests of £200, £100, and £60 respectively. Their individual fates remain unknown.

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friendship and early support in launching her writing career, Miss Grant was in a unique position to assess his character, relate some of his personal history, and provide a sympathetic portrait of the second laird of Belleville, "young Belleville" as she called him:

           "Our Belleville inherited many vexations. Ossian had got entangled in some law-suits, and his son knowing little of business left too much to his law-agents, and so it happened that after living handsomely for some years, he found it necessary to shut up Belleville, let the farm, and remove to the neighbourhood of London, where they watched the unravelling of their tangled skeins. Almost all their difficulties were over in this year of which I am writing [1812]. They had returned to Belleville, and from this time they were our kindest neighbours, living, like ourselves, winter and summer, in their Highland home. We became naturally dependent on the resources of each other; never a shadow of disagreement came between us. The intimacy had a most favourable effect upon us young people [Elizabeth Grant had two older brothers and two younger sisters]; Belleville was thoroughly a gentleman, his tastes were refined, his reading extensive, his kindness unfailing." [pp 145-6]

Recalling Christmas 1813 at Belleville, a Christmas of "lively conversation", "good music", mornings spent walking and evenings of laughter, whist and "roasted potatoes", she could

           "bring to mind no house pleasanter to visit at. At this time the drawing-room had not been refurnished; they lived in their handsome dining-room and the small library through it. The company, besides ourselves was only one or two of the young Clarkes [Belleville's cousins] and a "Badenoch body". Belleville was a host in a hundred." [pp 148-9]

Referring to the "Pitmain Tryst", the local cattle market held every September to begin the droving season, she noted that

           "Belleville had a hundred cows, thus he had every year a hundred stots, sold generally for from £7 to £8 apiece. Belleville generally got the top price at the Tryst." [p. 202] The second laird of Belleville was evidently an astute judge and manager of livestock. He was also an agricultural improver, converting birch woodland at Belleville to arable land [Macpherson, Alexander: Glimpses of Church and Social Life in Olden Times (1893): 330]. Around 1820 James of Belleville took the lead in raising subscriptions to build the two-storey Assembly Rooms, constructed in Kingussie in 1821 as "a rallying-point for all that is refined and elegant in the central parts of Invemess-shire", for the use of the public (Macpherson, Alexander: Glimpses of Church and Social Life in Olden Times: 48, 49).       A more intimate insight into his character and personal philosophy can be gained from a letter which he wrote from Belleville on the 21st May 1824. The recipient was the Rev. Allan Macpherson (b. 1787), then residing at the Rectory House, Sedgehill near Shaftesbury, the younger son of Lieut.-Colonel Allan Macpherson of Blairgowrie:

      "My Dear Sir,

      I am not surprised at your indignation against the Noble Duke who has not performed the part he should have done, after undertaking to forward your Interest with the Bishop of London, but you must endeavor to console yourself, and put a fair face on the matter, for the Nobles of this and other lands all require to be humoured, and if they perceive any irritation on the part of anyone they have neglected, always or at least commonly, use the circumstances as a plea for further neglect. -- We have no right to neglect our own interest because those who have promised support have not fulfilled their part. -- If you cannot get the Duke's Interest to procure you a situation, yet his aid should it be required in support of other Patronage may be of use, and it is wise to controul our feelings, especially where they may act against ourselves. -- I still have hopes you may be provided for in Jamaica, and think it will not be long before we hear from that country on the subject. -- Of this, however, you may rest assured that everything that can be done on our part has been done and I have very hope of success. Who can command it ? .......................

      Mrs M. & Ann join me in every good wish, and I am, My Dear Sir, Yours most truly,

      James Macpherson

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      This essay on Interest-making and Patronage resulted, eventually, in the Rev. Allan Macpherson's appointment as Chaplain to the Honourable East India Company's troops in India. James Macpherson, the second laird of Belleville, died without issue on the 13th April 1833 at the age of sixty-eight and was buried in the kirkyard of the parish church of Kingussie.

ENDNOTE
^1. Alexander Macpherson, in Glimpses of Church and Social Life in the Highlands in Olden Times, etc. (p. 327), quotes Mrs Grant of Laggan (Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, Vol.XVI: 189) as saying that "Bellavill is the true Highland name of the place, not Belleville; and it has been maintained by old people that the place was called Bail'a' Bhile [the town of the brae-top] before 'Ossian' Macpherson ever bought it or lived there".

Two Jacobite soldiers returning from Culloden, tired, weary and hungry lay down and fell asleep at the side of this old road. They were found by pursuing Hanoverian Dragoons and shot where they lay. Local people carried their bodies down the steep brae known as Gaig nan Corp and buried them, 300 yards from the road now known as Uaigh nan Saighdear -- The Soldiers Grave. This site was cared for over many generations by the Dunbar family. About 60 years ago a stone was carved depicting the spot and stated: "In Memory of two Highlanders shot dead while asleep near this spot 1746 buried here". At some point the stone disappeared. Les Ecossais Royaux proposed that a memorial caim and information board be erected to mark the sites and preserve the Dunbar story. To the delight of everyone concerned the original stone was found buried under the ground near the original site. The cairn was built in early 2004 and the original stone incorporated in the cairn. The cairn was unveiled by HRH Prince Michael of Albany, De Jure, 26th Lord High Steward of Scotland. This site is 0.7 miles north of Tomatin on the right hand side, going North. To visiting clansfolk it's well worth spending some time to go and see this memorial cairn.

*John Macpherson, Secretary Clan Macpherson Association

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"Now farewell house and farewell friends,
And farewell wife and bairns;
There's nae repentance in my heart,
The fiddle's in my arms-

0, little did my mother think
When she first cradled me
That I would turn a rovin' boy
And die on the gallows tree.

"I've spent my time in rioting,
Debauched my health and strength;
I squandered fast as pillage came,
And fell to shame at length.

But dantonly, and wantonly,
And rantingly I'll gae;

I'll play a tune, and dance it roun'
Beneath the gallows-tree."

Thomas Carlyle, the great Victorian essayist and historian knew this song and Burns's role in its reworking. His Chelsea home often was the gathering place of Victorian literati arid he recalls one evening in 1844 when none other than Alfred, Lord Tennyson was present. An artist performed the song and Carlyle affirms that he saw Tennyson's face grow darker and he saw his lip slightly quivering, saying "Poor McPherson."

Who was this man, McPherson? What made Tennyson so upset?

James McPherson was born in 1675 the illegitimate son of MacPherson, the laird of Invereshie near Kingussie and a gypsy mother. He was reputed to be a man of magnificent stature and intellect and was said to be an excellent violinist. He became the leader of an unlawful gypsy gang plundering the North East of Scotland, living off their spoils and sharing them out with the less fortunate. The Clan MacPherson reports that James and his band of freebooters -- never perpetrated acts of thievery or harm upon any of the poor or distressed -- a sort of latter day Robin Hood. He seems never to have grasped the concepts

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of modern corporate politics, thinking it more fun to steal from the rich rather than from the poor and needy. Of course, the local gentry thought that James and his friends had it all backwards and they set about to hang him. His chief enemy was Duff of Braco, ancestor of the Duke of Fife, but he had a patron, Lord Grant of Aberdeen who rescued him from capture on several occasions. He was eventually caught in the town of Keith while being chased through the streets by the bailiffs when a woman threw a blanket out of a window trapping James. Duff of Braco took him to Banff prison under a very strong escort and he was tried before the Sheriff of Banff on November 7, 1700, The Sheriff just happened to be Nicholas Dunbar, a close friend of Duff and he was condemned to die by hanging.

