After a meeting of the Gathering Committee on Saturday at the Annan Distillery, the format of the Inauguration has been changed. At the start of the Festival itself, the Chiefs in attendance, their bannermen and armigers will process in led by a Championship pipe band, followed by the children in attendance and the youth pipe and drum band taking up the rear.
To date, chiefs in attendance on the day to witness or be part of the Inauguration will be Carruthers, Irving, Hunter, Hanney, Agnew, Buchannan, Kincaid and Chief elect from McEwen, along with other armigers. The festivities will continue throughout the day but part one of the Inauguration ie naming of the Chief, will be on the centre stage at the end of the festivities.
The second part has been moved later to be held in the Distillery to allow for those who wish to get changed for the evening events to do so. This will include a speech from the chief, appointments of members of his High Council, and small lectures by the pre-named speakers.
Close by are a couple of graveyards containing Carruthers tombstones, some more accessible than others. The bridge at Hoddom crosses near the old kirk ford where Carruthers were the named Guardians. Next to Annan Distillery is the Wormanbie estate, once owned by our family, and again a wee drive away are the estates of Rammerscales where the Wedding Stone commemorating the wedding of Robert Carruthers and Margaret Dalziel in 1687. Robert was the baron bailie to Holmains 1660 to his death.
There is also Cummertrees on which the old Trailtrow Preceptory lands once sat for which we were ‘keepers’, and of course the site of the old Holmains keep and the ruins of Mouswald tower. Further north are the estates of Dormont and Kirkwood, the both which belonged to Holmains at one time.
On top of this and in August 24 in Annan itself is the Inauguration of a Border Chief, namely Carruthers a ceremony that hasnt been seen in the borders for many a long year. It is one of the most historic occasions Carruthers will have witessed which will reverbertate throughout the family world-wide, in at least 6 generations. The last being the sad passing of John Carruthers 12th of Holmains and 8th Baron in 1809 wehich placed our chiefship into dormancy, and its happening in our lifetime.
For those who really wish to connect to your ancestry, and you won’t find it in a clan tent anywhere, Annandale is the place to be and August 24-25, 2024 are the upcoming dates.
*Please note that the Distillary has decided to charge £25 per head for a tour.
