Autumn 11 - The Clan Cameron Association Scotland.

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CLAN CAMERON
ASSOCIATION SCOTLAND
Editorial
NEWSLETTER
I hope you enjoy this 32 page edition of the Newsletter. We have a
number of first-rate articles for which I thank, in particular, Bill
Cameron, Colin Cameron and Duncan Cameron. The quality of the
photographs from the top of Ben Nevis is not great but the weather
conditions at the time were pretty appalling. For an explanation of
Bill’s photo above, see p 20. I would welcome letters and comments.
Alan C
Edition No. 21 AUTUMN 2011
Price (non-members) £2.40
Printed by Clan Cameron Association Scotland (UK & Europe)

President’s letter autumn news letter 2011
Once again, this has been a busy year for the
Association. Following the successful 120 th
anniversary dinner, at the Blythswood
Square Hotel, Glasgow, the Scots Heritage
magazine (sister magazine to Scottish Field)
published a spread of pictures from the event
in the Spring edition. The magazine reaches
over 32,000 subscribers throughout the
Scottish diaspora in North America, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand. Tristan our
latest 1 st Lighter was able to attend this historic
event prior to spending some time in
Canada before returning to New Zealand. We wish him well and hope to see
him back in Scotland soon.
The memorial service at Culloden was well supported this year and at the
Cawdor Tavern lunch members received a splendid talk by the Very Rev
Allan Maclean of Dochgarroch on the Erracht Camerons. He generously
gave away copies of „Indomitable Colonel‟, by Loraine Maclean, his mother,
to delighted listeners who soon pressed him to sign their book.
I am pleased to report that the financial sponsorship so generously given by
Colin Ross, MD of Ben Nevis Distillery Ltd, is to continue beyond 2010/11
into 2011/12. This support is particularly useful in such difficult times to
fund our activities.
Council meetings have taken place at Dundee and Perth. The council agreed
to support the bursary fund which has also received several donations from
members this year. (Details can be found elsewhere in the newsletter as to
how to receive a bursary application form). I urge members to be generous
in their support of this new undertaking by the Association, specifically with
our young clansfolk in mind.
The 600 th anniversary of the Battle of Harlaw was celebrated by a dinner in
Aberdeen on Saturday 23 rd July attended by descendants of those who had
participated and others with a special interest. On Sunday 24 th July the Rev
Stephen Taylor - ably assisted by Gillian Trew - conducted a moving service
in the Kirk of St Nicholas. Later in the afternoon wreaths were laid at separate
services by representatives of the City of Aberdeen and the participating
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HONORARY LIFE CHIEFTAINS & PATRONS
(MAXIMUM 9)
Col Charles A Cameron
Rt Hon Lord Cameron of Lochbroom
Most Rev Andrew Bruce Cameron
Rt Rev Douglas M Cameron
HONORARY PRESIDENTS
Alistair Cameron Raymond McK Cameron
Sonia Cameron Jacks David Cameron Alan Cameron
HONORARY VICE–PRESIDENTS
Colin Cameron Rosemary Cameron
HONORARY MEMBERS
Lt Col G Ronald Cameron Julian Hutchings
Dr Ronald Cameron John S Gibson
Margaret S Cameron Gillian Cameron
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AGM 2011
The AGM will be held at 2.00pm on Sunday, 23rd October, 2011. The
venue, this year is Balgonie Castle, home of the Laird of Balgonie. As
you can see from the map, Balgonie Castle is in the country and you
may consider having your lunch at the Castle. If you wish to avail
yourself of this option, it is important to let Duncan know as soon
as possible. His contact details are:
E-mail: duncan-cameron1@btconnect.com
Tel: 01466 730733.
After the AGM, there will be a talk by Stuart Morris Ygr of Balgonie
& Eddergoll. I would encourage you to attend the AGM, if possible. It
is important that we have a good attendance.
Directions from Glenrothes and Leven are shown above. There is a
Travelodge and a Premier Inn at Glenrothes for those who require an
overnight stay. The full
address of the venue is
as follows:
Balgonie Castle
By Markinch
Fife
KY7 6HQ
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clans. A wreath was duly laid on behalf of the Camerons. Dochgarroch
conducted the service on the field.
Although the Lochaber Games and the clan tent at the Inverness Games
were cancelled, this year, the „clan village‟ at the Aboyne Games was a
great success with the Cameron tent being visited by the Marquis of Huntly
and many others during the day. The layout of a tented courtyard
complemented the well run games. Despite early morning rain over Fort
William, the Glenfinnan Games were dry and relatively midge free. Lochiel
visited the clan tent and gave support to the members who were kept busy
throughout the day hosting visitors and answering questions. A good day
was had by all in a dramatic setting. Lochiel was able to report some good
news with the Courtyard flats now being rebuilt after the fire.
The website continues to be developed with work currently being
undertaken on a Cameron Heraldry section. The interactive site continues to
gain members and host the latest blogs and pictures from events.
I have been busy organising a visit in October to the Stone Mountain Games
in Georgia, USA. It will be a pleasure to renew friendships with fellow
Camerons in the States. I shall be back for the AGM at Balgonie Castle,
Markinch, Fife hosted by Stuart Morris Ygr of Balgonie. I greatly look
forward to seeing you there and planning 2012 with your support.