When brought to the place of execution, at the cross of Banff on November 16, 1700, he played the tune on his violin, and then asked if any friend was present who would accept the instrument as a gift at his hands. No one coming forward, he indignantly snapped the fiddle across his knee, and threw the fragments into the crowd; after which he submitted to the executioner. What is believed to be the broken fiddle is on display in the Clan Museum at Newtonmore.

Walter Scott has a slightly different tale to tell. He says that McPherson was executed in Inverness. He goes on "When he came to the fatal tree, he played the tune to which he has bequeathed his name upon a favourite violin. Afterwards, he held up the instrument and offered it to any one of his clan who would undertake to play the tune over his body at his wake. As none answered, he dashed it to pieces on the executioner's head, and flung himself from the ladder". In 1851, Robert Chambers writes, "The traditional accounts of McPherson's immense prowess are justified by his sword; which is still preserved in Duff house at Banff, and is an implement of great length and weight -- as well as his bones, which were found a few years ago, and were allowed by all who saw them to be much stronger than the bones of ordinary men.

There is a final twist to the tale. On the day of his execution, set for noon, legend has it that Duff of Braco saw a lone rider coming from Turiff and correctly assumed that he carried a pardon for James from Lord Grant. As the story goes, he then set about turning the village clock 15 minutes ahead so hanging McPherson before the pardon arrived. Another version claims that it was the magistrates of Banff who knew there was a reprieve coming from Aberdeen. They put the town clock forward by 20 minutes so that James was hanged before the specified time. The magistrates were punished for this and the town clock was kept 20 minutes behind the correct time for many years. Even to this day, the town of Macduff has its west-facing clock covered so the people of Banff cannot see the correct time. The remains of the original clock are also on display in the Clan Museum.

The last words should go to Carlyle who really goes to town:

In December 1828, while commenting on Lockhart's newly published "Life of Burns" he describes it as "a wild, stormful song that dwells in our ear and mind with a strange tenacity". Perhaps there is something in the tradition itself that cooperates. For was not this grim Celt, this shaggy Northland Cacus^*, that "lived a life of sturt and strife, and died by treacheric," was not he too one of the Nimrods and Napoleons of the earth, in the arena of his own remote misty glens, for want of a clearer and wider one? Nay, was there not a touch of grace given him? A fibre of love and softness, of poetry itself, must have lived in his savage heart; for he composed that air the night before his execution; on the wings of that poor melody. his better soul would soar away above oblivion, pain and all ignominy and despair which, like an avalanche. was hurling him into the abyss! Here, also, as at Thebes, and in Pelops' line, was material Fate matched against man's Freewill; matched in bitterest though obscure duel; and the ethereal soul sank not, even in its blindness, without a cry which has survived it. But who, except Bums, could have given words to such a soul; words that we never listen to without a strange half-barbarous, half-poetic fellow feeling?

_________

*Cacus -- the son of Hephasteus and Medusa, a giant with three heads who vomited flames. He stole the cattle of Geryon from Heracles and was killed by him.

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Sue rantingly, sae wantonly,
Sae dauntingly gaed he;
He play'd a spring, and danced it round,
Below the gallows tree.

James McPherson's song was as follows:

I've spent my time in rioting,
Debauched my health and strength;
I squandered fast as pillage came,
And fell to shame at length.
But dantonly, and wantonly,
And rantingly I'll gae;
I'll play a tune, and dance it roun'
Beneath the gallows-tree.

(cf. Walter Scott version above) Robert Bums's version is as follows:

Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong,
The wretch's destinie!
McPherson 's time will not be long
On yonder gallows -tree.

Chorus:
Sae rantingly, sae wantonly,
Sae dauntingly gaed he;
     [defiantly went tune] He play'd a spring, and danc'd it round
Below the gallows-tree.

0 what is death but parting breath?
On many a bloody plain
I've dar'd his face, and in this place
I scorn him yet again!

Untie these bands from off my hands
And bring to me my sword;
And there's no a man in all Scotland
But I'll brave him at a word.,

I've liv'd a life of sturt and strife;
      [violence] I die by treacherie:
It burns my heart I must depart
And not avenged be.

Now farewell, light, thou sunshine bright,
And all beneath the sky!
May coward shame distain his name,
      [stain] The wretch that dares not die!

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Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline in 1835, and left that town as a youth when his parents emigrated in 1848. He lived his early life in and around Pittsburgh, and only moved to New York when he had become one of the richest men in the iron and steel industry. However, at an early stage, he developed an interest in travel, coming over to Europe each summer and invariably visiting his native Dunfermline. Carnegie did not marry until 1887, and in that year he took the lease of Kilgraston House, situated on the hill between Perth and Bridge of Eam. Louise, his new wife, had heard the pipes in Edinburgh and begged that there should be piper at their new Scottish home -- who might walk round and waken them in the morning and also to play them in to dinner. In his autobiography, Carnegie observed that although his wife was American to the core and Connecticut Puritan at that, she had declared that if she were condemned to live upon a lonely island and allowed to choose only one musical instrument, it would be the pipes.

There was great response to Carnegie's advertisement, but he was particularly drawn to a John Macpherson of Laggan who presented his credentials from Cluny; and he is reputed to have said "What is good enough for Cluny Macpherson is surely good enough for Andrew Carnegie". John Macpherson was still a young man, but he had an outstanding background. His grandfather had learned his piping skills from the last of the MacCrimmons of Skye; and his father was Malcolm Macpherson, "Calum Piobair", piper to Old Cluny, the 20th Chief. Calum Piobair had retired to Catlodge in 1877 and there is a cairn to his memory near to the Dalwhinnie to Laggan road, erected by the Glasgow Badenoch Association in 1960. John Macpherson was duly appointed and proceeded to Kilgraston House to welcome the Carnegies to their first home in Scotland. Mr and Mrs Carnegie took John Macpherson back with them to New York at the end of the summer. Andrew Carnegie relates in his autobiography that it was Louise, his wife, who wanted a wilder and more Highland home, and in the following year(1888) when the Camegies were offered the lease of Cluny Castle, it was John Macpherson who influenced them in their selection of that residence.

