Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The past year may not have been so spectacular as the two previous years during which the Clan Donald Lands Trust was formed and the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders of Canada made their historic visit to Scotland but the Society has nevertheless had a very successful session.
The Annual Gathering was again held at the Roxburghe Hotel on which occasion three Chiefs – Lord Macdonald of Macdonald, Glengarry and Clanranald, attended with their ladies and we were also pleased to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Ranald MacDonell, Yr. of Glengarry, Miss Lindsay MacDonell, daughter of the Chief, and Professor William B. MacDonald, Western Australian Commissioner for Clan Donald and his wife. The highlight of the evening was of course, the presentation of the Society’s wedding gift to Glengarry.
Attendances at the other functions were affected by the Government’s heating restrictions but those who braved the elements were rewarded with first class entertainment.
Twenty new members – six life and fourteen ordinary – were enrolled during the year ended 31st December 1973 and five members passed away during the same period. Present membership is around two hundred and seventy including over fifty overseas members.
I should like to thank the President, Donald J. Macdonald of Castleton for his co-operation and advice during the three years I have been in office and for many years before that. We of the Society owe a great debt to this outstanding yet modest clansman and his wife for their great hospitality and for so generously giving of their time in the service of Clan Donald. During his term of office and under his careful guidance the Society and the Clan have grown from strength to strength and although his term as President has now come to a close, his pen has by no means run dry and his services to the Society are, I am happy to say, to continue.
I should also like to thank the Honorary Treasurer, Miss Ella McConnell, the Honorary Assistant Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Anna MacCorquodale, the Social Convener, Mrs. Alan McDonald and her Committee and other members of the Council for their co-operation during the past year.