Happy New Year! - The Clan Macfie Society

Happy Happy New New Year!
Year!
Clan Clan Macfie Macfie News
News
From Iain Morris McFie, Ceann Cath
Coulintyre, Kincraig, Kingussie, PH21 1LX, Scotland
E-mail: imcfie103@btinternet.com
___________________________________________________________
No. 61 31 st Edition January 2012
Being Commander is a special
privilege, and that has been made very
clear by the exciting year Fiona and I
have just experienced. Our travels took
us to America twice and also Canada.
In the previous issue, we told you
about our visit to Texas as guests of
the Coffee Family. Then, in the fall,
we visited North and South Carolina,
where I was honored as Chieftain of
the Charleston and Scotland County
Games. After that, we saw Tennessee
and Virginia before moving on to
Canada. There we visited Sylvia
McPhee, the Clan Commissioner in
Auchter: In day-to-day Gaelic, air
auchter means “on top of,” so a place
name with auchter in it refers to a
place on high ground; therefore, it is
usually in or on the edge of the
What a Grand Year It’s Been!
A Gaelic Lesson in Place Names
Canada, and other Macfies in Toronto,
where we remained until the end of
October. The generosity shown to
Fiona and me by Clan folk, both in
their time and financial support, was
outstanding and very much
appreciated.
Inside this edition you will find
accounts of our travels. I hope you
enjoy reading them in yet another great
issue of the Clan News. I would like to
thank the editor, associate editor and
the compositor/photographer for their
sterling work during difficult times.
Highlands. Auchtrmuchty is one of
Scotland’s most recognisable names
and translates as the “high ground of
the pig rearing.” Not far from where
we live is Drumochter, which means

“the spine of the high ground.” It is
also the second highest point in the
railway network in Britain at
approximately 1,500 ft. This narrow
pass also carries the main road, the A9,
north.
Dun: This word comes from the
Gaelic and is a hill or mound, but it
can also mean a fortress as in Dun
Eibhinn, the ancient hill fort on
Colonsay. Dunfermline is said by
some to mean the “Fort of Parlane,”
from whom the Macfarlanes are said to
be descended.
Plants have played an important role in
Scotland’s literary heritage, not least of
which is the White Cockade. Bonnie
Prince Charlie, as he advanced on
Edinburgh in 1745, plucked from a
wayside bush a little white rose, the
white cockade, which was to become
the symbol of the rebellion. The Prince
wore the flower in his blue bonnet, and
the white cockade was taken and used
by many to show their support.
It is said that Donald MacDonald of
Kinlochmoidart, one of the Prince’s
staff officers, noticed a family in
Carlisle with a newborn baby.
MacDonald pinned his white cockade
on the shawl of the babe to show that
Flora and Fauna 2
Dundee comes from the personal name
Daig, which is derived from the old
Celtic word for fire.
Drum is Gaelic for ridge, back or
spine. Many settlements were built on
such strategically important features.
The village of Drem, in East Lothian,
preserves the original Gaelic
pronunciation of the name. Drumbeg
and Drummore mean “little ridge”
and “big ridge,” respectively.
Drumchapel, a suburb of Glasgow, is
from drum chapull, the “mare’s back.”
Dumfries, where the next Gathering is
to take place, means “ridge of the
thicket.”
the family were to be left unharmed.
Almost eighty years later that same
girl, Rosemary Dacre, by then the wife
of Sir John Clerck of Penicuick,
showed the same white rose to George
the IV on the occasion of his famous
visit to Edinburgh in 1822.
The Hanoverians did not show the
same sympathy to MacDonald of
Kinlochmoidart. Captured at Culloden,
he was sentenced to death and hanged.
Two and a half centuries later at the
opening of the new Scottish Parliament
in 1999, all the Scottish Nationalist
Members of the Scottish Parliament
wore the white rose of Scotland in their
buttonhole.
The rose of all the world is not for me,
I want for my part,
Only the little white rose of Scotland
That smells sharp and sweet – and breaks my heart
Hugh MacDairmid – The Little White Rose -1934