Old Cluny, the 20th Chief and friend of Queen Victoria had lived in Cluny Castle all his life, and died in 1885. His eldest son Duncan died in the following year and was succeeded by his brother Ewen. The family was not wealthy, and indeed when one of Old Cluny's younger sons George got into heavy debt, Old Cluny had to sell Ardverikie and Dalchully estates in order to pay off his creditors. On his brother's death, Ewen was still involved in his military career, and unmarried. Two deaths in successive years had no doubt put further financial pressure on the Cluny Estates, and Ewen welcomed the opportunity of a summer let of the Castle. By this time, the Highland Railway had been operating between Perth and Inverness (via Forres) for more than 20 years, with connections throughout the country and it was therefore possible to travel by train from London to Newtonmore or Kingussie. Indeed, in the summer, the Railway Company would also put on special trains for whole shooting parties; and it is therefore surprising that when the Camegies first travelled the 700 miles from their London hotel to Cluny Castle, it was by horse drawn coach. From the beginning, Andrew Carnegie hosted large house parties; he particularly relished fishing and hunting, and he had the run of the whole of

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the eleven thousand acres of Cluny estate. Although little more than a hundred years old, Cluny Castle was furnished in the traditional manner, with guns, claymores, dirks and other historic artefacts decorating the walls. In his first year, one of his guests was James Blaine, a US Republican with hopes of nomination for the Presidency, who was to become Secretary of State in President Harrison's administration; and out on Loch Laggan, Carnegie had the pleasure of introducing Blaine to the joys of fly fishing for trout.

A novelty to Carnegie was the absence of complete darkness in June, and in his autobiography, he describes his party dancing on the lawn in the bright twilight until late "trying to do the Scotch reel, and whooping like Highlanders." The Camegies continued to come to Cluny Castle for ten successive years, but they always stayed first in England before proceeding north as there was no heating in the Castle. Such was the pleasure of Cluny Castle that Andrew Carnegie is said to have funded the building of the present west wing -- to accommodate a billiard room.

Alexander Macpherson, the Banker, in addition to his other activities, was factor of the Cluny Estates, and it was probably through that connection that Carnegie would have got to know him and his historical researches. Andrew Carnegie's support in subscribing for numerous copies of the Glimpses is significant because, although he showed outstanding generosity in supporting the building of Public Libraries, he was invariably reticent towards providing funds to stock the same -- regarding that as the duty of the particular community.

The Carnegies' only child, their daughter Margaret, was born in March 1897, and within a few months they had all crossed the Atlantic for what was to become their last Summer in Cluny Castle. Louise Carnegie had become particularly attached to the Estate and Andrew approached Ewen Macpherson of Cluny with a view to purchasing the Castle. By this time, Ewen had retired from his army duties and had just married (at the age of 60). He was not willing to sell the ancestral home at any price, and this caused the Carnegies to look elsewhere. The Camegies' searches eventually took them to Skibo Castle -- situated between Bonar Bridge and Dornoch in Sutherland; and in the first year, they took a lease of that property.

At about this time, their piper John Macpherson had accepted a position with the Earl of Ancaster at Drummond Castle, near Crieff, a prestigious appointment as the Earl had a reputation for employing outstanding pipers. A piper was required for Skibo. Andrew Carnegie had not forgotten John's young brother, Angus, not yet 21; and by coincidence, almost to the day when the Camegies' four-in-hand coach arrived at Cluny Castle ten years before, Angus was on the lawn of Skibo Castle, with his pipes, welcoming them to what was to become their permanent Highland home. Angus Macpherson continued in the Camegies' service for eight years, not only piping but attending on Andrew Carnegie when he went fishing. He also had the honour of playing before King Edward VII when he visited the Camegies at Skibo in 1903. Carnegie went on to purchase Skibo Castle and he also took the opportunity of acquiring extensive areas of land as far as the river Shin from the Sutherland Estates. He also modernised and extended the Castle, employing many skilled tradesmen. Among those employed were several members of the writer's family. Andrew Carnegie was impressed with the quality of their workmanship and after the work at Skibo was complete, he encouraged them to go to Pittsburgh: only the writer's grandfather remained in Scotland.

Andrew Carnegie's property in Sutherland included the Inveran Hotel, north of Bonar Bridge and on the banks of the River Shin; and in 1914, he invited Angus Macpherson to become the tenant of the Hotel. The Camegies were prevented from visiting Skibo during the First World War. Their daughter Margaret's wedding was arranged for April 1919 in New York. Once again, Andrew Carnegie remembered Angus Macpherson, and arranged for him to travel to New York to pipe at the wedding. It was apparent to Angus at that time that Andrew Carnegie's health was failing. He did not return to Scotland, and died on 11th of August in that year. Angus Macpherson continued to occupy Inveran Hotel until 1949, when very sadly, it was destroyed by fire. He was one of the outstanding pipers of his generation, and in 1969 the present Queen invested him with the insignia of the MBE for services to piping, at a private investiture at Balmoral Castle. He died on 3 d May 1976, aged 98.

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A weekly routine of the picket at Dubrach was to meet their colleagues from the Spittal of Glenshee at an appointed location mid-way between the two stations. Early in the morning of Thursday 28th September 1749, Sergeant Davies set off on his own ahead of his men to make contact with the Spittal of Glenshee picket. On his journey it was his habit to stalk deer and practise his shooting skills. He had been well warned by those with more experience of the area that travelling unescorted was a risky business but he responded with the comment "When I have my arms and ammunition about me, I fear nobody I can meet." It was known that in Glen Clunie he had stopped and reprimanded a man for wearing a tartan coat. Furthermore, his subordinates had observed him in the distance carrying out his arms practice. The two patrols met up as arranged but Sergeant Davies failed to appear -- he had simply disappeared. Despite an extensive search over a period of days no trace was found of Sergeant Davies. It was known in the area that Sergeant Davies was in the habit of carrying gold coins with him as he had been seen to tease small children by shaking his purse in front of them at his picket station. It was therefore assumed that he had been murdered in order to obtain the money and the body secreted.

The following June, Alexander McPherson, a shepherd who lived at a shieling in Glen Clunie was lying on his bed when an apparition appeared before him. Dressed in blue, the ghost summoned McPherson out doors where he announced to him that he was Sergeant Davies and described to him in detail the circumstances of his murder on the Hill of Cristie the previous September. He explained exactly where the body had been hidden and that he was keen for the remains to be properly interred. He asked that the shepherd do this in company with Donald Farquharson, the son of the landowner at Dubrach. Somewhat startled, McPherson asked who had murdered him and ghost replied that had he not been asked he may well have told him but having been asked, he could not. The spectre then disappeared.

McPherson went unaccompanied to the location described by the ghost and sure enough the body was there. He decided to leave well alone and returned to his shieling. However, the ghost reappeared, this time naked and more informative. When again asked whom the killer was he this time gave the names of Duncan Clerk and Alexander Macdonald. The ghost again disappeared, In company with Donald Farquharson, McPherson returned to the Hill of Cristie and buried the remains where they lay.

The events were duly reported but the process of law moved slowly. Clerk and Macdonald, both men of ill repute and rumoured locally to have carried out the crime, were eventually arrested three years later and detained at Braemar Castle. They stood trial during the summer of 1754 at the High Court in Edinburgh. At the trial an eyewitness of the murder was produced:

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a Rannoch man who had been hiding in the hills for political reasons was able to give a full narrative of the manner of the murder. Despite this and other strong circumstantial evidence, Clerk and Macdonald were found Not Guilty of the crime. It seems that the Edinburgh jury preferred to accept the weak alibi of the defendants rather than be persuaded by the testimony of the ghost upon which the Crown had placed so much emphasis. The defence played heavily on the fact that the ghost of the English soldier spoke perfect Gaelic -- described by Alexander McPherson "as good Gaelic as ever I heard in Lochaber."

