The gathering took place once again in the Roxburghe Hotel, Edinburgh on 20th October and with the number slightly up on last year was a highly successful event. The Guest of Honour was the Rt. Hon. Lord Birsay KT, a former Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, President of the Scottish Land Court and Judge of the Court of Session, who delighted the company with a colourful and highly amusing yet eloquent speech. Grace was offered by Angus MacDonald, president of the Glasgow Society while Alan McDonald, our own President, in addition to introducing the other speakers referred to the growing strength of the Clan and indeed Scottish influence both at home and overseas. Messages of apology from Lord Macdonald, Viscount Dunluce, the Chiefs of Sleat and Glengarry, and a special message of goodwill from Donald J. Macdonald of Castleton were read.
Clanranald spoke on the future policy of the Clan Donald Lands Trust, of which he is currently the Chairman, invited suggestions from members and called for greater participation by the Clan Donald Societies. Major Nigel Chamberlayne-Macdonald (pictured with his wife), uncle of the Chief of Sleat, in his reply on behalf of the guests, referred to the close links between his family and the Society since the days of his grandfather, Sir Alexander MacDonald of the Isles and Sleat.
Among the other guests were Guy Magdonelle, President of the Clan Donald Society of Belgium and members who had travelled from as far afield as the south of England and Sweden. Tom Spiers, President of the Eagle Pipers Association, kindly standing in once more for Alasdair Ross, provided excellent entertainment, including an abridged version of the piobaireachd, “The Battle of Auldearn.” Dancing continued until 1 a.m.