24 December 2023
On St Andrew’s Day this year, I attended a Memorial Service for the late Donald MacLaren of MacLaren and Achleskine, Chief of the Clan Laban, and former Convenor of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.
I got to know Donald through the Standing Council and had last seen him at its AGM in Edinburgh in June of this year. He was in fine form. Yet, just a month later, I heard of his sudden and totally unexpected death while attending a highland game close to his home.
As you know, following my confirmation as Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers in 2019, I was elected to the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs (SCSC) and have now attended four AGMs. One of the pleasantest ‘benefits’ of membership has been the new friendships I have made with several fellow chiefs, including Donald.
The Standing Council represents those who are head of the Name and Arms of their clan or family, as recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. As Convenor, Donald had a clear vision for the SCSC. He wrote:
“Drawing strength and inspiration from Scotland’s extraordinary past, the ability of all Scots to navigate the challenges of the future rests on firm foundations: a knowledge of who we are and where we come from. The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs embodies through its members a role of leadership. We are committed to exercising that role responsibly; and to playing our part – for this generation and the next – in contributing to Scotland’s future.”
And he brought his larger-than-life personality, and considerable ‘people skills’ as a former diplomat, to realising this vision.
Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor is now acting as Convenor until a permanent successor to Donald is found. I believe the SCSC has considerable potential to support individual chiefs and promote the clans and families of Scotland and Scottish identity and culture across the world. As a member, I very much hope to play a part in this.
Tributes at the Memorial spoke of his love for life, his family, his clan, and Scotland, and of his years of faithful service to his clan as chief, to Scotland as SCSC convenor, and to his nation as a distinguished diplomat. In all he did, he made an impact, ‘won friends and influenced people’ – an example surely to, at least try to, follow!
His sudden death left me very thoughtful, however. He was born just four months before me. And I could not help thinking about my own finitude. As John Henry Newman wrote: “life is short; death is certain”. But, as Newman went on to say, “the world to come is everlasting”. And I was very warmed and encouraged when one who gave tribute spoke of Donald’s ‘confidence in God and his faith’, and the vicar (who is also an old friend of the MacLarens) described how Donald had simply embarked on the next stage of his journey. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians (15:19), “if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable”.
On a lighter note, you will remember that, in 2022, I (with my family) was one of ten chiefs who attended the Inauguration of Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan of that Ilk as the first Chief of Clan Buchanan since 1682. In August of this year, the BBC broadcast a documentary about the Inauguration and the events leading up to it. Much of the programme tells the story of the events leading up to the Inauguration, with much footage from the USA. To my surprise, however, the Carruthers family and tartan made several appearances in the closing section covering the Inauguration itself. If you can access BBC IPlayer, the programme is still available at:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001pk6v/meet-the-clan.
Turning to our own Clan Society, as ever we are more than grateful to George Carruthers, Society Convenor, for his tireless work in steering and managing the Society and for much interesting content on the website. Thanks also to all to our Commissioners for their hard work in promoting the Society and the Carruthers across the world. Congratulations to Laurie Carruthers Canon, FSA Scot, of Canada, on her recent election as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Looking ahead to 2024, the Annan History Town Festival has invited us, along with several other Border Reiver clans and families, to take part in its 2024 Festival on 17-18 August next year. We propose to use the opportunity to convene a Carruthers gathering on Saturday, 17 August 2024. Details and an invitation will follow in the New Year, but please put the date in your diary. I very much hope to see you there.
Finally, as we once again celebrate the coming into the world of the infinite God as a finite human being so that all who believe in Him can have eternal life, may you and yours, and all Carruthers, know His peace, joy and hope now and in the year to come.
A very Happy Christmas and hopeful and prosperous New Year.
Dr Peter Carruthers of Holmains
Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!