To find the places named in this article you need an Ordnance Survey map -- or search the following internet website: www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap.

Ewen says: "If you agree the terms on the website you will then be able to use it. Type in Inverey' and it centres it with a GB; Grid No 085 895. If you play around with the zoom in and out plus the centre buttons you will see bow it works. I was unable to get the Inverey and Spittal of Glenshee on the one map. 'The Caimwell' is roughly the centre between the two places and that shows the River Clunie. Hope it is of use."

Ref: Private Report for the Bannatyne Club (1831) Fair Perthshire (1930) by Hamish Miles

In January 2004, the National Library added to their web-site the first atlas of Scotland, published by a Dutchman Joan Blaeu in 1654. In this atlas, the sheet for Inverness-shire is a reproduction of a map prepared by R Gordon of Straloch between 1641 and 1648. The River Spey is shown as almost a straight line running through Badenoch; and the various townships are listed on either side of the river.

Making allowance for the phonetic spelling, it is surprising how many of the place-names are still familiar to this day. Practically all the other maps of the 16th and 17th centuries cover the whole of Scotland and contain insufficient detail to interest anyone who is pursuing a particular area such as Badenoch; and it is the 18th and 19th century records which have the most historical information. Also these later maps show the "roads" which were in use at the particular time. A particular section is the Military Maps of Scotland and there are eight entries relating to Ruthven Barracks, extending from a detailed plan of the Barracks published in 1719, shortly after they were built, to a map prepared in 1735 showing the route of General Wade's proposed road from Ruthven by way of Glen Feshie to Braemar -- a road which was never constructed.

These maps show the precise location of the houses in the township of Ruthven, of which nothing now remains, and the traditional route for crossing the Spey. That route appears to have approached the river about a hundred yards east of the present iron bridge.

By 1735, General Wade had completed about 250 miles of road which included the road by Dalwhinnie and Ruthven to Inverness and the separate road from Dalwhinnie over the Corrieyairack to Fort Augustus. The more general section of the web-site is indexed under "Maps of Scotland 1560 -- 1928". Andrew Rutherford's map of the Great Roads through the Highlands (1745) and Thomas Willdey's map of the King's Roads (published in 1746) display the original line of the two military roads through Badenoch; but by 1775, George Taylor and Andrew Skinner's map shows the new Inverness road crossing the Spey by a bridge at Ralia and passing the inn at Pitmain (about a mile to the west of Kingussie). In the

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following year, Taylor and Skinner published what must have been the first "road maps" of Scotland and both the Inverness road and the Corrieyairack are shown in considerable detail. The inns at Dalwhinnie, Garvamore and Pitmain are all specified, and various townships including Ralia and Ruthven. There is no indication of any significant population where Newtonmore and Kingussie are now situated, but mention is made of Kingussie Kirk.

Perhaps of most interest is John Thomson's two maps of Inverriess-shire, published in 1830. Not only do these maps show all the known roads in the area, but also have the greatest number of place-names, many of which do not appear in later maps. Kingussie and Laggan appear as being the biggest townships; but there is still no mention of Newtonmore, and Glentruim is identified by the old name of Nessintully. By this time, Thomas Telford's bridge over the Truim at Crubenmore had superseded the old bridge below Crubenbeg, and from here, the "link" road goes over the hill to the site of the new Cairn and then west by Breakachy to Catlodge, Also of great interest is a reference to the Boat House immediately to the east of Kingussie, and a spur road on the south side of the Spey, indicating the position of the original ferry. Newtonmore is not identified in the Carringtons' map of 1846, but appears in Adam and Charles Black's map of 1862. Some of the items referred to above have already appeared in print, notably Gordon of Straloch's map of Badenoch which appears in Alexander Macpherson's Glimpses of Church and Social Life in the Highlands and the plan of Ruthven Barracks in J B Salmond's Wade in Scotland but such books are no longer in print; and an examination of the material on the web-site gives a greater dimension of all the material than was ever there before.

Over the next year, the National Library is intending to extend the resource to the first edition of the "six inch" (approx 1:10,000) Ordnance Survey maps which were published around 1870. These maps are fascinating to explore, showing many topographical features such as the sites of the various caves and other hiding places of Cluny of the 'Forty-five.

EG returned to the UK after the outbreak of WWI and served in the Royal Scots Greys. When hostilities ceased he returned to the Northern Territory. He married Queenie Rhoda Scrutton in Darwin in 1933 and they had two children, Ana (Georgina) and Heather. He enlisted in the Australian Army in October 1939. For the last 18 months and in cooperation with EG's granddaughter Karen Cooper, who remembers EG, efforts have been made to expand our knowledge of the life and times of our 24th Chief This short note is included in Creag Dhubh as a token of remembrance for the Chief that few people knew.

A much fuller article will be prepared for publication in the 2006 Creag Dhubh.
_______________

*Representative in Australia

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tartans, heraldry and poetry, and on a selection of notable clansmen of more modem times. Compared with the Macphersons, the MacGillivrays were a small clan with a small tacksman class; its clansmen were generally dispersed among Maclntoshes and Frasers, with its leading families concentrated in Stratherrick southeast of Loch Ness. Unlike historians of the Clan Macpherson, the author had nothing comparable to Sir Aeneas Macpherson of Invereshie's manuscript genealogy on which to draw in describing the clan. The precise genealogical connections between the leading ciansmen in Dunmaglass, Dalcrombie and Aberchalder who signed the Termit Band of 1609 are left unexplored.

The paucity of genealogical information, particularly with respect to marriages, obscures the picture with respect to alliances with other families and clans in the general vicinity. Macphersons, who traditionally formed exogamous marriages with Maclntoshes, Shaws, Farquharsons, MacBeans and MacQueens, seldom crossed the Monadhliaths to court Stratherrick MacGillivray girls; only four such marriages are on record: (1) Ewen McPherson of Brin married Margaret McGillivray, and (2) Alastair ruadh of Phoness married a daughter of Dalcrombie early in the 17 th century, (3) Gillicallum of Ardbrylach, a younger brother of Donald mór McPherson of Ballachroan, took as his second wife a daughter of Dunmaglash, and (4) Alexander McPherson, a son of Donald óg of Crubinmore, married Margaret, daughter of Alexander of Dunmaglash. Nor does he recognise the role of the Macphersons in solving the Mackintosh-Cameron feud (p. 14) and in the Battle of Mulroy (pp 17,18). Politically, the clan in Stratherrick was closer to and more dependent upon MacIntosh than the Macphersons were. Similarly, the MacGillivrays in Mull and Skye were subordinate to the dominant MacLeans and Macdonalds in those islands. The author does not question the "tradition" that the little clans of MacGillivrays in the West Highlands and Islands were branches of the Stratherrick clan, which used to be accepted in the case of the Macphersons of Argyle, Skye, and among the Clanranald with respect to the Badenoch clan -- a view that is no longer tenable. At the other end of the time-scale, while the author has written at length on the appearance and success of leading clansmen overseas and in the New World, he has eschewed the question of when his clansmen first appeared in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. Nevertheless, he has used his resources efficiently to present an engaging account of the Clan MacGillivray which is a significant and signal addition to the literature on the Clan Chattan.

