The Gathering 2009
Week at Stirling University Management Centre.
Our Clan Society extended The
Gathering '09 weekend, part of The Homecoming Year,
to seven July days and eight nights at the above
venue in Bridge of Allan, near Stirling, Scotland.
This was a central hub from which to radiate forth
on our travels and explorations including the
Edinburgh event of The Gathering '09 based in
Holyrood Park on 25th & 26th July. The latter was a
memorable experience with its clan tented village,
merchandising outlets, promotions, entertainments,
and a kaleidoscopic range of tartans, Scottish
dress, and individual sartorial tastes. Headgear
eagle feathers were much in attendance denoting the
armigerous status of their bearer. Whilst our Chief
was unable to be present, we were delighted to
welcome our own armiger Ian M. Ferguson from
Australia sporting one eagle feather, and flanked by
his supportive and engaging lady wife.
Our tent was kept busy with
enquiries from around the globe, a tear in their eye
at times, and 114 signatures in our visitor's book.
Our Clan Name Board even attracted Far Eastern
Manchester United lady supporters. Yes! Sir Alex is
an Honorary Member, so smiles all round.
The evening Parade up The Royal Mile
to the Castle Esplanade stuttered at first as it
milled around, but with banners flying eventually
proceeded on its way to the skirl o' the pipes.
Crowds lined the route cheering, applauding, and
taking pictures. It was unbelievable.
Once seated in the Castle arena,
time hung on our hands for about an hour, with the
temperature dropping. Why didn't I take my jacket
and/or my hip flask? The theme for The Pageant was
geared towards the diaspora and titled "Aisling's
Children; Tales of The Homecoming". Aisling means
vision in Gaelic and over the next hour the narrator
used her powers of second sight to take us on an
allegorical trip through Scottish history, starting
with the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320. As a home
Scot I didn't quite feel the vibes experienced by
the visitors. However the massed pipes and drums at
the finale did the trick.
An official DVD and CD has been
produced by The Gathering organisation.. Check the
gathering web site, and by signing up for Panalba
this may keep you further informed if and when the
Gathering site is stood down.
Stirling itself is an historic city
and the Society was thrilled and honoured by being
invited to a civic reception, where a skilled young
schoolboy piped members in to be received and
welcomed by Provost Wood. The latter presented a
quaich* to commemorate this event and in return he
accepted a Clan Society plaque. Earlier in the day,
246 steps up the Wallace Monument provided a
memorable view, historically and geographically, and
this was complemented by a visit to the bulwark of
Stirling Castle with its associated history. The
weather at this point was rather damp and
dreich, and it must be said that the
Clan "whipper-in" did find some stragglers hiding
from the weather and slaking their thirst in the
Nicky Tams Inn. Their penalty? A top up to the
whipper-in of course! And can you remember what
Nicky Tams are?
Friday was a busy day with the visit
to Burns country including the Tam o' Shanter
experience, Burns cottage, a hosted visit to
Kilkerran the home of our Chief, and our clan
reception in the Management Centre by Sir Charles in
the evening followed by dinner and ceilidh with 50
members and friends attending. This included the
most senior North American Society member, Richard
Ferguson Vice President of Region X1 and his wife
Anna, accompanied by his cousin and his wife Rex and
Jan Ferguson respectively, and Alan Ferguson
representing New Zealand. A Canadian contingent of
Fergusons and Elliotts, not forgetting Paul Mootz,
chef extraordinaire, boosted our numbers, and other
Americans viz; Mary Kennedy, Lori Hodges, Diana
Shields, Roger Ferguson, and Andrew Meeks added to
this. All were gratefully welcomed by our Chairman
Stan on behalf of our own Society. Sir Charles was
presented with an inscribed quaich to mark the
occasion and the Stirling Council equivalent was
accepted by Sir Charles for safe keeping on behalf
of the Society.
Following the Gathering weekend,
outings were a little more relaxed with the visit to
the Trossachs and Loch Katrine incorporating a
return sail on the S.S. Sir Walter Scott to
Stronachlachar, this ship having plied these waters
since 1900. This rekindled the bucolic image of
Scotland's mountains, lochs, and glens, and of
course reminds us that the 200th anniversary of the
eponymous gentleman's poem The Lady of the Lake will
be in 2010 - yes, next year! Come back for the
celebrations! En route to our temporary home, a stop
off for lunch at the Harbour Cafe on Loch Vennachar
with such wonderful views, browsing the shops around
Callander, then a return to base, closed the day's
expedition. Of course a further period of social
integration followed in the evening. The next day
our trip took in Moulin Kirk heritage centre where a
section is given over to the Dunfallandy Fergussons.
Vivien Staplyton-Smith acted as hostess and guide
and we are grateful to all in the Centre who
supported her. Lunch was enjoyed in the
Killiecrankie House Hotel, propietor Henrietta
Fergusson, and supported by an Australian wine by
the name of Fergusson. The Killiecrankie Visitor
Centre was visited by some, with the spendthrifts
opting for The House of Bruar an upmarket country
shopping complex. The last full day was back to the
Stirling catchment area with Bannockburn Heritage
Centre for the historians - remember King Robert the
Bruce defeated the Auld Enemy here in 1314 - and the
Falkirk Wheel for the technocrats - these were the
places of interest.
The last official engagement was the
AGM for 2009. The minutes and a report will follow
later but mention must be made that one of our
group, a Mr. Billy Crawford from the Isle of Bute
attained the ripe 'young' age of 70 years also on
the day. His good wife Liz. put up a toast for us
all to drink his health. Thank you from the group.
In similar vein, our overseas visitors were
presented with a mini-quaich "filled" with Talisker
(Isle of Skye) malt whisky to commemorate their
visit to the homeland. Needless to say all were
drained before being packed away. Hic!
A big thank you to all who joined us
from near and far and for such convivial and
material support.
"And there's a hand, my trusty fere!
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak' a richt guid willie waught,
For auld lang syne." (Burns)
Duncan
* Gaelic: cuach
- a drinking cup