CONTENTS
President’s Letter P. 2 The Clan Society Today P. 16
A Cameron Mission to St Kilda P. 4 The Red Cross Rose
P. 19
The Clan Scholarship P. 8 The Three Donalds P.19
Achnacarry Sporting Venture P. 10 Model T on Ben Nevis P. 20
Sconestone P. 11 Alexander Donald Trotter P. 23
Frances Bailey Smith P. 11 The Secret Portrait P. 24
Culloden 2011 P. 12 Sir Donald Charles Cameron P. 27
Glenfinnan 2011 P. 13 The Jacobite Standard P. 29
Piping Banners P. 14 AGM 2011 P 30
Battle of Harlaw P. 14 Honorary members P 31
Camerons in the News P. 15 Ben Nevis Distillery Advert P 32
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A Cameron Mission to St. Kilda (part 2)
by Bill Cameron
Norman Gillies and Rachel Johnston are the last two surviving St. Kildans left
- the only direct link with the remote island community that was evacuated
eighty years ago. The Cameron family would no doubt have known them and
their families before they left the island in 1926, and after the last remaining
St. Kildans settled on the mainland in 1930.
When Donald Cameron and his family arrived on St. Kilda in 1919, there
were seventy-two people living on the island, when they left seven years later
there were only forty-nine – most of whom were elderly.
Looking back, it is clear to see that the lifeblood of the St. Kildan community
was rapidly decreasing as families moved to the larger Hebridean islands, or
to the mainland where they could access better services and opportunities.
Alongside this, there was regular contact with the outside world and so the
younger generation were able to see that there were easier ways of making a
living elsewhere and as a consequence, many left, finding a new way of life
far from the remote and stormy shores of their close-knit island community.
As the islanders’ survival was so heavily dependent on the supply of birds
harvested during the summer months, the lack of a younger generation to
carry out the physically demanding task of bird-fowling on the high cliffs and
sea stacks would eventually bring an end to the distinctive St. Kildan way of
life.
However, it seems that migration and a search for an easier way of life was
nothing new to the St. Kildan community. In October 1852, thirty six islanders
decided to leave the island in order to seek a better way of life on the other
side of the world. Travelling on board the Priscilla from Liverpool, the party of
St. Kildans endured an arduous four-month journey to Melbourne which
would see many of the passengers die en route. By the time the ship finally
docked in Melbourne, twenty of the St. Kildans had died of fever on their journey
to find a better way of life - leaving the remaining sixteen to settle on
farmland on the outskirts of Melbourne.
As all the Cameron family have long since passed away, and with no direct
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which today may not be acceptable as politically correct. This
should not in any way detract from Cameron’s undoubted position
as a man of vision trying to implement policies, well ahead of his
time. History has shown he was not the only Scot or Cameron to
have had this foresight.
Where was the Jacobite Standard Raised?
There has always been some speculation about where the Jacobite
Standard was raised. Like many, I assumed that the Glenfinnan
monument was sited to mark the spot. However, Bill’s excellent
article on the “Secret Portrait” mentions that some of us went up
the hill on the other side of the road to look at a remarkable
message carved in Latin into a rock. It is believed that this work was
undertaken by the priest of the time about 1900. The writing tells
the story of the raising of the standard and is in such a position to
see the Camerons coming from Loch Arkaig. We are grateful to Iain
Thornber for the photograph. Look out your Latin dictionaries!
(Editor)
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European to become so entrenched that there will be no place for the
African except at the white man’s pleasure”. There was to be no
repeat of the situation which had developed in the then Rhodesia.
To achieve some reconciliation of both these conflicting positions he
established a Legislative Council of twenty members - all appointed
by him and all European and Asian. In so far as the local African
population was concerned, he decided education was the way
forward and he started a policy of building schools throughout the
country at all centres of population just as Scotland had done some
seventy years before. During his period as Governor, education
increased ten fold, and he worked closely with the Missions who
could deliver education at half the cost that the Government could
achieve.
During his time in Tanganyika these policies were pursued
successfully and he was indeed ahead of his time by a couple of generations.
Sadly, when he left Tanganyika in 1931 it was the time of
the Depression and funds were not available to continue the
increase in African education and also his successors were not of the
same vision and ability. Nevertheless, on achieving Independence
from Britain on 9 th December 1961, the first President, Julius Nyerere,
who was a product of Cameron’s policy and a teacher and who was
commonly known as “Mwalimu” meaning a teacher, focused on
education.
From Tanganyika, Cameron was promoted further and he returned to
Nigeria from 1931 - 1935 as the Governor of the whole country and
its Commander-in-Chief. In these duties he was as successful as in his
previous posting, but without making the same impact as he had
done in Tanganyika.
On his retiral, he settled down with his wife Gertrude in London and
died on 8 th January 1948 before he could see the fruits of his
Tanganyika period of service culminating in that country’s Independence.
Sadly, his only son died in an air accident in 1941.
In writing this Article, I have retained the wording used at that time
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descendants to speak to, I contacted the local papers asking for information
on the Cameron family after they left St. Kilda. Fortunately, this provided a
good number of responses from people who either knew the Cameron
daughters, Mary and Christina, in their later years, or were able to provide
new information on Donald and his wife Mary after they left St. Kilda.
It may be worth remembering that the main reason the Cameron family
moved to St. Kilda centred on religion, with Donald tending to the spiritual
welfare of the strict Presbyterian community who observed the word of God
in all aspects of their daily lives.
In accounts left by St. Kildans, we read that that the normal day began with
family worship and prayer before work, and again at the end of the day – all
of which would have been spoken in Gaelic. The St. Kildans strictly adhered
to the Lord’s Day and the Sabbath was always observed with great reverence
with a church service in the morning and one in the evening. Sunday was
very much a day of rest and reflection with no work, nor water drawn between
dawn and dusk.
In the book St. Kilda Portraits, we are left a descriptive account of Donald’s
daughter, the late Mary Cameron, as she recalls her childhood memories of
St. Kilda.