(Copies may be obtained from Mrs Pauline McGillivray, "Fairview", 8813 Barnton Park View, Edinburgh, Scotland EH4 6HJ. Price:£12 plus £2 p&p in the UK, £5 overseas).

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Curator Olive has asked me to give you details of the costs, lest you require to purchase a copy(ies) as Christmas presents before the museum closes at the end of October. Cost of book £6 P&P: UK £ 1, Europe £ 1.50, Elsewhere £ 2.50; more copies an extra £ 1 P&P per book. Ewen (Talia-Shee)

It differentiates between "Mac" and "Mc" in usage, although there is no practical difference between them in significance or in meaning; but it does not differentiate between the usage of the capital "P" or the lower case "p" and always uses the capital. Hence it reveals that in Great Britain in 1881 there were 10,457 McPhersons and 2,195 Macphersons; although most of us would no doubt have liked to see the latter given as Macpherson. Another 75 appear in 11 further versions of the surname, most of them in England where those making the census returns in these instances are unlikely to have been familiar with the name. Thus we find oddities such as MacPereson, MacPerson, MacPhearson, MacPher and MacFerson. Others listed are MacPhyerson, McPhherson and MacPferson; but these are more likely to have arisen from incorrect transcriptions of the original record.

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Macphersons should consider themselves fortunate to have so few variations in the spelling of their surname. In the case of my own surname I found no fewer than 75 varieties! The real value of the Surname Atlas, however, is as the name suggests, in showing the spread of Macphersons throughout Great Britain by the time of the census of 1881. As one would expect there was still a good concentration of the clan to be found in Invemess-shire; almost 15 % of the total, But this was exceeded by the numbers in Lanarkshire (including part of Glasgow) and Midlothian (including Edinburgh) which accounted for some 22%. Aberdeenshire and Perthshire each contained about 5%, as did the North of England. The London area held some 2%. But enough of statistics; other than to mention that two thirds of those in Invemess-shire used the "Mc" spelling.

Finally, would anyone care to comment on pronunciation? So often on radio and television these days we hear the clan name rendered erroneously. As our American cousins so frequently point out, there is no "fear" in Macphersons! But of course, you know that already.

[This contribution was received before the tragic death of Margaret before Christmas 2004 in a car accident. We send our sincere condolences to the family -- but feel they would wish us to publish the following, as planned. Ed.]

Dear Reader,

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I arrived there the day before Mother's Day and was able to swim over to Urquhart Castle where I heard a lot of roaring and whistling going on. Then suddenly I saw my Mother. She began sniffing me all over and said she thought 1 had gone forever. Well what a wonderful day we had. Then I had a great surprise -- I met Gilbert who was visiting his Mother. We hit it off at first whistle. Gilbert and I are now married and have a daughter called Fiona so we really can't return to Australia. We are, however, really looking forward to Hannah, Callum, Margaret and Doug visiting us when they have their next trip to 'Clan Country'.

If you are really interested and want to know more, you could purchase a video of Loch Ness and I know you will see Mother, me, Gilbert and Fiona as we appear near the Castle.
Yours flippantly,

Rebecca,
Daughter of Nessie Mcpherson

Dear Editor,
Recently, I requested further information of my Scottish ancestors in the Highland Family History Society Journal, I believe John L. Macpherson of the Australian Branch sent details to you and Ewen S.L. MacPherson of Talla-Shee. Ewen has written to me with information and I am most grateful. Growing up in England in the thirties, I knew very little about my Scottish ancestors as James, my grandfather had died many years earlier. The son of a crofter, he enlisted in the army and when stationed at Coventry Barracks, met Rose, my grandmother. Shortly after their meeting, he deserted, buried his uniform on a nearby common and the couple eloped to London to join his elder brother Philip. Lucy, the widowed mother of Rose, followed and was able to witness the marriage at Camberwell Register Office in June 1881. Lucy returned to Warwickshire and James found work in London as a carman. Rose and James had eight children, the eldest, Francis, enlisted in the Queens Regiment at Guildford in March 1898, aged 16, although he gave his age as 18. Served in South Africa and India and died from enteric fever in December 1902, he is buried at Peshawar. It was said that Rose was overwhelmed with grief and her marriage failed. Rose and the children moved to Southwark and a few years later, to Warwickshire. I remember Aunt Lottie, daughter of Philip, telling my father that she saw James at Southend on Sea. This would be before the Great War, he was several yards away, but never came forward to speak, but simply waved. She added that he died from a broken heart. Last year I obtained a death certificate: JAMES MACPHERSON -- Died 5 November 1912, age 52.
General Labourer, formally of Sea House, Fast Street, Prittlewell U.D.

Place of death -- Union Infirmary, Rochford R. D.
Cause of death - Morbus Cordis.
Informant -- H. Goldby, Master of the Workhouse, Rochford.

Rose was the illegitimate daughter of Lucy Flavell, a domestic servant and an aristocrat. Possibly true, but it was a claim made by many young single mothers to make an illegitimate child more acceptable to neighbours and the extended family. As a small child I was usually reluctant to visit Granny Mae, deaf and almost blind, conversation was difficult and I would stand very close and shout into her ear. Rose died a few days before Christmas 1938 in the Municipal Hospital, Coventry. I said I would trace my Scottish ancestors when I retired and I had the opportunity in October 1994 when I visited my youngest son, a student at Dundee University. I spent a day at the New Register House, Edinburgh and discovered my gt gt grandfather, Angus Martin McPherson had lived in the parish of Kilmuir, on the Isle of Skye. I remembered the article by Rory Mor, 'Serendipity on Skye' (CREAG DHUBH 1991) which suggested a link with the Macphersons on Skye and the MacLeods. Recently a researcher gave me the location of his home, Stenscholl, which I assume is a township in the parish. I was also told that Macphersons are scattered throughout Skye. My gt gt grandmother was Margaret Paterson and that is not a common name on the island. Unfortunately, few records for this period have survived and it seems unlikely I will be able to acquire more information.

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I am also a member of Aberdeen & N.E. Scotland FHS and another researcher was able to give me further information on my grandfather's family. It seems the life of Ewen, son of Angus McPherson was shaped by events on Skye, he left the island, possibly worked on Islay before moving to the mainland. He drifted east, met Janet Cant, my gt grandmother in Naimshire or Morayshire and were married in 1852 at Edinkillie. They lived in the parish of Dallas before moving to Spynic and New Elgin. They had eight children and the Census Returns described Ewen as a labourer or carter, one described Janet as a cow-keeper. The unremitting poverty of this family in nineteenth century Britain must be related to our history, famine in Skye, highland clearances, deprivation in crowded slums of London. Men were manual workers, women domestic servants, yet despite such poverty, there is no evidence of criminal behaviour or violence.

