Sir Crispin Agnew with Dr George Carruthers, Shennachie to the Chief
On August 24th 2024, at the Inauguration of the Chief, the Society Convenor Dr George Carruthers, seen above with Sir Crispin Agnew Bt, KC, Albany Herald Extraordinary, having resigned the position he has held since the inception of the Clan Carruthers Society (International) in 2017 was raised to the position of Shennachie to the Chief. At this point, he then handed the mantle over to the Commissioner of the United Kingdom, Mr Michael Carruthers who was in turn appointed to the office of Society Convenor by our Chief, Peter Carruthers of Holmains.
George, as instigator of the process to get us where we are today, has worked tirelessly in the background since his father passed in 1994. It is his efforts that have a Carruthers Chief officially and legally confirmed. This process has led to our clan and family being recognised as a ‘Noble Incorporation’ in Scots law.
Although research had been taking place prior to that, the process was officially started in 2007, over 17 years ago, after conversations with other Chiefs and Scottish Historians, which led to seeking advice from the Lord Lyon himself and attaining a blessing from Charles Lord Bruce, heir to the Chiefship of Bruce and the Earldom of Elgin and Kinross.
A short interview with our Shennachie, Dr George Carruthers
CCS(I) Good Morning George, thank you for agreeing to hold this interview with us, I know you’re busy so we will keep it short. Can you firstly tell us a bit about yourself and the journey to get where we are today?
George: I was born in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, which remains my home and I began the journey with regards our clan and family, in memory of my father who passed in 1994. His own family originated in Annandale, but as farm folk followed the work and ended up moving to Fife from Lanarkshire. He once said, “Carruthers are an ancient and proud Border name, who do not get the recognition they deserved‘, so I set out to change that.
CCS(I): And we should be very grateful for your tenacity and hard work as instigator of the whole process?
George: Well, I wasn’t on my own, as progressively folks came to offer their support, one of these was Dana Caruthers Norton in the US who, until family tragedy struck, was a real firebrand, and helped deal with some who tried to impede our progress. We had assistance and advice from the Lyon Court, mainly through Mrs Elizabeth Roads, Lyon Clerk at the time, and of course Dr Joe Morrow, the Lord Lyon himself was always there to answer any questions when our paths crossed at functions. Charles, Lord Bruce, son and heir to the Earl of Elgin, Chief of Bruce, has been very supportive, and of course Antony Maxwell our heraldist, who has sadly passed, to name but a few.
CCS(I): How difficult was it to achieve what you have to include the confirmation of a Carruthers Chief?
George: The journey has been very long and arduous and to be honest I thought of giving up a few times, but being a Carruthers, I always thought of the bigger picture and what it would mean for future generations. This sort of challenge is built on taking small and solid steps but always crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s along the way.
Sadly, we were tainted and embarrassed by what was coming out of the US group and were constantly asked if we had anything to do with them, which we had to strongly deny on a number of occasions. As such I was very much driven by the actions perpetrated from them, who for whatever reason did everything in their power to try to prevent us achieving our goals. But bless them, and on reflection, they actually ended up being a true driving force for me, but not in the manner they intended I’m sure (laughs).
CCS(I): Do you feel that you have achieved your personal goal?
George: Well, originally I set out to have Carruthers recognised in its own right as a Border Clan and Family, and I feel that has been achieved. Not an easy task in the timeframe, because following the correct procedures here in Scotland was paramount, and these foundations needed to be built on facts and not on fabrication. This included finding the senior member of our family, and although we hit some brick walls, we eventually, with the help of Antony Maxwell, found Peter.
Along with this and based on advice from others who had walked the same road, a Society was set up to show support for the need to have a chief. The success of this has superseded my own estimation, as we are now represented across the globe in six geographical regions. Again, and on advice, a tartan was commissioned to offer a distinct form of visual identity to our name and although we wore Bruce for a time, it wasn’t and never has been ours. I was however, lucky enough to be advised by some well-known and highly respected tartan historians and having input, the design of the Carruthers tartan reflects our family history in its threads. Through my other contacts, I approached the House of Edgar in Perth here in Scotland to weave it, which they kindly have done ever since. This allowed the Carruthers tartan to be available through them, to kiltmakers worldwide.
The hardest part was getting the commercial outlets to promote a Carruthers tartan against our name, rather than that of Bruce, which had been the norm since the mid 20th century. The change became much easier once I bequeathed ownership and copyright of our tartan to the name of Carruthers through our Chief, which although available to all of our name, was considered a private tartans.
