Clan Maclean Association of England and Wales
News Archive
21-July-2013
|
Ashbourne Highland Gathering
Having planned to attend last year's Gathering at Ashbourne in Derbyshire, which was cancelled by the organisers due to the weather, we had hoped to attend this year's Gathering. Unfortunately we were unable to do so, because the people who were going to man our stand at this event were unavailable.
|
||
|
|||
02-Nov-2012
|
2012 AGM and autumn dinner
Our Annual General Meeting and autumn dinner were held on Friday, 2nd November 2012, at the Caledonian Club in Halkin Street, London SW1.
Draft Minutes of the AGM will be made available shortly on our Members only page. The Minutes of last year's AGM and the accounts for the year ended 31st July 2012 were both approved and are now available on that page.
80 guests attended the dinner that followed, including the Chief, Lady Maclean (Rosie) and Elizabeth, Lady Maclean. Lady Maclean was particularly welcome, as this was the first time that she had attended an event of this Association. In his speech, the Chief brought us up to date with the goings-on of the members of his family and reported on the International Gathering at Duart in June.
Our Guest of Honour was Lord Patten, Chairman of the BBC Trust, Chancellor of Oxford University, former Cabinet Minister in the Thatcher and Major governments, former Vice President of the European Commission for External Affairs and the last Governor of Hong Kong. The Pattens are a long-standing sept of the Clan Maclean.
Lord Patten spoke on the subject of ‘Identity, Loyalty and the Politics of the 21st Century’. He discussed these in the context of a world today in which increasingly problems have to be resolved by international cooperation. He did not believe that loyalty to one's country and international cooperation were mutually exclusive. In particular, in a world in which politics, religion, ethnicity and differences in standards of living were dangerously divisive, he believed that clans played an important bridging role.
Following his prepared speech he generously agreed to take questions on any subject. This elicited some excellent questions, which he answered at length and without reservation, about the personal philosophy which has underpinned his career choices, his view of various global issues – notably what he saw as the three most important concerns, being global warming, lack of international cooperation and social inequality - and of course his attitude towards Europe, which was actually much more nuanced and critical than those who label him a Euro-fanatic would have expected.
This was a privileged opportunity to listen to one of the foremost political figures of our time and those who were present counted themselves fortunate. It was a fascinating and memorable evening.
| ||
|
|||
Oct-Nov 2012
|
Maclean exhibitions
An exhibition of pictures by Bruce McLean took place at the Bernard Jacobson Gallery at 6 Cork Street, London W1 from 10th October until 10th November 2013.
Bruce McLean was also featured in an exhibition at the Ikon Gallery in Brindleyplace, Birmingham, forming part of the Gallery's Autumn Almanac: The Voice and the Lens, which took place from 8th to 11th November 2012.
An exhibition of works by Peter McLane was held at the Light Gallery, 5A Porchester Place, London W2, near Marble Arch, during 3rd – 17th November 2012. Peter began his career as a singer, during which he represented Monaco in the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest, and then turned to digital painting.
|
||
|
|||
July-Nov 2012
|
British Museum exhibition
An exhibition "Shakespeare: staging the world" was held at the British Museum from 19th July to 25th November 2012. This provided a rare opportunity to see the magnificent Lochbuie Brooch.
This silver, pearl and rock crystal brooch was probably made on the Loch Buy [as then was] Estate in the late 16th century. The inscription on the reverse reads: "The Silver Oar of this Broch was found on the Estate of Lochbuy in Mull and made by a Tinker on that Estate about the year 1500. It was handed down by the Ladies of that family to one another untill Anna Campbell lady to Murdock McLean who had no Male Issue, gave it to Isabella McLean, their daughter, spouse to John Scrogie, Esq, to whom she presented it the day after their Marriage."