“The church was connected with the schoolroom by a door, and sometimes
my father took a class by themselves in the church. When we arrived, part of
it was in ruins as a result of bombardment by a German submarine shortly
before the end of the First World War. The church was a very simple place,
rather austere, which matched the simple, robust faith of the folk who filled it
each Sunday. There was no heating, but I don’t remember that we complained
of the cold. The St. Kilda folk were grand churchgoers. Even babies
of a few weeks old were taken to church; nobody stayed away unless they
were ill.
The manse pew was at the side of the pulpit, at right angles to the other
pews, and from it we could see everyone who was there. The men and boys
sat at the inner end of the pews, and the female members of the family on the
outside; and when the service was over, the menfolk remained seated until
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the women and girls had left the church. In the winter, each family was
lighted to church by a hurricane lantern, or a ship’s lantern; and these were
carefully placed on the floor, with the flame turned down, until the service
was over, when they were turned up for the homeward journey. There was
something very comforting about the string of twinkling lights which pierced
the darkness as the congregation walked home.”
The daily routines of the young Cameron sisters were intertwined with the
heart of the St. Kildan community, and their
parents served important roles within the
community. However, they did not live in isolation
on the island as they worked, prayed and
played alongside the other St. Kildans as is
illustrated in another account left by Mary
Cameron.
“We were sometimes taken of an evening, with
our parents when they went visiting in the village.
There were no electric torches, so we took
a paraffin lantern, which cast the most exciting
shadows as we walked along. The dogs at each
house hailed us with loud barking, and when we
The Cameron Family outside
were ushered inside, there would be quite a
the church:
scene of industry round the fire. There would be
Cameron collection
the purr of the spinning wheel, operated by the
woman of the house. The men and boys might be teasing the wool
(cireadh).”
During their seven years on St. Kilda, the Camerons would, no doubt, have
built up close friendships with all the families on St. Kilda, many of which
would be resumed when both the Camerons, and the last remaining
St. Kildans resettled on the mainland.
The expected term of office for a missionary was three years when the
Camerons moved to St. Kilda, after which they were usually moved on to
another church or parish. Reading through old church records, it seems
Donald and his family were very happy with their life on St. Kilda – so much
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SIR DONALD CHARLES CAMERON K.C.M.C., K.B.E.
TANGANYIKA’S SECOND BRITISH GOVERNOR 1924 - 1931
Contributed by Colin Cameron
The British Empire existed for about four centuries and, at its height,
governed one quarter of the world’s population. When you browse
through these records Scots names appear and often. Throughout
these you will find the name “Cameron” in many capacities, and
connected with so many different countries.
One of these was Donald Charles Cameron who was born on 3 June,
1872 in the then British Guiana. He was the son of a sugar planter of
the same name whose forebears came from Lochaber. For his
education he returned to Britain and to Dublin. He did not proceed
to university, but returned to British Guiana to work. However, in
1904 he joined the Colonial Service, and served in Mauritius and then
moved to Southern Nigeria in 1908. There, he worked under Sir
Frederick Lugard, and was influenced by his ideas of Indirect Rule.
After a successful period there, he was knighted and became the
second Governor of the British mandate of Tanganyika in March
1925. Tanganyika had been a German East African Protectorate from
1885 until 1918 and at the end of the WWI the League of Nations had
mandated it to Britain.
On his arrival in Tanganyika he was faced with two conflicting groups
of people. First of all there was the African population, and secondly
the group of European settlers and Asians. He recognised the
economic benefit of the settlers’ contribution to the economy, and he
needed their support. However, in a remarkably liberal and far
sighted policy for 1925, he made the following principle the basis of
his policy in the country. He said “we are here on behalf of the
League of Nations to teach Africans to stand by themselves. When
they can do that, we must get out. It will take a long time, yet
everything must be based on this principle.” He continued “we must
determine from the start the place of the African in the political
structure and how he is to achieve it. We must not allow the
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employs a similar technique to distort, then - reveal from looking at it at a
certain angle, a human skull in front of two central figures.
The portrait of the Prince, along with many other small objects collected by
Jacobite sympathisers would have to have been kept well hidden from public
view, in case government forces found out that they were supporting the
Stuart cause. It was for this reason that when the Jacobite supporters raised a
toast to the Prince, they also ran the risk of being caught, by the Redcoats,
while in possession of an outlawed item of Jacobite propaganda. However,
on removing the column from the board, the distorted image became nothing
more than intangible streaks of paint, thus keeping the portrait - and their
allegiance to the Prince - a secret.
On the closest Saturday to the 19th of August each year, the Glenfinnan
Gathering takes place to commemorate the 1745 raising of the Standard
alongside the Glenfinnan monument. It is from this location that a colourful
procession takes place from the monument to the games field, raising a flag
to remember the Jacobite Rising and to officially declare the Gathering open.
Shortly after this year's opening, a small group of Camerons moved away
from the crowded field and walked up to what is quietly believed to be the
real spot on which the Standard
was raised. On a mostly mosscovered
rock overlooking Loch
Shiel, a number of Latin
inscriptions record the
significant day in 1745 when
the Prince stood alongside many
clansmen in the hope of
changing the course of history.
He did, but not as he would
have wished. More than two and a half centuries later, a group of Camerons
once again gathered on this spot - no doubt thinking of the past - and raised
their glasses in a toast to the Prince.
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so that he stayed for almost three terms of office before leaving - and even
then they were reluctant to leave.
During his time on St Kilda, Donald was well thought of as a genuine
preacher and inspired other St. Kildans to follow a religious path in life. As a
side note, Donald designed and made the precentor’s table and chair next
to the pulpit – replicas of which can be seen in the church today.
After leaving the island, Donald and his family moved to Glenelg, where he
became an ordained minister. They then moved to serve the parish of
Easdale near Lochaline, where they were once again reunited with their old
St. Kildan friends when the community resettled to nearby Larachbeg in
1930. Donald finished his ministry in the parish of Shawbost on the Isle of
Lewis, retiring in 1944 with his family to the Kyle of Lochalsh.
