Arms of The Clan Donald Lands Trust You may have heard that a few days ago Lord Macdonald launched an Appeal for the Clan Donald Lands Trust. However, you may not know much about it.
On the death of the present Chief’s father last November such large death duties have become leviable on the estate that the only way the present Chief can pay them is by selling the Sleat lands. These lands are the last of the traditional clan lands in Scotland owned by the Macdonald family. They may pass into the hands of strangers. This would be a tragedy for the Clan and so the High Chief, with the full support of the Chiefs Glengarry, Clanranald and Sleat, has formed the Clan Donald Lands Trust to buy the lands of Sleat. The Trust will develop the lands for the benefit of clansmen.
For this purpose £200,000 is required. That is a large sum of money but the estimated 2½ million clansmen in the world should be able to raise it. There can be few clansmen who are not moved with the idea of having a stake in the clan lands.
We do not wish you to make any contribution to the Trust until you have more knowledge of its objects. Therefore, please do nothing until you receive a letter or, with you permission, some clansman visits you. On the other hand, if you wish to play an active part in raising this money will you please write to the Campaign Organiser, Lt. Col. D.I.H. Callender, Edinburgh, offering your services.
Footnote to the online edition: The current address and website for the trust is:
Clan Donald Lands Trust,
Armadale,
Sleat,
Isle of Skye
IV45 8RS
Scotland.
Clan Donald Lands Trust Arms graphic produced by The Highland Connection and displayed by kind permission of the Clan Donald Lands Trust.