Photographs of the brooch may be seen on the British Museum's website here. Its place in the exhibition was possibly linked to the “Scottish Play”, which would have been wholly appropriate, as Macbeth is buried on Iona close to several Maclean Chiefs.
|
||
|
|||
June 2012
|
2012 Clan Maclean International Gathering
As can be seen from the group photograph on the left, the Association was well represented at the 2012 Clan Maclean International Gathering, which took place on Mull during 18th - 24th June. A full report on this Gathering appears in the Clan Maclean Association Newsletter 2012 which has just been published.
Photographs of the occasion are also available from the Gathering's Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/clanmaclean2012).
Other photographs, taken by the official photographer for the Gathering, may be seen at, and are available for purchase from, http://www.photoboxgallery.com/.
The group photograph above is not available from the above websites. It was taken by Shane Winter from Los Angeles, who has kindly agreed that it can be down-loaded from this page. Click on the photo to see a slightly enlarged version.
|
||
|
|||
03-Feb-2012
|
2012 Burns Supper
On Friday 3rd February 2012 we held our annual Burns Night Supper at the Caledonian Club, in co-operation with The Stewart Society for the second year running. 89 people attended, one of our highest ever attendances.
The Stewarts were represented not only by the Chairman of The Stewart Society in London, Jamie Stewart, who did us proud last year in his Immortal Memory speech, arm in sling straight from an operation, but also by Robert Stewart of Blackhouse, President of The Stewart Society worldwide, of which H M The Queen is the Head.
Bobby Stewart recalled his first meeting with our Patron. “About 45 years ago I had occasion to pick up her daughter Janet, the ‘Maid’ [the eldest daughter of Duart having the charming courtesy title of the Maid of Morvern]. Her father was Lord Chamberlain at the time, hence the grand London address. I leant urgently about three times on the bell at the St James’s Palace side entrance, when at length the door was opened by a formidable-looking lady. Rather startled, I asked if she was staff or the Lady Maclean. “Both” she replied crisply “and you’re late, Mr Stewart!”. Thankfully we’ve got on famously ever since.”
Jamie Stewart addressed the Haggis with great panache and a large dirk, sharing alternate verses of the eight, “so as to vary the pace”, with contributions by Malcolm Maclean, Younger of Duart and Morvern, Bobby Stewart of Blackhouse, and Hew Dundas (a Maclean of Ardgour).
We were fortunate to have Lord (Sandy) Leitch, a sept of Clan Maclean, to hold us in stitches with a series of jokes, including at the President’s expense: “By the way, I would like to thank my dear friend Nicolas Maclean for the invaluable advice he gave me on how I should approach my speech this evening. “Sandy” he said, “Don’t try to be witty or intellectual. Just try to be yourself!”.
Lord Leitch is Deputy Chairman of Lloyds TSB Bank plc, Chairman of BUPA, Scottish Widows and several other companies, but his angle on Robert Burns was to look at his humble origins, being himself like Burns the son of a ploughman, who had also worked as a coalminer in Fife. Lord Leitch paid a moving tribute to Burns as a man of the people and then moved on to the breadth and width of Burns’s impact globally, 216 years after his death.
Lord Leitch had just returned from Davos, where a senior Kazakh politician had been telling him of Burns Night this year in Almaty. The international aspect of Burns was well represented in the Caledonian Club on this night with guests from Canada, Serbia, Armenia, Germany, Australia, Japan, Iran, the USA, Russia, France, India, and several more including the European President of the Hell’s Angels, another Maclean. “Burns embraced the full horizontal and raised the “cup o’ kindness” “that man to man the world o’er shall brothers be for a’ that.”
Jamie Maclean, Sir Fitzroy’s son, then drew deeply but respectably from his wealth of experience as the Editor of “The Erotic Review” in order to toast the Lassies. His wife Sarah had given him carte blanche by not attending the dinner, but he did not abuse his freedom. “So now it falls to me to reassure Scottish womanhood that we Scotsmen are worthy of their love. I’m not sure that I’m really up to the task, but I’ll do my best!”.