The Cameron daughters both followed in their mother’s footsteps into
teaching - Mary teaching piano, and Christina as a primary teacher. The
sisters lived out their days in Kyle of Lochalsh. Mary and Christina never
married and remained devoted to the church until their deaths in the 1980s.
Both ladies were very highly regarded in the local community.
In concluding the story of the Cameron family on St. Kilda, I think it is
appropriate to share a quote from Donald Cameron himself - The Missionary
to St. Kilda. “A Sabbath well spent brings a week of content, and strength for
the toils of tomorrow.”
Maybe there is something to
glean from his words. Could
we in 2011 do without our
TV’s, computers and phones
for one day a week?
I think there are things we
could still learn from the simplicity
and sincerity of the St.
Kildans’ now extinct way of life
- without getting lost in a sea of
nostalgia.
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St. Kilda Church and Bell.
Photo: Bill Cameron.

Clan Cameron Association Scholarship Arrangements
Introduction
The scholarship was initiated by Mr Duncan Cameron (Association
Commissioner) in October 2010. The first scholarship will be made
available from October 2011.
Purpose
The purpose of the scholarship is to enable an eligible student to purchase
a book or other material appropriate to the course of study.
Eligibility
In order to be deemed eligible for application the applicant should
hold a current individual and /or family membership of the
Clan Cameron Association-UK
be aged 16-25 years
be a registered student upon a course of further or higher
study or have secured a place upon this
Application
Application should be made before the 5 th of September each year in
writing or by email to the Commissioner of the Clan Association
(current contact details are located on the clan web site:
info@clancameron.org.uk )
The Application should provide the following
your name and contact details
your programme of study for which support is sought
the name of the education institution at which you are studying
or where you have obtained a place to study
details of the support requested and costs
a statement of no more than 400 words which outlines how
you would use the scholarship if awarded and the benefit you
would gain from this
Selection Criteria
The following will be used as criteria in considering applications.
Confirmation that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements –
see above.
There is a clear rational for the application which demonstrates how
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When Her Majesty the Queen visited Fort William in 1991, a year after its
tercentenary, she called in to the West Highland Museum and was shown the
Jacobite collection by the then curator, Fiona Marwick. Guiding the Queen
round the show cased objects that are said to have a strong connection with
the Prince. Her Majesty was intrigued! When Fiona told her "This, Ma'am is
a lock of Bonnie Prince Charlie's hair, and that is a piece of the tartan that he
wore at Culloden". The Queen responded to the curator with a very perceptive
and unusually humorous take on what she had just been told, saying -
"My dear, if all the locks of Bonnie Prince Charlie's hair and every piece of
his tartan that I have been shown on my travels were authentic, then the
Prince would have been bald and
bare by the time he was exiled in
France".
Amongst the many exhibits in the
Jacobite Collection, by far the
most unusual and intriguing is The
Secret Portrait of Bonnie Prince
Charlie. Found in a London
market stall in the early 1920s by
the Museum founder, Victor
Hodgson, The Secret Portrait is
made up of two parts. One
consists of a 30cm square wooden panel, upon which crescent moon-like
daubings of coloured paint circulate round its centre, giving the first-glance
appearance of a well used artist's palette.
And herein lies the secret, for when the second part of the unique portrait is
added - everything becomes clear. A 20 cm high wooden column with a
central element of polished metal reveals the apparent distortion below on its
surface, showing the handsome image of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
The artist and date of the portrait remain a mystery. However, this
anamorphic style of painting has been used by a number of well-known
artists, most notably in Hans Holbein's 'The Ambassadors', in which he
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The Secret Portrait
By Bill Cameron, Lochaber
Two hundred and sixty six years ago, Prince Charles Edward Stuart stood
upon an elevated knoll above the dark and ominous waters of Loch Shiel,
hoping to change the course of British history when he raised the Jacobite
Standard at Glenfinnan. It was to be a cause during which many would lose
their lives in the pursuit of restoring the Stuarts to the British throne.
Bonnie Prince Charlie's ill-fated campaign throughout Scotland has been
much analysed by scholars, from his first landing in the Western Isles; as
were the various caves in which he is alleged to have taken shelter in after
his defeat at Culloden, and to his final departure disguised as an Irish maid
(Betty Burke) - evading capture and denying his captors the thirty thousand
pound reward on his head for those treacherous enough to give away his
whereabouts.
Within the many historical accounts written about the Prince, it is clear that
if the Gentle Lochiel had not been persuaded by him to back the Stuart cause
and offer the support of his clan, then the '45 would probably not have taken
place.
Showing allegiance to the Jacobite cause would have taken a variety of
forms, from the direct bonds of kinship in following the rallying call of the
clan chief into battle, to the discreet carrying of small items that had a
connection to the Prince; such as enamel portraits of him, locks of his hair,
or fragments of his kilt.
Within the West Highland Museum in Fort William, there are many articles
associated with Prince Charlie and the Jacobite cause. In many respects the
museum was founded around the central idea of having a permanent home
for such Jacobite artefacts. A major Jacobite Exhibition in 1925 would see
the museum acquire more objects from various individuals into its permanent
collection and it eventually moved into the present day site in Cameron
Square.
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the resources would actively support learning and personal development.
The applicant identifies why they should be considered.
Judgement and award process
The number and value of scholarships awarded each year will be
dependent upon funds available each year and the strength of the
applications made. The decisions made in this respect by the Clan
Association Council and Annual General Meeting are final and not
subject to appeal. All applications received by noon on Saturday 15 th
October 2011 will be considered. All applications will be reviewed by
two nominated Clan Cameron Association Council members with
recommendations presented for consideration at the October
Council meeting
The October Council meeting will review the recommendation and
make a final decision for adoption at the next Annual General
Meeting (AGM) of the Clan Cameron Association.
