It is with great personal sadness that I share the news of the passing of one of our own.
Zelda M Carruthers, after a long and debilitating illness, passed peacefully today, Monday, June 13 at 4:30 EST in Mississuga, Canada.
I kindly ask that we remember the support and hard work she gave our society in helping us attain our goal of having a CARRUTHERS chief confirmed after 210 years and through him our clan and family achieving the official status that we deserved, both in Scotland and worldwide.
In 2019, Graham Carruthers (then Commissioner for Canada) and Zelda as a Council Member attended the Fergus Festival where they met the Lord Lyon. Dr Morrow had been invited to attend as Grand Chieftain of the festival itself and had given a few talks on his role.
Although Zelda, was quite poorly and using a Zimmer frame, she kindly accompanied Graham on behalf of all Carruthers, to try to meet with the Lord Lyon.
At the time, the two petitions for the chiefship sat with the Lord Lyon. Even with two court cases held previously no announcement regarding a decision had been made.
Thankfully, our reps managed to hold a three way conversation with the Lyon, regarding the work we had been doing as a society those many years and the support we had gathered worldwide.
In fact, just after the Lyon had returned to Scotland, we met him at an awards ceremony at Broomhall, home of the the Earl of Elgin, Chief of Bruce. Appreciating the many people he meets on his travels, the Lyon remembered them and spoke fondly of his meeting with both Zelda and Graham.
I’m certain, based on what the Lyon said, that their conversation would have played no part in the robust legalities of the case nor therefore any decision, made. However, I do believe that their conversation conveyed the passion Carruthers had, after 12 long years of research, effort and networking to have its own chief officially confirmed.
It was only a few months later that the Lyon made his announcement and ruled in favour of Dr Peter Carruthers of Holmains, who as senior of the line, was confirmed Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers.
Besides Zelda and Graham’s input on that day, I always found Zelda to be a remarkable lady who, although very ill, selfishly gave her full support to the Society. Zelda was a proud Carruthers and as such an ardent fan of the truth, especially when it came to her family and heritage. She continually worked hard in the background to challenge and denounce the falsehoods being perpetrated by the LLC in the US.
Even in her final communication to us, only a few days before her passing, she offered her sincerest thanks to the society for the work we had done and for allowing her the pleasure of knowing the true history of our family and clan.
Her life, passion and strength clearly epitomised the chief’s own motto of Promptus et Fidelis; ready and faithful, and we are sure the world will be a sadder place without her.
May she rest in peace and remain in the hearts and minds of all those who knew her.
God bless Zelda, you made a difference as a true Reiver and a Carruthers to boot.
The Chief and the society send their kindest thoughts to her family and friends.
Ride well.
Dr George Carruthers FSA Scot
Convenor
Clan Carruthers Society (International)
Yes Zelda was and always will be a asset to our society. I myself worked with Zelda and she was my friend. God Speed Zelda.
Zelda thank you for all the talks and teaching me more then you will ever know. I will miss you my friend. We love you. God Bless