Jamie rose to the occasion with revelations of his early explorations with Big Morag, following Burns’ example, to his successful efforts to keep at bay Calvin, Knox and the “monstrous regiment” of Scottish Women Against Pornography. He ended with a lesser-known but very sexy poem by Burns: “Super is’na Ready”.
Caroline de Klee responded in a vigorous and lively way for the Lassies, ending with an innovative Toast to the Laddies! In this centenary year of the re-possession of Duart by Clan Maclean, we were particularly pleased to have one of the Burns Night speeches by a representative of the family which had sold the Duart Peninsula and its then ruined castle back to the Macleans of Duart.
Caroline’s husband is descended from the Guthries of Torosay and accompanied her at this Burns Night Supper. We all regretted that a hundred years after the Macleans of Duart became neighbours of the Guthries of Torosay, Torosay Castle was itself up for sale - the end of an era on Mull and of a great tourist attraction that has complemented Duart Castle and its surroundings across the bay.
After the speeches our traditional musical medley was as great a success as ever, first with Andrew Maclean’s inspiring and rousing “War-song of the Macleans”, then our piper Roderick’s reprise of popular pipe tunes, including a special tribute to Torosay, and finally David Dunham on the melodeon with James Arber on the guitar.
Bobby Stewart of Blackhouse and Malcolm Maclean Younger of Duart and Morvern then closed the evening with speeches of warmest appreciation, especially to the evening’s main organizer, our Hon. Secretary Helen Bailey.
Finally, Rod led us in an enthusiastic “Auld Lang Syne” and we all reluctantly began to head for home.
|
||
|
|||
19-Jan-2012
|
Maclean Night at the 606 Club
On 19th January 2012 it was Maclean Night at the 606 Club in Lots Road, Chelsea, one of London's premier jazz clubs. The Benet McLean Band was performing and Nigel Alington took a party of Macleans and friends to listen. The music was be-bop/hip-hop, much of it composed by Benet himself, including an up-to-the minute jazz version of Fauré's Pavane!
Apart from Benet on piano and vocals, the other band members were Jason Yarde on sax, Ben Hazleton on bass and Saleem Raman on drums. The virtuosity of all of them was stunning.
It was a great evening. Check out Benet's website (www.benetmclean.com) and try to catch one of his gigs.
|
||
|
|||
07-Oct-11
|
2011 AGM and autumn dinner
Our Annual General Meeting and autumn dinner were held on Friday, 7th October 2011 at the Caledonian Club in Halkin Street, London SW1.
Draft Minutes of the AGM can be viewed via our Members only page here.
At the dinner which followed, our guest of honour was The Very Rev. Allan Maclean of Dochgarroch, President of the Clan Maclean Association in Scotland, former Chairman of the Clan Maclean Heritage Trust and principal organiser of the International Gathering to be held on the Isle of Mull during June 2012 (see below). He spoke about the first International Gathering in 1912 and outlined the plans for the centenary Gathering next year. His talk included the impressive feat of summarising 600 years of Maclean history in three minutes!
We also welcomed Cherry and Norman Frizzell, representing the Clan Chattan Association, of which Allan Maclean is a Vice-President. For further information about this association of clans, see here. Other speakers included Elizabeth, Lady Maclean, our Patron, who brought us up to date with news of her family, and Nigel Alington, who outlined ideas for co-operation with two charities who help needy Scots in London (see Macleans in need below).
|
||
|
|||
17-Jun-11
|
Visit to Waterloo
On 18th June 2015 a huge bicentennial commemoration of the Battle of Waterloo will take place, with tens of thousands of “re-enactors” wearing period uniform or civilian dress. It will be a great occasion but very crowded. So on 18th June 2011, as part of a three-day visit, members of Clan Maclean and its Septs, led by our President, Nicolas Maclean of Pennycross, held their own commemoration of the Clan’s involvement with the historic campaign that brought peace to North Western Europe for 99 years.
