We hope that the effects of the pandemic are subsiding, and things are starting to get back to what they are now calling “the new normal”.
I was up in the Hebrides for a weekend a few weeks ago and I noticed that encouragement was now being given for the populace to engage in some exercise following the relaxation of the covid restrictions.
The Lews Castle “parkrun” is a free timed walk, jog, or a run, which is now being held every Saturday. Mairi Maciver, the Event Director for the Lews Castle parkrun was giving a warm welcome to the public, encouraging them to loosen up and improve their fitness levels. The run has attracted many local “athletes” as well as visitors from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Yorkshire, Norfolk and even Brighton.
Our plans are slowly progressing for the Clan Gathering, tentatively for the eighteenth of June 2022 at Strathendry Castle, to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of our CLAN MACIVER SOCIETY.
We reported the news in last year’s magazine that a stone commemorative plaque had been placed at the entrance to the Royal Scots Club in Edinburgh. It serves as a memorial to Hugh McIver, a soldier who won the Military Medal with bar and later the Victoria Cross for bravery in WW1. (Britain’s highest military honour) Closer to Hugh’s home a memorial panel has also now been unveiled outside the Tweedie Hall, Linwood by Margaret McIver McCormack, his great niece.

(Picture: Linwood-Memorial).
She said that Hugh had a reputation as a very reserved gentleman. However, she was once introduced to one of his former comrades in the town, who told her that her Uncle Hugh was a man, who might have been quiet, “but he was scared of nothing”. The family were understandably very, very proud of him. “To get killed so near the end of the war was tragic” Margaret said.

(Picture: Margaret McIver McCormack at Linwood Memorial Panel).
The Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire and the Provost attended the event. The provost remarked that Hugh’s story “was really humbling” and that he had “demonstrated great bravery and devotion to duty while serving our country”.

(Picture: Hugh McIver VC).
A VC FOR THE ROYAL SCOTS, Was, a prominent article which featured in the famous boy’s comic annual: “THE VICTOR” No: 613 Nov 18th1972, and this vivid account and imagery tells of Hugh McIvor’s daring bravery and is at the centre of this year’s Clan Maciver News.
Paul Macdonald, a friend, who is Armourer to Clan Donald runs an amateur archaeologist group. They made a very exciting discovery recently, unearthing a major Jacobite ammunition hoard on the north side of Loch nan Uamh. It is understood that the ammunition had been landed by a French boat on the 30th of April 1746, a fortnight after the fateful Battle of Culloden. The complete stockpile included 215 musket balls, gold and silver gilt buttons and coins as well as some non-ferrous items. The unused balls were of .69 calibre which was designed to be used in the stands of French muskets, landed in the vicinity by the Privateer’s, Mars and Bellone sometime before. The land where the discovery was made once belonged to the famous Clan Ranald bard, Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair, who was an officer in the 1745 Rising, and whom, also served as a Gaelic tutor to Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Through the generosity of Paul, I now have a French musket ball to add to my collection. All I need now is the musket! Members of our clan memorably fought on both sides at the battle of Culloden.

The front cover features the MACIVER MOTOR LINER “ARABY”.

(Picture: Reverse of the Araby postcard).
We look forward to welcoming clansmen/women to Strathendry for the Gathering in June.
Suis Leis A Chlann Iomhair,
Iain A Maciver of Strathendry.