The Chief of the Macfies was hunting
and came upon an old man whose dog
had a litter of puppies, one of which
was completely black. Macfie decided
it was the one he would like to own.
“The rest you may take,” said the old
man, “but not the black one.”
“No other will do,” insisted the Chief.
“I must have it.” The old man relented,
saying, “Take it then. Only one day’s
work will it do for you and that will be
well done.”
When the dog grew up it had a
ravenous appetite and would not hunt,
but Macfie would not get rid of it. One
day as the Chief readied his bhirlinn
for a hunting trip to the island of Jura,
the black dog lay down on the beach
and would not move. The Chief’s
friends laughed at him for keeping
such a useless creature, but Macfie
cried, “Wait. The black dog’s day has
not yet come.” Before they could
leave, a storm came up very suddenly,
and the hunters returned home.
Macfie Tales 2: Macfie’s Black Dog
In the morning of the next day the boat
was loaded up again, but still the dog
refused to go. This time a worse storm
raged. The Clansmen looked at the dog
and said, “The dog has foreknowledge.”
When the boat was being prepared the
next day, Macfie’s dog jumped in
ahead of the Clansmen. “The black dog
will soon have its day,” said the Chief.
That very night his friends were
murdered in a cave by an evil spirit,
but the black dog would not let them
near Macfie. From the top of the Cave
a hand reached down through a hole in
the roof and tried to grab the Chief.
The black dog sank its teeth into the
monstrous arm, which then withdrew.
As it did so, the dog lay down at his
master’s feet and died.
The President of the Clan Macfie
Society, Bob McFie, is an excellent
piper and composer. He also at one
time had a big black dog. Guess
what? He wrote a pipe tune entitled
“The Black Dog’s Master.”
Bobby’s Story – Charleston & Laurinburg Games
& Other Points West and North
By Bob McFie, President of the Clan MacFie Society in Scotland
I was allowed entry to the “good Ole
U.S.A.” a few months ago. This was
after having spent some quality time in
Toronto with Fiona McFie’s sister,
Sheena, who has lived in the “Big “T”
for many years. Sheena married a
Dutchman, John Dewyze, has two
rather large sons and is one of my “all
time favourite people.” We were all so
busy getting ready for the invasion of
the U.S. that not a lot of touristy things
were attempted in Toronto.
While in Toronto a close relative of
mine who happened to be the
Commander of the Honoured Clan for
the Charleston Games (and he made a
really good job of his official duties!)
casually said, “Will you write a wee
tune for the Charleston folks?” “Eh,”
was my first reply. “Wait a minute,” I
said to Iain, “It can take ages to write a
tune.” “I have every confidence you
can do it, etc., etc.,” said our
Commander, conveniently forgetting
that he is my wee brother. Anyway, I
said I would try. A few days later, he

mentioned that it would also be a good
idea if, at the same time, I would write
a tune for the Scotland County
Highland Games. I said something
rude under my breath and also thought
of some physical response, but I was
too tired having spent much of my
waking, and most of my horizontal,
time writing a 6/8 March for the
Charleston Highland Gathering.
Eventually, Iain, Fiona and I flew from
Toronto to a place in South Carolina
called Myrtle Beach. We were
conveyed, at enormous cost by a
descendant of Dick Turpin, to
Charleston, South Carolina.
Charleston is a beautiful city. On our
first day there we met up with Ilah
Coffee-Merriman and her daughter the
wonderful Pam. One of the things we
did as a group was tour Charleston in a
horse drawn carriage…Ilah’s
idea…and it was most enjoyable.
Eating out was another experience.
Having used a knife and fork in the
U.S. in the past, I expected large, very
large, platefuls of food, and I was not
disappointed. The variety of dishes
offered was, to say the least, extensive,
and everything tasted fabulous!
A day later we were joined in
Charleston by Jim and Linda McFee
Gilcrest…a marvelous couple! Also,
Jim and Ginger McAfee arrived with
their son John and his family to
complete our team. This group was
fabulous! There was great fun! I
really enjoyed myself immensely. The
“crack” (chat) was of a very high order
and we had some wonderful
adventures in their company.
Unfortunately, only our Scottish trio
and Jim and Ginger McAfee were able
to attend the honourary dinner and
reception on Friday evening before the
Games. This was immediately after
our own Clan reception arranged by
Ginger McAfee. This was a grand
affair. I met some absolutely fabulous
people and, as they say in Charleston,
“I had a Ball.” One of the few
speakers at this event was Iain, and at
the conclusion of his words of wisdom
and “other stuff,” he presented the
President of the Charleston Scottish
Society, Max Mahaffee, with the
framed final draft of their Pipe Tune.
Yours truly was asked to play it. The
performance and the composition were
acclaimed with lots of loud applause
and I was quite pleased.
Clan Members at the Charleston Highland Games