The award of scholarships will be ratified and announced at the
October Annual General Meeting of the Clan Cameron Association
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within
one calendar month of the AGM
A condition of acceptance is that the successful applicant will agree
to an announcement of the award being posted on the CCAS web
site and newsletter. It is hoped the eventual success of the bursar
will also be announced to the Association.
Mony a mickle maks a Muckle!
The old Scots saying means that a large amount is made up of many
smaller amounts and it is in that context that you are invited to
contribute to the Scholarship Fund. It was always the intention that
an opportunity would be given to members to contribute to this
important cause. Any contributions, large or small are welcome. If
you wish to add something to the fund, please send your donation to:
The Treasurer, 5 Fechil Brae, Ellon, Aberdeenshire AB41 8NS
clearly marking that it is for the scholarship.
Editor
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ACHNACARRY SPORTING & COUNTRY PURSUITS
A new commercial venture has been launched by Alec Macdonald
who has been the resident deerstalker at Achnacarry for over 30 years.
Some of you may have met Alec at previous Clan Gatherings (he has
always run the clay pigeon event). Alec is the fourth generation of his
family to have been stalkers on the Lochiel Estate and is extremely
knowledgeable not only about the wildlife and hills of the estate, but
also its culture and history. His wife, Catherine, is a Cameron of Glen
Nevis, and she has lived at Achnacarry in the past. She is a talented
musician (and music teacher) who has played at some clan ceilidhs
and clan church services.
This year Alec (and Simon Laird, a stalking tenant who has a holiday
home on the estate) have set up a business called “Achnacarry
Sporting & Country Pursuits”. Its aim is to take wildlife tours, fishing
tours, and sporting ventures around Lochiel Estate as well as to let
deerstalking and shooting parties. The Lochiel family are not financially
involved nor do any management, but the company is chaired by
Donald Andrew, and it very much has their blessing. In essence, the
sporting enterprise has been “outsourced” to Alec‟s company.
Donald Andrew comments that “this would be a perfect service for
any Camerons visiting Lochaber, enabling them to take advantage of
Alec‟s expertise and knowledge, giving people the chance to take in
some of the estate and its hills and wildlife, in whatever way they like.
Alec has use of “argocats” and other all-terrain vehicles which will
make parts of the estate accessible to people of varying levels of
ability, etc.”
The website is http://www.achnacarrycountry.co.uk/ and Alex‟s email
is: info@achnacarrycountry.co.uk
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phone to send the images down to meet the two o'clock Wednesday deadline.
Images sent, I soon caught up with the rest of the group and resumed
my Sherpa duties. With our various parts of the Model T we made it back
down the mountain in around three hours, much to the relief of all of us -
cold, wet, tired, but very happy volunteers.
Later that day, the Model T Club
members met in their Alexandra
Hotel HQ in Fort William as part
of their week-long gathering to
celebrate the day's achievement.
To their amazement and
delight, local journalist, Roamer,
arrived in the dining room just
before 8pm and handed Neil
Tuckett and his colleagues, copies
of the Lochaber News
(printed 65 miles north!) which
carried pictures and a story of
the Model T on the summit
Some of the signatures of the 77 volunteers who
carried the Model T up to the top of Ben Nevis.
Photo: Bill Cameron
hours earlier. There's a lot to be said for the lack of our distinctively laid back
West Highland time - occasionally!
The Model T which was borne up the Ben, was later put together again in
the West Highland Museum, in Cameron Square. There it will remain for the
best of a year, its bonnet signed by all seventy seven volunteers - a fitting
re-creation of an adventure which had begun in that very Cameron Square -
a hundred years before.
Alexander Donald Trotter
Alexander Donald was born on 7th March, 2011. He is the first son of
Catherine and Henry Trotter and a brother for Alice. Catherine is the
eldest daughter of Lochiel and Lady Cecil. Many congratulations to
Henry and Catherine and to Alexander Donald‟s grandparents.
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Bill in the Model T on the summit.
Photo Bill Cameron.
Page 22
eat and drink whilst walking
around to keep warm. Meanwhile
the Model T was being assembled
in just twenty minutes. For
various reasons, the engine was
not taken up to the summit, so a
few of us managed to push the
now virtually complete car close to
the observatory. There, history
briefly repeated itself. Neil Tuckett,
one of the leaders of the event
took a well deserved seat behind
the wheel and thanked all involved
for their efforts. After this, there followed a series of memory-catching moments
as most of the volunteers clambered on
board to get their photographs taken in the
car. Stopping for a break at the halfway lochan
on the way up, I got speaking to Mike Munro,
grandson of Henry Alexander. Spotting him
huddled in the remains of the observatory on
the summit, I asked if he would have a photograph
taken in the car for posterity. It turned
out that his own grandson and nephew were
with him, so all three were photographed in
the car. The Model T had been put together in
just under an hour, after which it was quickly
taken apart as the wind and snow continued
to blast everyone on the summit. Soon, the
various parts of the Model T were again
strapped to people's backs as they headed
back down off the top of the Ben, and the tyre
marks were soon covered by a thick layer of
snow, as if nothing had ever been there.
Having taken photographs for the Lochaber
News 4,406ft below, I was, ironically, the last
person to leave the summit, having waited patiently
to get a strong enough signal on my
Three generations of
Henry Alexander’s
relatives in the Model T,
left, Mike Munro, grandson
of Henry Alexander, top,
Mike's nephew, Dan
Munro and his grandson,
Kevin Munro.