Conditions were little better for my father, wounded twice in action and discharged as medically unfit in 1917, he took poorly paid jobs in factories and in his final years, a school caretaker. Despite limited opportunities in education, I fared much better in employment, particularly in the early post-war years. Later, I was grateful for the wider opportunities available for my children and they are able to pursue successful careers. Perhaps the genes that determine our true potential, dormant in our ancestors, were able to blossom for them. Many members of the Macpherson Clan Association could probably tell similar stories and we should celebrate this talent and diversity. It would also be interesting to know how other descendants of Angus Martin McPherson have fared.

With my good wishes,

Trevor Macpherson 17 Orchard Gardens, Llandrindod Wells, Powys LD I 6BA

It explains that Clan Donald has historically considered itself as a branch of Clan Colla and as children of Conn. Colla was High King of Ireland who seized Ulster and then took his followers to Scotland around 325AD. Colla's descendants Fergus, Loam and Angus (sons of Erc) were the principal foundation lines reestablishing the Scottish kingdom of Dalriada around 465AD. Colla was believed to be a great great great grandson of Conn of the Hundred Battles, High King of Ireland circa 150AD. A predicted six mutation spread within approximately 1500 years has identified MacDonalds (MacDonnells) descended from the kindred of Colla in both the Irish and Scottish branches of Clan Donald.

Not all Clan Donalds are descended from Colla but the identification of this signature is a major advance which supports the accuracy of ancient Irish and Scottish oral histories and genealogies. Project Director, Mark MacDonald, stated:

"We have built on the data of existing genetic projects including the MacGregors, Gaelic Livingstons, and Campbells to reach a common goal: understanding the genealogy and history of the Scottish highlands and its historic link to Ireland." He has worked out what he thinks the Y-chromosome DNA signature is. "We have identified this signature and expected close mutations throughout the highlands and islands and also in Clan Colla from Ireland.

"We invite existing genetic projects and genetic researchers for descendants of Colla and for

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other Ulster and Connacht lines to join with us in joint research to further explore this significant finding. Clan Donald's database may be confidentially examined by prospective joint research participants. In the meantime, Clan Donald hopes that publication of this genetic signature will assist other Scottish and Irish studies in understanding their data."

He says that Scottish and Irish clans historically descended from Colla Uais include:
(a)Scotland: MacDonald, MacGregor, MacGillivray, MacEachern, MacMillian, MacKinnon, MacQuarrie, Campbell, MacPhee, MacInnes;
(b) Ireland: Maguire, MacMahon, MacManus, Agnew, Alexander, Boylan, Cassidy (who were chiefs of Coole), Connolly (chiefs in Fermanagh), Duffy, Hale, Hanratty (anglicized Enright), Keenan of Fermanagh, Leahy in Galway, MacCabe of Monaghan and Caven, MacCann of Clan brassil, MacEvoy, MacVeagh, MacVeigh (anglicized form of MacUais) in West Meath, Magee in Down and Antrim, MacKenna in Monaghan, Mac0scar (anglicized MacCusker), MacTulty, and MacGrath in Fermanagh, MacNeny (anglicized Bird), MacRory (anglicized Rogers), MacSheehy, Madden, Norton, O'Carroll, O'Flanagan, O'Hanlon, O'Hart in Tara, and MacQuillan in Antrim.

If you wish to get in touch with Mark, use the following address:
Mark E. MacDonald
Director of Clan Donald USA Genetic Project And National Historian for Clan Donald USA
325 North St. Paul Street,Suite 2400
Dallas, Texas 75201
USA

Direct Dial: +1 (214) 922-9050 Facsimile: +1 (214) 922-9718

Email: mark@macdonaldlaw.com.

To Helen (nee Macpherson) and Philip Whitchurst, who live at Frankby, Liverpool, in England, a daughter, Hannah Elizabeth Rose on 5th February 2004. Sixth grandchild for Gerald and Joy Macpherson.

To Tesneem and Tony Macpherson, who live in Ealing, London, England a daughter, Leila Sofia on 6 November, 2004, sister for Zachary. Seventh grandchild for Gerald and Joy Macpherson.

[Gerald and Joy say: If you want to see us all, (except my wife, Joy, who was on the other side of the camera!), you have to go back to the 1976 Creag Dhubh, from 1-r Robert, now 36 and Head of Marketing and Development at the Birmingham Hippodrome, Helen aged 33, Tony is 32, next to him is our eldest, Katherine, 37, who has two girls and holds the franchise for running French and Spanish Clubs in the Vale of Glamorgan.

I'm holding the "Baby" Ailsa (name inspired by Ewen S.L.'s daughter) who is now 30 and is studying to be an educational psychologist, having qualified as a modem languages teacher at Bristol University. So now there are 17 of us and Joy and I hope they will continue to increase and multiply!]

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Macpherson-Bolton: Elizabeth Sundi Macpherson and Tristan Antony Bolton were married in church at Marcharn near Abingdon, Oxford, England on 21 August 2004. Liz's father, George Andrew (Editor of Creag Dhubh) -- wearing the kilt -- gave the bride away. Tristan's parents, David and Claire Bolton of Marcham, and family members from both sides of the family enjoyed a very happy day and fine weather.

(Left) Liz and Tristan
Bolton, at the reception
near Oxford in England

Macpherson-Sondergaard: Henry Macpherson and Lill Sondergaard were married in Forde church, North of Bergen in Norway. Both Henry and his father George Andrew (of Creag Dhubh) wore the Hunting Tartan. Henry's two sons, Tommy and Nickolai were pages and made speeches in English to welcome Lill 'to the Macpherson family'. The reception followed Norwegian tradition, with songs, and nearly everyone making a speech of some kind, finishing with 'Skal' -- signalling a toast and the opportunity for the next short speech, poem, song or joke..

Henry and Lill with their
pages, Tommy (left) and
Nickolai arriving at the
reception near Forde

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W John McPherson (1915-2003) was born on 6 August 1915 in Edinburgh, and aged 20 went to Leicester to be trained as an engineer. In Leicester he fell in love with his landlady's daughter, Joan, and they were married in 1940. John and Joan had three daughters, Rae, Sally and Heather and Joan now has four grandchildren and six 'beautiful greatgrandchildren'. John used to say that walking through that door to his lodgings in Leicester proved to be the most expensive door he had ever passed through! John's brother Kenneth was chairman of the Clan Macpherson Association from 1976-1979, but he died in 1993. John was the oldest of three brothers - Kenneth was the middle one, and the younger brother, Ronald, who died with a heart attack when he was 52, was an ordained priest. Joan gave John's kilt to Ronald's son, Angus -- so it's still being worn with pride. In 1962 John's engineering took the couple to Sheffield where he became area manager for his company, working until he was 68 -- escaping as often as he could to the golf course. John died on 20 July 2003. As he was dying, he told Joan: "don't grieve long I've had a wonderful life": words that have been a great comfort to those left behind.