The Charleston Highland Games the
next day were excellent and a true
delight. They were well organized
with lots of activities and events to
keep those in attendance always
interested and, at times, absolutely
enthralled.
It was a wee bit warm! Fortunately
David McDuffie had organized lots of
bottled water and food so we were well
looked after. During the course of the
Games, we met some fascinating
people. Folks would approach our tent
and ask about this, that and the other,
and were all so friendly and nice. It
was a great experience. Naturally I
met dozens of pipers, some of whom I
had met in the past, and catching up
with all the latest piping news did take
up quite a bit of time.
The Kirkin’ O’ the Tartans Sunday
morning after the Games was a moving
experience. It was held in a church
that had a remarkable similarity to
Patrick East Church, where the writer
was a member of the Cub Scouts and
the Rover Crew. (I was also the
Secretary of the Bible class there for
many years.) I played the pipes, the
lament “The Flowers of the Forest,”
which was chosen by the minister. I
don’t often play this tune as it has
some sad personal connotations for
me, but it was well received by the
congregation.
After the Kirkin’ O’ the Tartan, we all
bid our farewells to the locals and
visitors from other parts of the country.
Iain and Fiona left for Tennessee with
Jim and Ginger McAfee. I left Iain,
Fiona and the others to fly to Dallas,
Texas, for a visit with Pam and Ilah
Coffee-Merriman.
Texas was wonderful, as was Dallas in
particular. Ilah and Pam kept me busy
seeing all the sites. I witnessed a
Cattle Drive, visited the Space
Museum, the Railroad Museum, and
lots of other marvelous places. Staying
with Ilah and Pam was wonderful. Up
until then, I had never slept in a fourposter
bed. I really needed a map to
move around the premises; however, I
always managed to find the swimming
pool.
A slight problem was that Dallas was
quite warm. Actually for an “Inuit”
like me, it was VERY HOT! We don’t
often get temperatures of 100 plus
degrees in Scoutstoun. This meant that
when playing the pipes yours truly
often exceeded his boiling point. I
played for the children in a couple of
schools, and for a wonderful church
group. An interesting aside about
Texas…I really appreciate accents. I
discovered one of the main features of
the marvelous local Dallas accent. The
secret it seems is to turn single syllable
words into double syllables; e.g.;
“there” becomes “they-ah,” “where”
becomes “whey-ah.” It’s easy.
After a too short visit with Pam and
Ilah, I flew from Dallas to
somewhere…(I’m ashamed to admit I
can’t remember the name of the place)
where I was met by Cousins John and
Marty Rosser. We traveled to
Pinehurst, North Carolina, where we
me up with Iain, Fiona and John and
Sheena Dewyze (the latter pair had
been visiting friends in Atlanta).

Pinehurst was beautiful! We stayed
there for a few days, and on one of the
days we drove to a beautiful location in
Oakridge, Tennessee, to visit some old
friends, Fritz and Bruce McDuffie and
their wives Bettye and Wini. Both the
boys are getting on, but Fritz is still as
bright as a button and sharp as a tack.
The ladies were little changed from the
last time I had visited them years ago.
The round trip took the best part of 10
hours. (Many thanks to John Rosser
for conveying us very comfortably
there and back.)
We then moved from Pinehurst into
the mountains to Marty’s Dream
House…WOW! John had wanted a
Gaelic name for it and settled on
“Beinn Shouls,” which means
“Mountain of Light”…a very apt name
for it! Some time ago John had asked
me if I could get him a set of pipes for
fixing to the wall, and to my delight
above the fireplace in their great hall,
there is a shadow box with the pipes
displayed on a background of Macfie
Tartan. To say “impressive” would not
do the finished article justice! While
there, there were dinner parties, visits
to their friends’ homes,
and…and….and! Also, there were
many adventures, one involved
traveling with John Dewyze to the
local post office. John is
wonderful…lots of fun…great
company and a great guy. However, I
should explain that as far as John is
concerned up and down are fine, but
north and south and all that other
complicated stuff are another matter.
In all we traveled about 50 miles in
various directions, discovering places
that have been lost since the Civil War.
At one point we were “in” Elk Creek,
but couldn’t find it. We couldn’t even
find the access road back to the big
house, but hours later stumbled by
chance on someone who knew how to
get there. There is MORE, but some
other day…
It was time to leave for Laurinburg and
the Scotland County Highland Games.
Laurinburg was only a couple of hours
away from the Rossers’ home. We
traveled by convoy having collected
Marianne Clayton from the Canadian
Society and Jerry McDuffie from
somewhere in the U.S. Guess who was
the Honoured Clan and the
Commander of the Games? Yes, the
Macfie Clan and our own Iain McFie!
These Games are not as big and do not
have the long history of the Charleston
Games, but what they lack in size is
more than made up for by the
enthusiasm of everyone taking part.
They were wonderful! We met some
first class people there, including the
President of the Scotland County
Games, a piper named Bill Caudill. At
the Ceilidh after the Games, our Ceann
Cath Iain presented Bill the 6/8 March
titled “Scotland County Highland
Games,” which I had written in
Toronto. I played the tune to
exceptional applause and Bill, holding
the framed manuscript aloft,
exclaimed, “We have arrived!” All in
all, a great evening!
Professor Bill Caudill receiving the Tune
from Commander Iain McFie