The party was guided throughout by Alasdair White, President of MacleanNet. Alasdair and his wife, Fiona, live in a farmhouse only a few minutes from the cross-roads, Quatre Bras, and within earshot of cannon at Waterloo. Alasdair is a very experienced Waterloo Battlefield Guide and a Fellow of the International Napoleonic Society. He is also a specialist on the aspects of the topography and vegetation that are so crucial to an understanding of the course and outcome of the Battle of Waterloo.
A Maclean of Pennycross by descent, Alasdair not only shared with the group the general excitement, drama, heroism and tragedy of the campaign but made it more personal by focusing on the story of three Macleans who fought at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, two of them brothers. The historian, Major Nicholas Maclean-Bristol, and his wife, Lavinia, joined the visit and shared some of their own family links with the campaign, as well as stories of Macleans from Coll, most in the British army but including several who fought in the French and Dutch armies, their families having emigrated after the crushing of the ‘45. Lavinia’s great-great-grandmother was present at the Duchess of Richmond’s ball in Brussels attended by Wellington and his officers on 15th June, on the eve of Quatre Bras. Others on the trip were able to tell their own stories.
The visit began on Friday, 17th June, with a delicious dinner at Le Bivouac de Napoleon next to the actual centre of Wellington’s lines, where the Macleans held their own against a crowd of uniformed French “re-enactors”, including Grognards of Napoleon’s Old Guard, at least one Marshal, and Napoleon’s secretary.
Saturday, 18th June, started with a visit to Quatre Bras. Alasdair took the party to the key points of the battle, showing the main monuments, including a new monument listing all British regiments which took part by their names in 1815 and their current names. The younger Maclean of Pennycross brother, Charles, carried the colours for the 79th Regiment of the Line, the Cameron Highlanders, whose particular valour was highlighted by Wellington in his first dispatch after Quatre Bras and Waterloo. Then Alasdair guided the party through the narrow streets of Genappe, through which the Allied army made a tactical withdrawal to the defensive position Wellington had identified years earlier at Waterloo. This withdrawal was covered by allied cavalry, including the 13th Light Dragoons, in which Allan Thomas Maclean, Charles’s elder brother, was an officer
The rest of the day was spent walking around the site of the Battle of Waterloo, described in detail by Alasdair and replayed by several thousand re-enactors, including the Light Dragoons among whom Allan Thomas Maclean had again played an active role. There too were the 73rd Foot, with whom the elderly John Maclaine, son of Gillean Maclaine of Scallasdale, had served at Waterloo as a major.
The final day was occupied by visits to Wellington's headquarters, now a small museum, and the Royal Chapel at Waterloo, followed by the main cemetery in Brussels at Evere, where stands the principal British memorial to those who fell at Waterloo. A crypt contains the remains of 15 of the most senior British officers to die at Waterloo, among them John Maclaine, who had been cut in two by a cannonball at the height of the battle.
The party returned with a deep respect for the courage and endurance of the men from all sides who took part in those historic events nearly two hundred years ago. Charles Maclean died in Calcutta in 1832. Allan Thomas went on to become a General and sponsored the later Sir Fitzroy Maclean of Duart and Morvern to take a commission in his regiment, the 13th Light Dragoons. We remember also Major John Maclaine and the many Macleans in the ranks who fell in the campaign. In Wellington’s words “Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained.”
|
||
|
|||
March-June 2011
|
Will Maclean exhibitions
A retrospective exhibition of works by Will Maclean took place from 8th March to 4th June 2011 at the Fleming Gallery in Berkeley Street, London W1. Will Maclean is internationally recognized as a foremost exponent of box construction art. The exhibition was held to mark his 70th birthday. Further information about the artist can be found here.
An exhibition called Lead and Line, featuring new works by Will Maclean, was also held at the Art First Gallery in Eastcastle Street, London W1, from 5th May until 18th June 2011.
|
||
|
|||
11-Mar-11
|
Fitzroy Maclean
On 11th March 2011 a Reception was held at the Special Forces Club in London to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Sir Fitzroy Maclean. He was the first President of this Association in 1953 (when it was called the London & District Branch of the Clan Maclean Association), before becoming the President of the Clan Maclean Association in Scotland, a position he held for almost 40 years until his death in 1996.