James Alexander (Alex) McPherson (1915-2004) passed away peacefully on 20th May 2004, writes his son Iain who lives at Bulleen, Victoria. Alex was the great grandson of Donald Macpherson and Mary McCrimmon who were married at Kilmuire (Parish of Durnish) in 1814. At the age of 70 the widowed Mary migrated to Australia with eight of her fifteen children in 1852. Alex was born to James (grandson of Mary) and Lily on 25th February 1914 on the family property 'Kirkton Farm' at Melton (Victoria). At the age of four, his widowed mother and sisters Mary and Christina left the farm and moved to Brighton, a suburb of Melbourne after his father passed away at the age of 54. Alex attended the local State school and later became a boarder at Scotch College. He attended Dookie Agricultural College, but left before qualifying because of the drain on his mother's limited income. Alex then joined his uncles (his mother's brothers) in their family business J.K. Mills Sons Pry Ltd, Manufacturers Agents in the then famous soft goods hub of Flinders Lane, Melbourne. The company represented many English and Irish soft goods manufacturers. He eventually became managing director.

Alex enlisted in Melbourne at the start of World War Two, and was one of the first soldiers to establish camp at the Albury Showgrounds, so he was an original member of the famous 2/23rd Infantry Battalion (Albury's Own). Alex was known in the battalion as 'Curly'. He served as a lance corporal, later rising through the ranks of corporal, lance sergeant, sergeant and finally lieutenant. He served overseas in Palestine, Tobruk, Syria, El Alamein and New Guinea. Before joining Land Headquarters Melbourne, Alex trained with the Canungra Jungle Training Battalion where he was made 2i/c K Company, and later company commander. He was awarded the ED (Efficiency Decoration).

Alex married Yvonne Penny at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Brighton in November 1943. They had two children, Iain and Margaret. At the age of 40 Alex partly purchased and inherited his grandparent's farm, 'Kirkton' which he had left many years before and ran it in conjunction with his business. At this time the farm was very neglected, but with the help of his family he was able to restore it. Alex bred beef cattle, and had a love of thoroughbred horses. Being a Scot he was not a gambler, but he got enjoyment from their breeding and their

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achievements. The urban sprawl of Melbourne eventually reached Melton, so in 1972 'Kirkton' was sold, but not before Alex and Yvonne had purchased other properties at Drummond and at Gisborne where they established a new home also named 'Kirkton'.

Unfortunately after the passing of Yvonne in 1982, Alex had a hip operation and because of continuing heart problems he was forced to sell 'Kirkton' and move to an apartment in South Yarra. At this time he renewed his interest in the 2/23rd Battalion, and Rats of Tobruk. He also became involved with Do Care and Prahran Probus.

Alex made friends easily and loved to entertain. He never lost his sense of humour and his sincere interest in other people's activities. He was extremely proud of his grandchildren's achievements. He is survived by his two children, five grandchildren and three great grand children.

Letty Macpherson (1905-2004) died only 18 months before her 100th birthday, reports the East Kilbride News (Wed 14th January 2004). She had been a sprightly, active pensioner who still loved to travel and visit her family and friends right up to her final days. Letitia Wylie was born on August 27, 1905, in Govan, Glasgow, being the third oldest in a family of seven sisters and four brothers. After leaving school she secured her first job as a tailoress, says the newspaper report. In the mid 1920s she worked in London as a housekeeper in the homes of the wealthy. After almost a decade in the capital she moved back to, Govan and met Iain, whom she married in 1933. In 1947 the couple and their two sons Iain and Billy moved to Priesthill on the parameters of Glasgow's south side where the pair lived for 21 years. Sadly, tragedy visited Letty in 1987 when husband Iain died. Following his death, she sought comfort in the company of family and friends, which saw her continue to travel to Glasgow to visit friends.

Letty's other loves were music and film. She had a piano and loved to sing tunes by composers like Cole Porter. She was so proud when her son Billy wrote the two Eurovision contest winning songs for Britain. (See the article in this Creag Dhubh entitled 'Congratulations'.) Letty suffered a stroke in the summer of 2002 which resulted in her moving to the Abbey Lodge in East Kilbride where she stayed until she died on December 18. Her son Iain said: "She was such a kind hearted lady who would give away her last penny if she thought it would help somebody." Letty is survived by her two sons, six grandchildren and two great grand children.

Catherine Hunter, née Cumming (1909-2004) With the passing of Cathie Cumming (Mrs Hunter) on the 8th of June 2004, Badenoch and Clan Macpherson have lost a loyal daughter of Kingussie who will be fondly remembered for her sustaining of the bardic tradition. Cath's maternal grandparents were James Macpherson and Jane Stewart (Strone). She was fourth of the five children of Catherine Kennedy Macpherson (Strone 1874-1953) and Donald Cumming (Dava 1875-1942); Peter MacKenzie, (1902-1974) Jane Stewart (1904-1982), Jessie Grant (1906- 1987) , Catherine (14th February 1909-2004) and Margaret (1910-1982), all of whom were brought up in Kingussie where her father was Provost. After schooling at Kingussie High School and during the time of the second world war, while Jean, Mac and Margaret continued their studies furth of [beyond] Badenoch and Jessie and her young family resided in Skye, Cath remained in Kingussie looking after her ageing parents and working as a trained civil servant in Kingussie Post Office where she employed her skills in use of Morse code and semaphore. She was a member of the church choir, trained singer and pianist, member of the operatic and amateur dramatic societies and a keen golfer, tennis player and driver of her own car. Her musical, sports and driving interests were shared with Lawrence James Hunter a dental surgeon from Glasgow, who set up his practices in Kingussie, Grantown and Tomintoul. They were married in 1941 in St Columba's Church, the church that she attended for a substantial part of her life including more than 30 years of widowhood when she returned to Kingussie. After a brief return to Kingussie from Grantown where the first three children, Morag, Niall and Una were born the young family moved to Strathaven where their fourth child, Iain, was born and

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where Lawrence was both a practitioner and lecturer at Glasgow University Dental School. Cath contributed to the life of Strathaven's Rankine Church and organised various social activities for the local Bamardos children's home. The family then began their return northwards, first to Pitlochry where Cath led a Gaelic choir, contributed to the regional Scottish Women's Rural Institute and supported her husband's many contributions to the community as town councillor, elder of the Church of Scotland and in his role as a founder Governor of Pitlochry's now internationally acclaimed Festival Theatre. A relatively short time after the family's return to Badenoch, to Newtonmore and Lawrence's re-establishing the dental surgery in Gynack Street, Kingussie and also in Inverness, Cath and her family were to have to survive the tragic loss of his life at age 53 years. She returned to her beloved Kingussie where she remained until almost her last day, continuing even when she was in her nineties, to cheer the shinty team and to influence many young musicians, encouraging them to look to the roots of their Celtic, and particularly, the Gaelic traditions.