But alas it was time to go home. John
and Sheena Dewyze, Iain and Fiona,
and I left Laurinburg to travel back to
Toronto by car. It took us three days.
We stopped in New Jersey to visit a
cousin, gaped in awe at Niagara Falls,
and viewed a few other touristy places
along the way before reaching Toronto
(pronounced by some as Tor’ono).
Before my travel back to Scotia, we
visited Rodger’s Field, the CN Tower
and many other places of interest.
Then I was homeward bound, leaving
Iain and Fiona to stay on with John and
Sheena, as I had to be on the ball and
Elsewhere in the Clan News, you will
find a travelogue, penned by Bob
McFie, of our recent travels in Canada
and America. Please forgive any
repetitiveness in our narratives. My
report on our sojourn to the New
World will be very short and provide
infill to Bobby’s diary and will be to
thank all the wonderful, helpful,
generous people we met while
traveling. There is no special meaning
in the way the events and people are
mentioned other than chronologically.
Charleston Highland Games
We arrived in Charleston, South
Carolina, a few days before anyone
else, so we were land-locked as I did
not relish driving in America or
Canada due to being involved in an
RTA on a previous visit. Ilah and Pam
Merriman arrived a few days later and
invited us to travel around Charleston
with them in their hired car. We
visited several places of interest in and
around Charleston and enjoyed a horse
drawn carriage tour of the older parts
of Charleston.
start the RSPBA October Piping
School within too few hours of
arriving home. Traveling is marvelous
and I really enjoy it, but it’s nice to get
home and, once the jet lag has sorted
itself out, just relax. But the Piping
School was awaiting me -- very hard,
but most enjoyable work. Everything
went like a charm and the Final
Concert was again a great success…so
said the various Mums, Dads,
Grannies, etc.
There is more, much more, but this
shall have to do for the moment.
Iain’s Story, Charleston and Laurinburg
By Iain McFie, Ceann Cath Clan Macfie
Linda McFee Gilcrest and Jim Gilcrest
arrived a day later though we did not
meet up with them until Thursday.
More Macfies were arriving all the
time and a small convoy of cars went
in search of places to eat the fine
Southern food. Jim and Ginger
McAfee, who had arranged the event,
were in the hotel when we returned.
The first official Macfie function was a
“Meet the Commander” reception with
drinks and nibbles on Friday evening.
This gave Bob, Fiona and I an
opportunity to meet a number of
Macfies who had never been to a
Macfie Gathering before, greet new
Clan members and some “weel kent”
(“well-known” for those of you non-
Scots reading this,) faces. Fiona and I
circulated as much as possible while
enjoying the buffet.
Bob, as always, played a number of
tunes to everyone’s delight. It was
especially pleasing to meet Max
Mahaffee, President of the Charleston
Scottish Society, and the moving force
in arranging for the Macfies to be the
Honoured Clan at the Charleston

Games this year. Max was
accompanied by his beautiful wife
Shani, and they were introduced to the
gathering by Jim McAfee.
Iain McFie, Max Mahaffee,
and Jim McAfee
However, before the reception had
ended, my brother Bob, President of
the Clan Macfie Society of Scotland,
Fiona and I, Max and Shani, and Jim
and Ginger McAfee had to leave to
attend a dinner organized by the
Charleston Scottish Society in our
honour.
It was an impressive opening
ceremony, with lots of people with
Claymores marching into the dining
room to form a guard of honour for
Fiona and me and the other honoured
guests. Bob, playing his pipes, led the
procession of guests into the dining
room.
After a short introduction by Max, I
was invited to address the audience,
the assembled sponsors and other
honoured guests. I told the story of
Malcolm’s death and how we became
a broken Clan. I then talked about Dr.
Earle’s work and how we became
recognized as an Honourable Clan
once more. In speaking of the line of
succession within a broken Clan, I
explained why I was called
“Commander” and not “Chief” of the
Clan Macfie.
At the end of my talk, I was presented
with a Sweet Grass basket filled with
many Southern goodies. In return, I
presented Max, as President of the
Charleston Scottish Society, a pipe
tune especially written by Bob for the
occasion, the 40 th Charleston Highland
Games. Bob was pleased to play the
tune to everyone’s appreciation and
enjoyment.
Saturday morning was the
commencement of the Charleston
Highland Games. Pam and Ilah
Merriman provided our transport to the
Games’ field. Jim and Ginger, with
several Clan members, had been there
since 07.00 and had already dressed
the Clan tent. The Games were a great
success, and the programme arranged
by Jim and Ginger McAfee was very
well done. We were pleased to have
over 40 Macfies in attendance. I was
honoured to be led onto the field by a
colour guard of young Scouts to
officially open the Games. Their
number happened to be the same as the
troop in which both Bob and I were
Eagle Scouts. Fiona and I greatly
enjoyed visiting all the various Clan
tents and meeting Clansmen from all
over the region.
The Sunday Church service was held
in downtown Charleston. Bob was
asked to play “Amazing Grace” during
the service. The sermon was delivered
by a guest preacher. After the service
Fiona and I chatted with the speaker
and discovered he was born in
Edinburgh.

