The Gathering 2009
The Home Coming or Great Gathering of virtually all the Scottish Clans took place in Edinburgh over the week end of July 25th – 26th 2009. It was a huge success and exceeded all targets set very substantially. The weather on Saturday 25th was quite literally brilliant with every crevice on the Salisbury Crags towering above Holyrood Park visible from the Home Tent. Sunday started with typically Scottish drizzle but quickly improved to almost match the warmth and sunshine of the opening day!
A huge total of 47,000 attended, 20,000 lined the Royal Mile on the Saturday evening to watch 8,000 kilted Clansmen and women march under their banners in alphabetical order accompanied by Pipe Bands through the great gates of Holyrood Palace up the Royal Mile to the Castle Esplanade where they watched a brilliant performance of Aisling’s Children by a huge cast directed to perfection, acting out a unique once only performance of a tale of Scotland’s fascinating history with a final climax when all the Bands taking part from all over the world appeared from within the Castle to march past en masse down the esplanade and back down Edinburgh’s famous High Street.
The Home Coming was opened by The Duke of Rothesay accompanied by his Duchess. For those who might not know the Duke is also one and the same person as Prince Charles. He was photographed wit a great gathering of Clan Chiefs and Chieftains resplendent in their Clan tartans , bonnets and feathers.
The Home tent which some visitors took to be the Head Office Tent for the
Homecoming was busy with visitors quite literally coming home to meet the
welcoming team of Ian and Rosemary Maitland Hume, Stephen Hume, Gospatric
and Diana Home, Elizabeth Home, Steve Mack and Martin Home-Cook. Shortly
after the Official Opening finished a Gathering of Scottish Border Clan
Chiefs and their representatives convened informally at the Home tent for
an historical first meeting in the modern era. The chiefs or their
representatives included The Duke of Buccleuch , Lord Polwarth &
Kenneth Scott, Canada, (the Scotts) The Marquis of Lothian, (the Kerrs), Madam
Margaret Eliott of Redheugh, Lady Macgregor of Macgregor (Armstrongs),
Major Alexander Trotter of Mortonhall, Michael Dewar of Vogrie, Master of
Lauderdale (Maitlands), Andrew Marjoribanks, George Turnbull and Wally
Turnbull USA, Lord Borthwick, Mark Nesbitt of Nesbitt, Sir William Jardine
of Applegirth, Dr Ian Maitland Hume (Homes). Apologies for absence from
the Earl of Annandale (Johnstones), Sir Alistair Buchan-Hepburn (Hepburns),
James Pringle of Torwoodlee & Sir John Riddell of Riddell.
This initiative had been planned by our Convenor Dr Ian Maitland Hume and the Duke of Buccleuch in order to agree upon future coordination of our Clan events in the Borders and for possible future Border Gatherings in the years ahead agreed in advance by all the Border Clans. Linking websites, helping each other from the experiences we are all gaining, sharing ideas and above all championing the beauty of the Borders from coast to coast for those returning to Scotland for holidays are among the concepts. The Duke has kindly offered his Secretariat to initiate meetings and get these proposals moving. It is generally true that the Borders can easily br forgotten by Tour Operators in favour of the Highland region and we hope to redress this.
On the Friday prior to the weekend a Conference of Chiefs and Convenors had taken place in the Scottish Parliament building with keynote speakers of distinction focussing on Scotland’s unique opportunity to encourage those with Scottish ancestry to return to their former homeland and rediscover their roots while enjoying the hospitality available to them.
Holyrood Park was like a tented city all week end as Highland Games, Highland Dancing competitions, massed Bands, Reeling and Rocking, Music, Storytelling, A Hill Race up Arthur’s Seat, a Kid’s Zone added to the fun and interest of this superbly organised event. It was announced on the Monday following that a repeat event was to be scheduled in 4 years time so successful had it been for all those participating and for all the official organisations who had got behind it. Congratulations to Lord Semple and Jenny Gilmour, who co-directed the event from all the Home Clan!
View The Great Clan Gathering Photo Album
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