Sir Fitzroy was one of the most illustrious, as well as being one of the most colourful, figures in the history of the Clan Maclean. He was originally a diplomat, first in Paris and then in Moscow. On the outbreak of war in 1939 he resigned from the Foreign Office and joined the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders as a Private. Within 3 years he was a Brigadier, eventually rising to become a Major-General in 1947. During the war he operated with the SAS in Northern Africa. In 1943 he was sent by Churchill to Yugoslavia, which began his long relationship with that country. He was a Conservative Member of Parliament, first for Lancaster and then for Bute and North Ayrshire. He wrote numerous books of history and biographies, the most well-known being his own autobiography Eastern Approaches. He has often been named as one of the models for 007, James Bond.
Among the distinguished guests at this event were the Croatian Ambassador, Dr Ivica Tomic; the Deputy Head of Mission at the Serbian Embassy, Mr Branimir Filipovic; and the Chargé d'Affaires at the Montenegrin Embassy, Ms Marijana Živkovic. Elizabeth, The Lady Maclean, our Patron, also attended.
Talks were given by Jamie Maclean, Fitzroy's younger son, and by Nicolas Maclean, our President. Jamie gave a riveting, and at the same time affectionate and humorous, account (see here) of his father's life. A wonderful tribute to Sir Fitzroy (see here), written for the occasion by his publisher, Bato Tomaševic, a former Yugoslav partisan, was read out by Nicolas. Nigel Alington gave the vote of thanks.
The evening was hugely enjoyed by a capacity audience, which included members from France and Hong Kong.
|
||
|
|||
11-Feb-11
|
2011 Burns Supper
On Friday, 11th February 2011, 65 Macleans and friends, together with members of the Stewart Society whom we had invited to join us this year, attended our annual Burns Supper in the Caledonian Club in Halkin Street, London SW1. Among the Macleans who attended were our Patron, Elizabeth, The Lady Maclean; Nicolas Maclean of Pennycross, President of our Association, and his wife Qamar; Nigel Alington, Vice-President of the Association; Mary Wilson, Honorary Vice-President; Jenny, Susan and Caroline, daughters of the late Dr John McLean; Briony Maclean and her family; and Paul and Bev Maclean and their family. We also welcomed David McLean, son of the internationally renowned typographic designer Ruari McLean, and Maureen McLean from Seattle, to their first Burns Supper with us. The guests included Ranjit Mathrani, High Sheriff of Greater London, and his wife Namita Panjabi, Alan McLean, President of the Clan Maclean Association of France, with his wife Elizabeth, Colonel Darko and Mrs Branka Perisic from the Serbian Embassy and many others. The evening was a huge success and much enjoyed by all.
Patrick Watson addressed the haggis with great gusto. Jamie Stewart, Chairman of the London District of The Stewart Society, attending with his wife Isa, gave the Toast to the Immortal Memory. Roddy Gow, a godson of the late Lord Maclean, father of the current Chief, responded with the Toast to the Lassies. Philippa MacLean-Watt's humorous reply left the men better informed about what lassies mean, if not about what they want.
Music was supplied by our piper, Rod McFadyen; Andrew Maclean, who sang the War Song of the Macleans; his sister Iona, a professional soul singer whose new record is due out in the UK in June, who sang My love is like a red, red rose and one of her own songs; and David Dunham and James Arber, playing the melodeon and guitar respectively. The evening ended with everyone singing Loch Lomond, the Skye Boat Song and Auld Lang Syne.
|
||
|
|||
22-Oct-10
|
2010 AGM
Our Annual General Meeting and autumn dinner were held on Friday, 22 October 2010 at the Caledonian Club in Halkin Street, London SW1
At the AGM it was agreed, with the consent of the Chief, to change the name of our Association from Clan Maclean Association of London to Clan Maclean Association of England and Wales. This reflects more accurately the geographical scope of the membership and is designed to raise the profile of the Association and in particular to attract new members and good speakers. A new Constitution was also agreed.