Kirkin’ O’ the Tartan
After the Church service and Kirkin’
O’ the Tartans on Sunday, which was
truly wonderful, Fiona and I left
Charleston for Tennessee with Jim and
Ginger McAfee. We traveled through
some spectacular country very
reminiscent of Perthshire. We stayed
with Jim and Ginger for five days
visiting various places including
Nashville. We also enjoyed a picnic at
a park with spectacular waterfalls with
the entire McAfee family, Keith, Holly
and their children, who drove all the
way from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and
John and Lisa and their children.
After our visit with the McAfees,
Fiona’s sister and her husband, Sheena
and John Dewyze, arrived from
Atlanta to take us to the next stage of
Scotland County and Beyond
On Friday we left for Laurinburg,
North Carolina, and the Scotland
County Highland Games. The
Hampton Inn in Laurinburg was the
headquarters for the weekend of the
Games. Getting there was a bit of a
trial, but eventually we did find the
hotel where we were met by John and
Marty Rosser, Marianne Clayton and
Jerry McDuffie.
Our first engagement was to meet
sponsors and other guests at a buffet
our journey. With a warm thank you
and fond farewell to Jim and Ginger,
we left for North Carolina. We drove
to Pinehurst, North Carolina, where we
met up with my brother Bob who had
gone to Texas for a visit with Pam and
Ilah Coffee-Merriman after leaving
Charleston. Once we collected
ourselves and re-grouped from all the
varying travel itineraries, we settled in
with John and Marty Rosser who
graciously invited us into their home.
We enjoyed meeting some of John’s
Bethune folks. Over the next three
days we attended a Bethune family
church service, the Bethesda
Presbyterian Church Homecoming,
visited various places of interest and
enjoyed a lovely picnic.
Monday our group traveled to Virginia
for a stay in the Rossers’ spectacular
weekend home and Christmas tree
farm. On Tuesday, John drove us all
the way to Oakridge, Tennessee, to
visit with Bruce, Wini, Fritz and
Bettye McDuffie. Bruce had been the
Clan Commissioner for America but
retired due to poor health. He was and
still is an avid McDuffie genealogist.
Marianne Clayton, from the Canadian
Society, and Jerry McDuffie, who had
arranged the meeting, also traveled
with us to Virginia.
supper on Friday evening. Bob, Fiona
and I were pleased to meet the various
sponsors and friends, many of whom
we had already met in Charleston.
Later I was asked to address the group,
after which I presented the President of
the Scotland County Games, Professor
Bill Caudill, with a framed copy of a
pipe tune especially written by Bob for
the occasion while we were in Toronto.
It is officially named “Scotland County
Highland Games.”

Bob McFie playing
“Scotland County Highland Games”
Slightly later on, Bob played the tune
for the assembled company and it was
received with great delight by all, and
it almost brought Bill Caudill to tears.
Saturday, like almost all the days of
our trip, was a beautiful day. The
temperature was cool for the locals, but
at 64 degrees, it was just right for the
Scots. The Games themselves were
excellent and were thoroughly enjoyed
by us all. We were extremely pleased
to be the Honoured Clan at the
Scotland County Games! But we were
disappointed that there were only 9
Macfies in attendance to enjoy them
and represent the Clan.
The Games are held in a lovely setting
with the heavy events taking place in
the main arena, which is surrounded by
the Clan and Society tents. The
children and the vendors’ tent area
were set over to one side and most of
the piping took place just beyond that
area. At 11.00, a rather splendid
ceremony led by a Colour Party
dressed in Colonial uniforms and the
gathered pipe bands commenced. At
the end of the ceremony, I declared the
Third Scotland County Highland
Games officially open. I was left to
my own devices and Fiona and I
visited most of the Clan tents and
spoke to the Clan members in
attendance while Bob was over
listening to the piping. Fiona and I
visited the vendors’ stalls before going
to listen to the bands playing in their
competitions. I was honoured to
present the prizes to the winning
individual pipers, as well as the various
levels of pipe bands. It was a glorious
day enjoyed by all.
That evening a buffet and wine tasting
had been arranged at a winery. It was
a cool evening and the dining area had
no walls, so even we Scots had to
admit it was a wee bit on the cool side.
But it was a lovely evening, enjoyed
by all!
Our thanks to Scotland County’s
Games’ committee for inviting the
Clan Macfie to be the Honoured Clan,
and in particular to Bill Caudill for his
graciousness and support over the
weekend. I must also thank John
Rosser for liaising with the Games’
committee as my ADC (Aide-de-
Camp).
All good things must come to an end,
and on Sunday Sheena, John, Bob,
Fiona and I said good-bye to Marianne
Clayton, Jerry McDuffie, and our most
gracious and generous hosts John and
Marty Rosser, and the rest of the
Macfie Clan as we headed back to
Canada.