Photo: Bill Cameron
WHAT IS THE
SCONESTONE?
Inspired by ancient Scottish
carvings, the Sconestone is a
hand carved sculpture that has
been sent on a global
"Journey of Kindness" passing
from person to person, each
pledging to an act of kindness.
The Sconestone acts as a symbol encouraging those who have touched
it to pledge to an act of Kindness and ultimately help in their own
small way to make the world a better place. Every person who cares
for the Sconestone must keep it for no more than 7 days, get as many
friends as possible to touch the stone and make the same pledge, tell
their story on the Sconestone.com website and then finally to pass the
stone onto a person who will embrace the same spirit of kindness to be
the next Keeper of the Sconestone to continue the journey. The
sconestone was officially presented to the Reverend Neil Galbraith, the
first keeper of the stone, by Alex Salmond, the First Minister of
Scotland, at Scone Palace on August 29 th , 2009 at a live Runrig rock
concert, and since that time the stone has been travelling the world
inspiring acts of kindness. (Editor)
Frances Bayley Smith
It is with sadness, we record the passing away of Frances B Smith on
25th August 2011 at the age of 86. From childhood, Frances had been
a stalwart member of the Glasgow branch in which she had also been
an office-bearer. Until recently, she had audited the annual CCAS
accounts and was Vice-President of the West Region of the
Association. Her funeral service at Pollockshields Parish Church was
well attended and the CCAS was represented by several of our
members.
Page 11

Culloden 2011
Again, we had a wonderfully
moving service at Culloden to
commemorate the fallen on that
fateful day in April 1746 when
the Jacobite army was routed.
After the service, conducted in
Gaelic and English, Donald
Andrew Cameron Ygr of Lochiel
laid the Cameron wreath at the memorial cairn.
Astie piped us to the Cameron grave where we all placed a daffodil as
a token of our remembrance of the fallen Camerons. We then were
excellent lunch at the Cawdor
Tavern followed by an informative
talk by The Very Reverend Allan
MacLean of Dochgarroch on the
Erracht Camerons.
The service in 2012 will be on Sat-
urday, 14th April at 11.00
Page12
led by Astie to the Cameron
marker, where the Camerons
had lined up to face the Han-
overian army. There he
played a Pibroch and we left
a simple bouquet of daffodils.
After the service, we had an
its way up to the lochan. Hearing only a few days earlier about the attempt to
take a car up to the summit, and having seen the photographs of the first
ascent in 1911, I was suddenly taken by the idea, and purely by chance,
became quite involved in what was to become a memorable adventure.
My initial involvement was to send a brief report and a few images of the
event from the summit to the
Lochaber News - which was,
incidentally, going to press a
few hours later. However,
things didn't quite work out as
planned. Local mountain
guides, Model T enthusiasts,
volunteers and descendants of
Henry Alexander gathered at
Achintee at the foot of Ben Nevis
at 6:30am. Nearby, a careful
Crossing the burn with helpers.
Photo: Astie Cameron.
Page 21
arrangement of parts making
up a Model T lay heavy on the
ground, like a grown up's Mec-
cano set - waiting for grown-ups to play with the bits! Having registered with
the mountain men, the leader looked me up and down and said: "You look
young and strong enough to carry that" - pointing to the thick wooden framed
chassis of the car. At this point any intention just to go up and photograph
the event was now a secondary consideration. Along with two other locals,
we would carry the chassis of the model T up to the summit! This involved
us in clambering over boulders, scree, recently installed large stone steps
(that would have prevented the car from being driven up) and eventually over
thick snow as we reached the summit plateau just before midday.
As we trundled across the white carpeted summit, the wind and sleet made
for slow progress as we headed towards the remains of the old meteorological
observatory. It was here that Henry Alexander had sat a hundred years
earlier in his Model T - albeit in much better weather! With everyone keen to
unload the various heavy parts they had carried up the mountain, we let the
small group of Model T enthusiasts quickly assemble the sections of the car
as driving winds and snow blasted us from all sides. We had something to

Model T on Ben Nevis - A Century On
by Bill Cameron
There's a long held tradition that says when there is no snow lying on Ben
Nevis, then the lands of Lochaber will no longer be held by the Cameron
clan. A more recent tradition revolves round one of the first mass produced
cars, and the concerted effort by many people to take it to the highest point
in Britain.
On Wednesday the 18th of May, 2011, seventy-seven volunteers traversed
through snow, sleet, rain and gale force winds to recreate a journey made
a century earlier to take a Ford Model T to the summit of Ben Nevis. Back in
May, 1911, Henry Alexander drove his Model T from Cameron Square, Fort
William, up the then comparatively "vehicle-friendly" pony track on Ben
Nevis, with the assistance of a large party of helpers and horses over a
number of days.
The sensational, pioneering achievement of reaching the 4,406 feet summit
was, and still remains, a phenomenal feat of human endeavour. It was, quite
literally, a trail blazer for today's extreme 4x4 off-road vehicles often filmed in
remote locations to add an adventurous spirit to their brand. In many ways,
this inspiring piece of "product placement" could be seen as a well
considered publicity stunt for Ford, particularly as Henry Alexander's father
had the principal Ford dealership in Edinburgh at that time.
A century on, at sea level, as part of a week long Model T rally in and around
Fort William, the highways and byways of Lochaber took on a nostalgic feel
as a variety of the "Tin Lizzies" and other vintage cars tootled and beeped
from A to B at a more civilised pace. Earlier in that week, an attempt was
made to drive a Model T up to the Halfway Lochan on the Ben. However,
due to poor weather conditions underfoot, the car had to be manoeuvred
back down from the 1,600 feet mark - allowing all involved to appreciate the
tremendous efforts required in the 1911 ascent.