We also appointed a new Secretary, Helen Bailey. She succeeds Mary Wilson, to whom we are hugely grateful for many years of enthusiasm and hard work in arranging our events and keeping in touch with our membership. In recognition of her enormous contribution to the Association over a long period, it was unanimously agreed to appoint Mary an Honorary Vice-President of the Association.
At the dinner which followed we were delighted to have the company of the Chief's son, Malcolm Maclean, Yr of Duart and Morvern, as well as of our Patron and Malcolm's grandmother, Elizabeth, The Lady Maclean. Malcolm conveyed messages from his father, who had been prevented from attending, and updated us on his own family and their business in Hampshire. Other guests included Keith Grant-Peterkin, Secretary of the Highland Society of London, who gave us a brief history of the Society, and his wife Theresa.
We also welcomed John Rankin, who has recently been appointed High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. He gave an entertaining and thought-provoking talk on the role played by the Rankins in the history of the Clan Maclean and the contribution which Scottish clan associations could make towards easing global tensions in the new multi-polar world.
|
||
|
|||
19-Feb-10
|
2010 Burns Supper
Our 2010 Burns Supper was held at the Caledonian Club in Halkin Street, London SW1, on Friday, 19 February. 57 clanspeople attended, including 13 from the Clan MacDougall, whom we had invited to join us, by way of an experiment and in a spirit of Highland solidarity. The MacDougalls are another Argyllshire clan, the clan seat being Dunollie Castle (now a ruin), near Oban. Our Patron, Elizabeth, The Lady Maclean, also attended. A link to the war-time exploits of Sir Fitzroy Maclean was provided by the presence of the Defence Attaché to the Serbian Embassy in London, Colonel Branko Milovanovic.
The Address to the Haggis was delivered by David Dunham; the Toast to the Immortal Memory was given by Michael Maclay; John McDougall gave us the spoof Last Will and Testament of Robert Burns; Nigel Alington proposed the Toast to the Lassies; and Mrs Sarah Dundas responded. Roddy MacFadyen provided the piped music and Andrew Maclean gave us the World Première of a Maclean song that he had composed especially for the occasion.
|
||
|
|||
05-Oct-09
|
2009 AGM
At the Association's Annual General Meeting on Friday, 2 October, Nigel Alington stepped down as President, having completed his five-year term. He has been succeeded by Nicolas Maclean of Pennycross. Nigel becomes Vice-President.
At the dinner which followed, we were honoured with the presence of the Chief, Sir Lachlan Maclean, and of our Patron, Elizabeth, The Lady Maclean. Photographs of the occasion will be added to this page shortly.
|
||
|
|||
25-Sep-09
|
Dr John McLean
It is with great regret that we report the death of Dr John McLean on 29 June 2009 at the age of 84. He was a great supporter of the London association and was
always very good company. Obituaries of him can be seen on the website of the International Federation of Esthetic Dentistry (see article,
which includes a rather good photograph of him at Duart), on the website of the British Dental Journal (see page)
and in The Times (see article). We shall miss him.
|
||
|
|||
16-Mar-09
|
2009 Burns Supper
Our Burns Supper was held on Friday, 13th February, at the Caledonian Club in Halkin Street, London SW1.
We are most grateful to David Dunham and Mary Wilson for the photographs of the evening, which can be found here .
Make sure that you look at "2009 Supper" as well as "2009 Tam O'Shanter".
|
||
|
|||
03-Sep-08
|
George Gillon
We are delighted to report that George Gillon, a long-time London member, has been elected to serve as a Sheriff of the City of London. He will take up his duties on 26 September 2008
and will serve for one year.
|
||
|