Images of Charleston
and the Clan

Canada Gathering, October 15, 2011
Gary MacPhee, the Canadian Society
President, wrote to say how sorry he
was that he would not be able to greet
me on my Canadian visit -- quite
understandable when you consider that
he is presently based in China where
he is the head of an American school.
However, the Canadian contingency
made Fiona’s and my visit a wonderful
success.
On the 15 th of October our chauffeurs,
John and Sheena Dewyze, took us to
the home of Nancy Duffy and her
partner, Alan Sutton, where we met
with Sylvia McPhee, Ian McHaffie and
his wife Paddy, and Judith Jackson.
You can understand the pride that
Fiona and I felt when we entered and
saw that the house had been decked out
in the Macfie tartan and other Scottish
items. They had also prepared a
delicious buffet meal which we
enjoyed throughout the afternoon.
Because of Canada’s size, the longdistances
prevent many who would
have liked to join us from making the
trip, so we were a small but stouthearted
group. The Canadians suffer,
as do the Americans, from the fact that
there are thousands of miles between
one side of the country and the other.
There was Sylvia McPhee, Clan
Commissioner for Canada, Ian
McHaffie, the “Torch” editor, his wife
Paddy, Judith Jackson, daughter of the
late Norma McPhee Carrier, whom we
had meet in 1985 and 1987. Also there
was Sheena and John Dewyze, Fiona's
sister and brother-in-law.
This was a social gathering, and little
Clan or Society business was
discussed. Instead, we spent the time
enjoying one another’s company and
sharing stories, Ian McHaffie, a world
traveller, filled us in on some of his
adventures, and I shared highlights
from Fiona’s and my USA stay in the
“Deep South,” which brought
comments of “If only we could have
been there.”
My brother Bob has asked me to tell
the group how sorry he was that his
too-short stay in Toronto didn’t allow
him to attend the Soirée.
We eventually arrived home on the
30 th of October tired, but with great
memories of a wonderful trip!
In Search of a Mint Julep
By Linda McFee Gilcrest, Deputy Commissioner for the United States
Well, I don’t know about you, but
when I think of the South, I think of
the verandas of “Gone With the
Wind,” ladies with parasols, the
Kentucky Derby, horse drawn
carriages, and…all the folks sipping
their Mint Juleps on the veranda while
enjoying it all. So, aside from the
excitement of going to Charleston to
enjoy the Charleston Scottish Highland
Games and catch up with my fellow
Macfies, I was looking forward to
partaking in the local culture by way of
sitting on a veranda (I had no idea of
where we’d find said veranda), sans
parasol, but certainly enjoying the
local famous refreshment.