Astie Cameron, from Achnacarry, was involved in overseeing this 21st
century attempt in his position as health, safety and environment coordinator
at the Rio Tinto Alcan plant - the route crossing the works land on
Page 20
Glenfinnan 2011
There was a good turnout of
Camerons at the Glenfinnan
Gathering and the weather was
kind on the day. It is a unique
setting for a Highland Games and it
always has a feel of a genuine
Games in which members of the
local community participate. After
the march from the monument,
the games were opened by the
chieftain of the day.
his wife. We also were
pleased to welcome Lochiel
who was able to practise his
French on a group of tourists.
(Editor)
It was good to see so many young
people participating and this bodes
well for the future of the Glenfinnan
Gathering.
Among the guests at our stall were
the local MSP, David Thompson and
Page 13

PIPING BANNERS — CALLING ALL CRAFTSPEOPLE
At the last council meeting, the
suggestion was put forward that it would
be good to have a bagpipe banner for
Astie’s pipes. The banner ties on to the
drone. Since Astie is both Lochiel’s piper
and the piper for the Association, the
banner could have Lochiel’s colours on one
side and those of the Association on the
other. If anyone or any group is interested
in undertaking this project, please contact
the editor in the first instance for further
particulars.
aicameron21@gmail.com
Battle of Harlaw Commemoration
Page 14
This is the general pattern
although it need not be
scalloped
Our President, Duncan, attended the 600th anniversary of the Battle
of Harlaw on Sunday 24th July. This battle which resulted from an
attempt by the Lord of the Isles to expand his territory ended indecisively
after a great deal of bloodshed on both sides. Donald, Lord of
the Isles was met by a troop led by the Earl of Mar. Donald Dubh
rose in support of Donald and many Camerons were slain. Duncan
laid a wreath on behalf of the Association. As a postscript to this
event, it transpired that The Trade Guild
of Aberdeen acquired the sword of
Donald Dubh but returned it to the family
in 1790. In return the Guild received a
jewelled dirk together with the
correspondence of the time.
THE RED CROSS ROSE
Page 19
Recently one of our members,
Sonia Cameron Jacks was
attending the Strathpeffer
Games. She was stopped by a
member of the Red Cross who
had a stall at the games and was
informed that, to date, the rose
had raised £12.5 million. This is a
quite remarkable achievement.
The rose painting is the work of
the late Elizabeth Cameron of
Allangrange who was an aunt of Lochiel. This is a fine example of her
wonderful botanical drawings which are both beautiful and intricate.
THE THREE DONALDS
Donald Angus, Donald Andrew and Donald Fergus

and come together to benefit Scotland.
The convention “hosted by The Council of Scottish Chiefs shows that chiefs
and their clan representatives (clan societies) acknowledge that they have an
important role to play, not just their clan life, but on the wider Scottish and
global stage.” (MacGregor M 2009). Professor Goldblatt suggested “we are
looking at a dawning of a second enlightenment in Scotland, it‟s about the
diaspora engaging with the new Scotland, which has been emerging since the
Scottish Parliament was reconvened in 1999.” (A P 2009). Judging by the
success of the „Homecoming‟ clan societies are well placed to adapt to the
needs of the twenty-first century clansman. After all they have up to 284
years of experience of service to the clan.
Bibliography
Basu P (2007) Highland Homecoming. Clan Societies/Associations 3, 19, 21, 23, 29,
31, 42-3, 81, 104, 106-7, 122-5, 127-8, 137-144, 213.
Brown A (2009) Return of the Clans. The Sunday Times. 19 July.
Cheskin D (2009) The Sunday Times. 26 July.
Clan Hay Magazine (1956) Vol I, 5 p5.
Devine T (1994) Clanship to Crofters' War: The Social Transformation of the Scottish
Highlands. Ch6 The Making of Highlandism. pp84-99. and Ch 16 Diaspora;
Highland Migrants in the Scottish City. pp241-249. p 242 and 90 The Glasgow
Highland Society founded 1727. Celtic Societies pp 245-246. Highland Society of
London 34, 87, 98.
Harvie C Walker G Community and Culture in Fraser W Morris R (eds) People and
Society in Scotland. Vol ii 1830-1914, 355.
Kelly S (2009) Echoes of Scott, 1822 Spin Doctor Supreme. Scotland on Sunday 26
July p5.
Leask D Peterkin T (2009) Scotland on Sunday 26 th July p1.
Lynch M (2007) The Oxford Companion to Scottish History...Morton R, Clan Societies,
92-3.
Lynch M (1991) Scotland: A New History. Clan Societies 69, 356-7.
Highland society 355.
MacGregor M (2009) Pan Alba. 29 June.
Munro R (1977) Highland Clans and Tartans.
Clan Societies pp114-124 Aims and objectives 114-119, Gathering 1951 119-120.
Modern activities 120-4. Highland societies 112, Highland society of London 70,
77, 84, 102,. 103-4, 106, 107. Highland society of Scotland 79, 84.
Ross P (2009) Scotland on Sunday 26 July p4.
Sempill (Lord) in Brown A (2009) Return of the Clans. The Sunday Times 19 July.
Stewart J (1981) The Camerons: A History of Clan Cameron. 2 nd Ed. -Clan society
249-253. (Ist Ed 1974).
Watts D Strogatz S (1998) Collective Dynamics of „Small world Networks‟. Nature
393 (6684) pp 409-10.
