Annual Clan Macpherson Gathering and Rally

[SoCalScotsman]

Or any year for that matter! Just as long as you are in Badenoch during the first weekend in August. The annual gathering and rally has been going strong every year since 1946. My own immediate family has been attending since 1949. Only the men participate in the clan march (led by Cluny, and two Clan Macpherson Chieftains) from Old Ralia, down across the Spey River bridge, and onto The Eilan in Newtonmore. There, the clan is formally accepted/recognised as the official patron of the Newtonmore Highland Games. Some Macpherson clanswomen typically take photos of the men as they march their way to The Eilan, which is located at the base of Creag Dhubh (a massive hill that rises above the games field). However, I should mention that the vast majority of the Macpherson women tend to be deeply engaged in conversation with one another as they patiently await the arrival of their male counterparts on The Eilan.

The first Clan Macpherson Gathering and Rally in 1946.

Excellent photo! Hopefully I'll make out there eventually.

Cheers,

Cooper Smith

[cessna152towser]

Lovely pics.
Some grand scenic settings there for holding a clan gathering.

[Nathan]

A very nice collection of photos from what looks as if it was a marvellous event!

[creagdhubh]

I should also mention that several of the photos seen above include Colonel Sir (Ronald) Thomas Stewart Macpherson CBE, MC and Two Bars, TD, DL. "Sir Tommy," as he is affectionately referred to by his fellow Macphersons, is Britain's most decorated living war hero from WWII. Sir Tommy was commissioned in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders Territorial Army in 1939, before serving in No. 11 (Scottish) Commando in 1940-1941. The details of his courageous service during WWII are accounted in his autobiography titled, Behind Enemy Lines: The Autobiography of Britain's Most Decorated Living War Hero. Here's a synopsis of the autobiography:

"With three Military Crosses, three Croix de guerre, a Légion d’honneur, and a papal knighthood for his heroics during the Second World War, Sir Tommy Macpherson is the most decorated living soldier of the British Army. Yet for 65 years the Highlander's story has remained untold. Few know how, aged 21, he persuaded 23,000 SS soldiers of the feared Das Reich tank column to surrender, or how Tommy almost single-handedly stopped Tito's Yugoslavia annexing the whole of northeast Italy. Still a schoolboy when war broke out, Tommy quickly matured into a legendary commando. Twice captured, he escaped both times, marching through hundreds of miles of German-held territory to get home. With a dizzyingly diverse cast of characters, including Winston Churchill, Field Marshal Montgomery, and Charles de Gaulle, Behind Enemy Lines is an astonishing story of how an ordinary boy came to achieve truly extraordinary feats when war came calling."

Sir Tommy lives the Highlands at Biallid House, near Newtonmore, which is located in the heart of Badenoch and the ancestral lands of the Clan Macpherson. As you can discern from the photos above, Sir Tommy atttends the clan's annual gathering and is often Chieftain of the Newtonmore Games, which is held in conjunction with the clan gathering. He is a remarkable man and every bit the Highland gentleman. I feel honoured to know him. He has honoured our clan's warrior past and Highland spirit to the fullest.

[tulloch]

Great photos of a really phenomenal event. I have read Behind Enemy Lines and it is a really great work. Thanks.

[Jack Daw]

Great pictures, Kyle! What an event to be proud of.

[Dileasgubas]

Greetings,

Below you will find various photos from this year's annual Clan Macpherson Gathering and Rally in Newtonmore, Laggan, and Kingussie, Inverness-shire, Scotland. As well as several photos of a clan luncheon at Newton Castle in Blairgowrie, Perthshire. Newton Castle is the home of our Chief, Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie, TD. Unfortunately, my bonnie bride and I were unable to attend the gathering and rally this year; however, we shall indeed be in attendance August of 2015. According to reports from my fellow Macpherson cousins (particularly from Duncan Macpherson); this year's gathering, like gatherings in the past, was a great success with much fun and revelry had by all. Of course for us Macphersons, the first weekend in August is a special time for us to come together from all parts of the world and gather in the place from whence we all came, Badenoch. We rejoice in each other's fellowship and esprit de corps. It's always wonderful reuniting with old friends, as well as greeting new faces. We are quite the blessed lot and to be honest, we wouldn't have it any other way.

Creag Dhubh Clann Chatain!

there are some fine photos here. While not exactly a "one kilt - ten looks" series of photos, there are certainly some excellent examples (at least to my eye) of some fine highland dress. Many thanks for posting.

[Riverkilt]

Great photos. Thanks cousin....have a wee bit of MacPherson blood in my veins...

[Alan H]

That's great. I'm glad you were able to attend. Looks like a fantastic event!

[creagdhubh]

That's great. I'm glad you were able to attend. Looks like a fantastic event!

Thanks, Alan. However, I wasn't able to attend, otherwise, we would have had that meet up! Many of the photos are courtesy of my cousin, Duncan Macpherson, who was indeed present and is featured in some of the photos. The other photos are compliments of the Clan Macpherson Association.

You'd love Rob Ritchie, Alan (see below; sorry the photos are so small). He's a Newtonmore native and has been competing at the Highland Games there (amongst others) for many years. He's a beast of a man, as well as a legnedary athlete in that part of the central Scottish Highlands.