Now, I’m not a drinking person to start
with, but I trusted that the famous Mint
Julep would be low on alcohol content
since it was obviously shared by men
and women alike in the movies and at
the Derby, and we know those
Southern gentlemen would never allow
the fair ladies to over imbibe.
So, once we checked into our hotel, the
Courtyard Charleston Waterfront (a
few short miles from the official hotel,
but we elected to stay on the water in
order to further enjoy the ‘Charleston
experience’), I was thrilled to see a
huge veranda with umbrellas looking
directly over the waterfront….
obviously a perfect place to enjoy our
first Mint Juleps!
Our first day in Charleston we
excitedly headed over to the Holiday
Inn, the host hotel for the Gathering, to
meet up with our Commander Iain,
Fiona, Bobby, Ilah and Pam Merriman.
Due to some confusion with logistics,
Pam and Ilah were off enjoying a
Plantation tour, but we didn’t figure
that out until waiting for them in the
lobby for an hour or so. No problem, it
gave us lots of time to chat and catch
up since our time together in Scotland
2 years ago. But hunger eventually got
the best of us and we headed to a local
restaurant for lunch. Lunch was great
but when I asked the waitress about a
Mint Julep, she looked at me like I was
from Mars…strike one!
Back to the Holiday Inn to search out
Pam and Ilah to no avail so I
recommended we all go back to our
hotel, to that beautiful veranda over the
harbor, to enjoy a libation to help us
ward off the Southern heat that none of
us were comfortable with. This of
course would be the drink that
symbolized Charleston and all things
Southern…the Mint Julep!
It was a beautiful time of day with the
sun sparkling over the boats in the
harbor and the veranda with it’s wicker
chairs and umbrellas…obviously the
perfect place for our first taste of the
famous Mint Julep. We all made
ourselves comfortable at the veranda
railing in our wicker chairs, and Jim
went to order our drinks…though he
quickly returned. The bartender was
anxious to accommodate us, but she’d
never heard of a Mint Julep! She
wanted to talk to me. Before I could
go back to the bar, I was met by a
beautiful Russian bartender with a
drink encyclopedia in her hands.
She’d found the Mint Julep, but it
required fresh mint, of which she had
none! She recommended a lovely
‘Italian Sunrise’ that would be tall and
refreshing and she assured us we’d
enjoy it, we did, but strike two!
The next day we were free for lunch
and decided to head over to the
Historic Charleston District where we
visited the Charleston Crab House for
lunch. It was humid with a light mist
of rain, and the perfect day for that
Southern standard, the Mint Julep. I
ordered one upon being seated and the
waiter didn’t blink…I had obviously
found an official area that served Mint
Juleps. But, alas, he was back in 2
minutes to advise me they couldn’t
make them today as they didn’t have
any fresh mint…an absolute “must” in
the recipe. Strike three!
Upon arriving at the official Gathering
hotel, the Holiday Inn, I was met by

Commander Iain who immediately
advised me the hotel bar served Mint
Juleps…. hooray! It had been right
under our noses. Jim went to the bar to
order them, and was back in the flash
of an eye. The bartender was
unfamiliar with the drink, but upon
looking it up, saw that it required fresh
mint, and…guess what? He didn’t
have any fresh mint. Can you have a
strike four?
By now, you would think I’d be
prepared to give up on the “official
drink of the South,” but we Macfies
are far more resolute than that! We
were off to dinner after the
Commander’s Reception and found a
lovely restaurant called “Virginia’s on
King” that is known for it’s authentic
Southern, Low-Country cooking. But,
if you’re a betting person, you’ll
probably be betting that they’d never
heard of the illustrious Mint
Julep…and you’d be right. Strike five!
(And if you’re calculating time, you’ve
probably figured out we’re running out
of time by now, and you’re right!)
Saturday we’re busy with the Games
and the Clan Banquet, so there’s no
opportunity to search out the now more
than ever coveted Mint Julep!
Sunday saw many of our dear Macfies,
as well as the Commander and his wife
leaving Charleston soon after the
Kirkin’ O’ the Tartans (a most
magnificent ceremony to behold!).
Since Ilah and Pam Merriman, Bobby
and we were all staying the night in
Charleston, we made plans for dinner
together. Jim made reservations at the
“Coast Restaurant,” a renowned
restaurant in the old city of Charleston.
The food was wonderful and met all
our expectations. But, what of the
Mint Julep, you may ask? Well, upon
being seated, I ordered a Mint Julep….
with zero expectations I might add.
The waiter didn’t blink an eye and was
off with our orders. He returned with
several drinks sitting atop his tray, and
I awaiting his excuse for the missing
Mint Julep, just as he sat it in front of
me! WOW! I gazed upon my
treasured Mint Julep, almost afraid to
break the spell by drinking the
hypnotizing elixir. Of course I
exclaimed my excitement over
receiving the drink to the waiter, and
he seemed surprised that I’d had any
difficulty in finding it as “we always
have them here,” according to him. I
sipped the drink and my first response
was that it was far too “liquory.” I
didn’t expect that from a refreshing
drink to be sipped all day in the
Southern heat. Of course I passed the
drink around so everyone could imbibe
in this drink that had eluded us
throughout the trip. “Ho Hum” was
the response from most of our small
group. Luckily much of the drink was
gone by the time it returned to me so I
was able to add water to top it off and
make it more palatable. I continued to
add water after every sip and by the
time it was down to about one-quarter
full, I could drink it straight.
So dear
friends, here
ends my
quest for the
famous Mint
Julep…sort of
anti-climatic I
would
imagine. But
Iain, Fiona,
Bobby, Ilah
and Pam, who had all been with me at
various times of my journey, insisted I
must write of my quest for the illusive
Mint Julep. And, my recommendation,
if you’re going down South and
planning on enjoying one of the
revered drinks of the area, bring some
fresh mint! Slainte!