Page 18
CAMERONS IN THE NEWS
Sandy Cameron
The young piper on the right is
Sandy Cameron whose home is near
Roy Bridge. Sandy has had
considerable success this summer on
the games circuit in both the under-
16 and under-18 classes playing
both March, Strathspey and Reel and
the Piobaireachd. His tutor is the
well respected piper Iain Mcfadyen
who has guided the piping of many
young Highland pipers
Dr Roddy Cameron Roddy celebrated his 60th birthday by
holding a party at his house in Ruthven on
August 13th with a good turnout of friends,
colleagues and relations. As well as an
excellent spread of food and drink the guests
were entertained by a live jazz band. A
decade older, this year and celebrating 70th
birthdays this year are past presidents Alan
and David.
Douglas & Helen Cameron
Douglas & Helen who live in Kintore, Aberdeen-
shire celebrated their diamond wedding on 6th
June 2011. For many years, Douglas had a garage
in Kintore and also drove the Fire Engine. He had a
wonderful collection of antique and vintage cars.
They are Duncan, our President’s uncle and aunt.
Page 15

The Clan Society Today
by Duncan Cameron
“Some people who know no better, laugh at clan associations and think that
they are sentimental, a waste of time; that they perpetuate a society best forgotten
which has no place in the modern world.” (Stewart J 1974, 251)
The clan society, unlike the clan itself, is a relatively recent phenomenon. No
longer are the clansmen living in a defined region, sharing the same surname
and looking to his chief and fellow clansmen for support and protection.
“… with the scattering of the clans, any 'clannit' person who still feels
the bond of kinship (real of fancied), or looks to a chief as head of a worldwide
family, is likely to find others similarly inclined in what the heralds
see as a ‘corporate clansman." (Morton in Lynch. 2007, 92) What is true
is “…that the spirit of the old clans still persists (and that it is) a great deal
more than mere sentiment.” (Stewart J 1974, 251).
For the clan society member today the clan society is the clan. Not only is
this implied through the benefits of membership, but also through statements
in website or other publication. Clans Chattan and Grant being examples
“The activities of the Clan are now carried on by the Clan Chattan
Association.” (Wikipedia). “The Clan Grant Society is the present day
representative of the clan (www.clangrant.org). In the past the clan society
may have been both founded by and the preserve of, the elite of the clan,
with the admirable exception of the Mackay Society in 1806, who numbered
vintners, an undertaker and a weaver in its first committee. (Morton 1977,
115). “Around 10% and 7% respectively of Perth and Dundee Highlanders at
the end of the 19 th century belonged to the managerial and professional
classes and these were prime movers in the Highland and Celtic societies
which became part of the social life of the town elite in Victorian times...
These organisations mainly attracted middle class migrants for „social
reasons‟ and were ignored by the many ordinary highlanders”. (Devine 1994,
245-6). The modern society has become a much more altruistic organisation
and adapted to the needs of the modern clansman.
The Gathering, of between 30,000 and 47,000, (Leask and Peterkin 2009, 1)
(Cheskin 2009) that took place on the 25 th and 26 th July 2009 at Holyrood
Park in Edinburgh, was the most important clan event of its kind since 1822,
with 124 clans and families and 85 chiefs having tents (Ross 2009, 1) and
8,000 marching from Holyroodhouse to Edinburgh Castle, some no doubt
sporting tartans from the Vestiarium Scoticum of the Sobiesky Stuarts and a
direct link to the events of 1822. (Kelly 2009, 5). These events were
organised through clan societies - in 2009 they are essentially the Clan and
Page 16
play a major, but unsung role in Scotland‟s cultural life. It is a delicious
irony that Burns “…was seized upon by some as an antidote to the „tartan
menace‟- and the voice of ordinary Scots”. (Lynch 1991, 357) (Harvie and
Walker, 355). Although this view of Burns is markedly in contrast to that of
Devine who suggests “…Burns role was therefore vital in placing Jacobitism
and so the highlands at the centre of the national consciousness which was
emerging in Scotland after the union.” (Devine 1994, 90).
The theory of „networking‟ suggests we are all connected by six degrees of
separation. (Watts and Strogatz 1998) With clan societies as the „hub‟ it is a
lot less difficult to be „connected.‟ The author has been linked through a clan
association to a third cousin whose ancestors left Scotland for Australia in
1832 and made a 25 point exact DNA match with a fellow member in New
Zealand, through the help of the USA branch. This is in stark contrast to the
comparatively recent past of Clan Hay. “…we have about 25 members in …
the USA. These figures are disappointing, but it is difficult to know how to
advertise the society in North America without going there and that costs
money. But potentially there is a vast reserve of members there.” (Clan Hay
Magazine 1956, 6).
“Such are the altered circumstances of the times, that we meet - not in secret,
like the clans of olden time…but under the full blaze of gas in a sumptuous
hall in the heart of a populous city; and the cross of fire that summoned us to
this trysting place has become the advertisement sheet and the penny
post.” (Munro 1977, 116). One can only wonder at what the speaker would
have made of the benefits from computer technology such as internet websites,
email, pictures, a newsletter by Adobe, genealogies on the net or CD
and DNA profiling? (Basu 2007, 21).
Some such as Morton are perhaps sceptical of the future “Advanced technology
has made the world a smaller place, with easier and faster travel and
communication. It is tempting to let clanship become absorbed in the tourist
industry and the remedy lies with those most in touch with current thought
and understanding of the past.” (Morton in Lynch 2007, 93). (Sempill in
Brown 2009). This is counterbalanced by the army of volunteers who make
the modern clan society work, give so much to Scottish culture and aren‟t
content to stand still, but wish to see the modern clan and society survive into
the future. There is a dichotomy between the contemporary Scot, who sees
little reason to join a clan society, or if curious can seek information on the
net and those from the diaspora “for whom the clan has all the meaning in
the world.”(Ross 2009, 4) (Brown 2009). Devine suggested both groups need
to liberate themselves from „victim history‟ (Scotland on Sunday 2009, 16)
Page 17