On Friday October 31st 2025, in the Annandale Observer, part of DnG24 Media group, published an article announcing the arrival of Michael Carruthers and his family Sue and Karen, into the area.
The piece by Zac Hannay was headed: Clan Headquarters plan for former Annan hotel, and went on to say;
“A former Annan pub and hotel is to be brought back to life as the international headquarters of a Scottish Border Clan”.
Capt Michael Carruthers FSAScot Convenor had been searching for over the last 18 months the area for a suitable premises to fullfill his needs He has purchased the well known Annan landmark, the Firth Hotel on Scotts Street.
Since Michael took over the reigns of the Society and in fact before, he has felt that the best way of representing our name was to set our headquarters in our ancestral homelands and what better place than in Annan itself. The building, which will officially be renamed the Reivers to treflect our past, will soon become the focal point for Carruthers worldwide and will represent nearly 1000 years since the first recorded use of our name.
Surnames were first used by landowners ie ‘of’ Carruthers, during the reign of King David 1st (1084-1153). Their use was influenced by the Norman knights who followed David into Scotland at his behest, and were given lands and titles in Scotland for their support. They brought with them a structure which introduced a societal change to the country wich lasted until well into modern times. In Annandale the family of ‘de’ Brus, became the feudal lords of the area, under whom Carruthers as an independent family, prospered.
Being Baronies, Carruthers Mouswald and Holmains allowed them a greater autonomy as land owners with an increased level of responsibility to the monarchy, with the name being held in high regard throughout the region.
Below is the cutting covering Michael and his family, who have already been warmly welcomed into the local community, which speaks for itself. He has already networked with local historians and genealogists who have been more than helpful to us and as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, he has at his fingertips, a wealth of support from previously published research.
As such, things have been a bit slow this end and we apologise if folks have fallen through the cracks. The change in Convenor, bank accounts etc and the moving to Dumfriesshire is taking up a lot of our time and we offer our heartfelt apologies. We are hoping normal function will be resumed shortly.
With this in mind, we are looking to get the Chief’s permission to have a Regional Commissioner appointed specifically for the United Kingdom. They will join the ranks of our other Commissioners in Africa (Ian L H Carruthers), Australia (Craig Carothers Monument), Canada (Laurie Carruthers Caron), Europe (Cécilia Mitchell Carruthers) and the USA (Dana Caruthers Norton), all of whom come under the auspices of the Clan Convenor himself. The new UK Commissioner, once appointed will be invited to join the Chief’s Council and able to assist us with the ever increasing workload here in the UK.
This is the beginning of another new era for Carruthers, and along with the official tartan registered and being sold worldwide, the confirmation of our Chief, the recognition of our Regional Commissioners and now the new Carruthers headquarters in Annan, we have, after a journey that began in 2007 attained much of what we have set out to achieve.
Congratulations to Michael and his family and for their willingness to carry the burning torch of Carruthers’ passion forwards, we are certain that the Society and its future are very much in safe hands.
Fabulous news indeed!