Ilah Coffee-Merriman, President of the Coffey/Coffee Reunion
Association of Texas
Ilah Coffee Merriman was born in
1935 in Amarillo, Texas. She received
her B.S. from Texas Tech University,
with a major in math and minor in
physics.
Her business career encompassed 35
years with H&R Block doing tax
preparation for the public and as an
administrator and franchise owner.
She served many years in many
capacities on Boards and Foundations
for her University, and retired in 1993
from H&R Block and sold her interest
to her son.
In 2001 she retired from all positions at
and for Texas Tech University.
On a personal level, she has a daughter
Pamela, and a son Michael, who with
his wife Hanh has two darling
daughters.
Ilah has lived in Dallas since 1962 but
now spends January through April in
Hawaii where she owns a
condominium with her daughter
Pamela.
Here major hobby is traveling, but she
loves to sew and read whenever she is
in one place for a while.
She began her involvement with the
Clan Macfie when she was a student at
Strathclyde University about 20 years
ago. One of her classes was in Scottish
genealogy, and her professor said, “If
you are a Coffee you are a MacFie.”
Wow! She went to Colonsay and met
Charlie the guide. He gave her Iain’s
phone number and she was hooked.
The Coffees were honored to have our
Clan Commander visit in June 2011
for the 75 th Anniversary of the
Coffey/Coffee Reunion Association.
According to
Ilah, “It was hot
in Texas for the
celebration, but
Fiona and the
Commander
were troopers
and stuck out the
114-degree
weather.”
Add a brand new Macfie to the Clan….
Yes, we are very blessed to add beautiful baby
Katherine to our family. Linda McFee Gilcrest and
Jim Gilcrest are “over the moon” since the birth of
their daughter Brenda Gilcrest and her husband
Thomas Brinly’s new daughter, Katherine Patricia
Brinly, born September 28 th . This is Brenda and
Thomas’s first child and Jim and Linda’s first
granddaughter. They named her “Patricia” in honor
of Brenda’s grandmother, Patricia McFee, who many
of you have met at
the Scottish
Parliaments.

MacDuffee Clan Society of America's
50th Anniversary Celebration!
Plan now to attend. More information to follow in the next Clan News!
MacDuffee Clan Society of America
of Clan Macfie
50th Anniversary Celebration
to be held at Glasgow, Kentucky Highland Games May 30 - June 3, 2012
The Games are to be held at Barren River Park
Registration should be in no later than two weeks prior to the event
We will plan arrival at the Ramada Inn, Bowling Green, Kentucky on Wed.
May 30th.
Registration for the 50th Anniversary Celebration will be $93.50 per
person
Children 12 & under $45
This will include entrance to the Games on Saturday & Sunday,
transportation to & from the Games.
Send Registration & check made to: MacDuffee Clan Society to
David N. McDuffie, 27 Aberdeen Ct., Newnann, GA 30263
Registration needs to be returned by 1 May 2012
The Vale
It is with sadness we learned of the passing of Boyt Cathey. Boyt attended the big
Gathering on Colonsay in 1993 and could be found at many Highland Games in the
South. The last time I had the pleasure of his company was at Stone Mountain a
number of years ago.
Boyt was a prominent member of the Cathey Reunion Association and indeed served
as the president of the Group. He had not been very active in the Association for the
last few years, but he will be greatly missed, and I extend our condolences on behalf
of Clan Macfie to his family and friends.
And Finally…
As we approach the Christmas and New Year holidays we should be thankful for what
we have. Most of us are fortunate to have family to love and homes to protect us.
There are others who do not have the same certainty that they will be loved, kept
warm and fed.

So in this Festive period I hope you have a wonderful time with lots of presents and
food to share with your loved ones. Please give some thought for those who are not
as fortunate as you and pray for those in poor health.
May the New Year be a wonderful one for everyone!
Iain
Iain M McFie
Ceann Cath Clan Macfie
Associate Editor’s Note:
Please forgive the delay in this issue of the Clan News. All information was in prior
to December, but I spent the month of December in the hospital having a broken hip
(from an accident last April) replaced with a prosthetic one, and then a subsequent
surgery replacing the first prosthetic hip with a new one when the first one “popped
out.” I’m happy to report I’m now on the mend, though I have 6 weeks of bed rest in
front of me.
Linda McFee Gilcrest