The Chief’s adoption of the tartan ensured it was registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans as the official clan/family tartan of Carruthers, which opened many doors with all reputable outlets. This ball is still rolling and now thankfully has a life of its own.
Carruthers, its tartan and our chief are now internationally recognised, as is our history and therefore our true heritage. I have to say on that part I’m really pleased.
CCS(I): There is also a Carruthers Blue tartan, is that available for general use?
George: The blue tartan is my personal tartan for use by my family only, however, in support for the Chief to date we all wear the Carruthers officially registered clan/family tartan.
CCS(I): We are all so proud to have our very own chief in place after a couple of hundred years, all down to your hard work. What an achievement and of course as a society we applaud your appointment as Shennachie, it is so well deserved.
George: Yes, it was a proud moment in my life, both the appointment itself and Peter being confirmed and inaugurated.
After Peter Carruthers of Holmains, was confirmed Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers by the Lord Lyon in 2019 and then had his role as Chief of the Clan and Family of Carruthers clarified and legally etched in stone after his Inauguration in August 2024, that part of my personal journey was complete. As such it was time to step down. I was honoured when Peter offered me the role of Shennachie, and I pleasure in accepting it. This appointment allowed me to act as Master of Ceremonies at his Inauguration ceremony, a great honour indeed and an event that will go down in Border history.
CCS(I): So, you’ve handed over the reins to Michael Carruthers, how do you feel about that?
George: I cannot say enough positive things about Michael. Yes I built the vehicle to get us to the destination, but Michael made the Inauguration happen and on that there is no question. His organisation skills are second to none and the support his wife Sue, daughter Karen and the rest of his family brought to the table, is nothing less than amazing. I think it is fair to say the Society is in very safe hands and his vision for the future brings a different slant to things. Further I’m honoured to call him a good friend.
In response to how I feel, well to be honest, I feel like I’ve been driving a train at 200 miles an hour since 2007 and all of a sudden someone has taken the tracks away. But it is the right time for me, and the right time for someone fresh to take over. I will continue researching our history and compiling information on our family, while of course supporting both the Chief and Michael in their roles.
CCS(I): How do you see your role?
George: The Shennachie is the family archivist, historian and story teller, in fact I have been described by the Secretary of the Canadian region, and one of our senior Genealogists, as a ‘man who can tell stories’, I guess that says it all (laughs). But as I said, I’ll also support the Chief, and as a member of his Council offer my advice when asked or necessary and I’ll obviously support Michael in his task as Society Convenor and help where I can. However, I am no longer Convenor and we now have a Chief, and as such my role is very much in the background rather than in the driving seat.
CCS(I): I believe you are one of our family’s Armigers?
George: Yes, I had my arms granted by the Lord Lyon in 2017. There have only ever been 13 Carruthers arms Lord registered with Scottish heralds, and only 8 since 1672 and the Lyons Act. There is another registered with the Vatican archives, which should also be considered valid as a Scottish Bishop. However, we currently only have 6 active i.e. registered to living members of our family, to include our Chief.
Scottish arms belong to an individual not a family, and only the Chief has supporters to reflect his rank and none of the other armigers do. These of course are two fallow bucks rampant and most certainly not a dragon and a unicorn (laughs) which some have tagged on to the Chief’s shield to try to pretend they are credible. Sadly, they definitely are not.
Gary John Carruthers, FSA Scot from Oz, who is a Clan Genealogist and Advisor to the Chief, was the last to matriculate his arms in 2019, but we are hopeful others will follow as it is again part of our history going forwards. I believe Michael may be considering it?
CCS(I): So only you can bear these arms?
George: Yes and no. They are my arms, belonging to me, my eldest son bears a cadency mark but will inherit my arms undifferenced when I pass. My youngest son will have a ‘bordure‘ if he chooses to matriculate from them and my wife and daughters have ‘lozenges‘ of my arms. If one of my daughters marries into an armigerous family, she could use my arms to conjoin with her partners, if they so choose.
CCS (I): I understand you are still quite busy so I thank you for this short interview and again thank you for everything you have done for our clan and family and our Chief, I’m sure it will not be forgotten any time soon by our clan and family, for all the work you have done on pour behalf.
George: Thank you for your kind comments, but I’m not dead yet (laughs), so I’ll still be available when required.
CCS (I) – Interview updated 22/11/24 for completeness and to include all unedited questions and answers.
Fantastic article, and I’m raising a glass for your long and tireless service to the cause, Dr George, and for Michael moving forwards. Dr Liz Monument, Australasia secretary.
Thank you so very much. X