1. 40% of the membership who replied were only interested in receiving Creag Dhubh and / or going to the annual Clan Gathering;
2. The balance were also interested in reeling, a ceilidh, dining A à l'écosse, dining simpliciter, whisky and clan history. (That's not whisky and clan history necessarily taken together. Grammar dictates that there is no comma after whisky, but it may be that the pair are more digestible à deux.) Perhaps also attendance at a Scottish rally, a form of entertainment much appreciated in the USA and Canada.

But what of that 40%, and indeed the E & W membership who did not reply? I suspect that they are likely to be the more senior members of our branch, perhaps more interested in Creag Dhubh than the Clan Gathering. It is a fact that CMA membership is ageing. One hopes that they have passed on their interest to their children, particularly as the CMA is as vital now as it has ever been, and that their children are aware of the various events and entertainments which the branches offer. It is worthwhile remembering that subscriptions are payable by associate members and junior members in not too extortionate sums. Paying a subscription makes you much more accessible to those in the CMA who organise events.

Just a word on life membership. I know it's a lot more but it is a one off. And it does seem to me to be a little odd to be interested in your heritage on an annual basis, rather than for life! Life membership makes administration much easier; and of course the gift of a life membership to one's children will ensure that Creag Dhubh will continue following them long after one is playing the harp or stoking the fire. In this way, it becomes a constant reminder of 'belonging'.

In the same vein, young Mums and Dads can be particularly vulnerable to recruitment shortly after the arrival of their beloved heirs. In much the same way as many commence regular

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attendance at Sunday worship, so they also start to think heritage at such precious times. We ought perhaps to have a form to send proud parents, eligible for membership of the CMA, to encourage them to take out family membership. In addition, I think that the committee members of the branches ought to carry business cards, setting out relevant details of the CMA in that Branch which they can give to anyone likewise eligible and interested.

WHY BOTHER?
But I have not yet addressed the all important issue: Why bother to join? No doubt John Macpherson, the Black Officer, himself a recruiting officer, would turn in his grave, but, I think the answer to that question, the real recruiting sergeants, are reeling and history. Reeling first. I remember when my children, whose current ages neatly span the teens, first went to the Ball at the Clan Gathering, they were embraced with delight by the regulars. There are now many young who attend that function, and indeed the London Bali which takes place in November every year. No doubt the same is true in the other branches. And the more they go, the more proficient their reeling (from a pretty slow start in the case of some, I can tell you), the greater their circle of friends and the more they enjoy. Moreover if you are a regular attender at the Clan Gathering in Newtonmore, it is indeed a joy to go on a holiday to a part of Scotland where you have a sense of belonging, and to a place whence you and yours are likely to have hailed so many years before. And that sense of belonging is true of regular attendance at the Macpherson Balls wherever they are held. Reeling is really very simple. And whenever there is a Clan Ball, there is likely to be some reeling tuition in advance.

History is perhaps more of a challenge. Of course there are many excellent books on the history of the clan and of Badenoch. Instinctively one thinks of Alexander Macpherson's Glimpses of Church and Social Life in the Highlands first published in 1893 and Professor Alan G. Macpherson's Day's March to Ruin. The Museum has all of them. Creag Dhubh is stuffed full of historical articles. But I reckon Clan talks are an idea worth exploiting, tailored to the nature of the clansmen in attendance, over a dram, with dinner to follow. A Scottish Dinner that is: It might cater for all ages. And goodness knows we have a lot of members who can stand on their hind legs. And then there's genealogy ......

I recognize that the England and Wales membership put the ceilidh high up on the list of functions that it would enjoy. I've always been a bit nervous of this myself, being aware that the standard of performance can be very high. One thinks of the Gordon and Jean Macpherson Duffy family rendition of the base ball game at the 1996 gathering. And the words "Sunshine Mountain" have a peculiar resonance for Clan Gathering attendees of recent years. It's worth remembering that a ceilidh is economical to organise. It is not normally accompanied by a formal dinner, and it can embrace reeling as well as individual and group performances.

Whatever the entertainments and events organised by the Branches for their membership, it seems to me that an essential ingredient is variety and change. The formula which worked for one generation will not necessarily enthral the next. Communication with the membership and recruitment of young blood on the committees is all important. And it should not be difficult for the membership to tell their committees what's what by e-mail or using the web site at www.clan-macpherson.org. Similarly newsletters are excellent for keeping the membership abreast of what a Branch has in play. The Scottish Branch Newsletter is a real pathfinder. They're into crosswords in the next edition. The England and Wales Branch are still on recipes.

The 60th anniversary of the CMA is in 2006. The Clan Gathering for that event, under the guiding hand of Bruce Macpherson, should prove a real draw for clansmen and women. Bruce remains anxious for new faces to join his committee. If it's anything like the 50th anniversary Gathering, the first I attended, it will be inspirational. Who knows, if it's well attended, the clan might even have a winner in the hill race at the Newtonmore Highland Games.

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The AGM of the Association is on Saturday morning at 10.30am in Newtonmore Village Hall and finishes in time for lunch. There are no formal arrangements for this but a good lunch can be obtained locally at a number of hotels.

The Clan march, for all kilted male Macpherson/Association members, leaves Old Ralia at 2pm. Those intending to march are asked to assemble at 1.45pin when their entry fee to games field will be collected. After the Chief and clansmen have been officially welcomed onto the Eilan, marchers retire to the Clan Tent where a free dram is available. Following the games, Association members and guests are invited to an "At Home" in the Clan Museum between 4 -5pm.

In the evening, a traditional Scottish supper is available in The Ballroom of Duke of Gordon Hotel and this is followed by a Ceilidh. If you want to take part, just make yourself known to the "Fear an Tigh" who will be in charge of the evening. For those who wish, an after Ceilidh Ceilidh goes on till the "wee sma' hours".

On Sunday morning Clan members attend St Columba's Church Kingussie at 11am and join the locals for morning worship. Later, (weather permitting) Clanspeople take a picnic lunch to the Cairn site at Glentruim Estate. This informal get-together is very pleasant and, if the weather is fine the magnificent views can be appreciated.

The last official event is held on Sunday afternoon at the lovely Balavil House where Allan & Marjorie Macpherson-Fletcher generously invite us to afternoon tea. Balavil House is now known all over the world as Kilwillie's house in "Monarch of the Glen".

On Sunday evening members are free to attend an evening of entertainment/dance in the Duke of Gordon Hotel. This is available to all guests and is completely informal.

Monday morning is a low key day when those remaining in the area can take part in a walk (usually of Clan interest) The Association Officials would like to remind members who will be coming to the various events that if possible payment by cheque is preferred. Card payments have to be completed at the Museum only, and are subject to a handling charge which increases Association costs. Tickets can be collected at the Museum from Friday 5 th Aug but if preferred, (on receipt of a stamped, addressed envelope) tickets can be sent out in advance. Early booking is essential, makes life much easier for the organisers, and is vital for the Hotel regarding catering and seating. Please complete the booking form in this edition and send it in by July 1st 2005.

If you would like to attend but cannot be sure until the last minute, please phone or E-mail me as to the availability of tickets for Ball/ Buffet Supper and Ceilidh. This will ensure that your journey is not wasted. The informal events are more flexible and problems of this sort should not arise.