Waipu Highland Games 2018

/in , /by

It was a bright morning on New Years Day for the Waipu Highland Games at the Caledonian Grounds. However, there were some ominous dark clouds on the horizon that indicated possible rain later in the day.

The official start to the Games had the Waipu Pipe Band leading the Clans March from the Monument into the Caledonian Grounds to the Avenue of Clans for the flag raising. The host clan for the day was Clan Davidson who led the parade, and their Chief Grant Davidson took the salute as the clans passed the saluting base.

A good-sized crowd arrived early and were soon chatting to members of the various clans. The Clan Donald Pavilion had many members and friends calling in for a chat and refreshments.

 


Vice President Lynnette McDonald and Murdock McDonald set up the Hospitality Table for the Pavilion.

 


Friends from Pukekohe, Gary and Diane Landon, with Vice President Lynnette McDonald and North Island Commissioner Tom McDonald.

 

At 12.30pm the massed bands and clans paraded around the arena for the Official opening, which included a massed Highland Fling.

 


The massed pipe bands led by Pipe Major Eddie Eeles from the Auckland Police Pipe Band.

 


The massed Highland Fling.

 


The Clan Donald Colour Party. From the right, Banner Bearer, Vice President Lynnette McDonald, President Barrie Paterson, (partially obscured), Annette Paterson, North Island Commissioner Tom McDonald and Lex Allan.

 

The threatened rain finally arrived with a cloudburst around 2pm. This sent the crowd scattering to find shelter. The Highland Dancing continued in the Celtic Barn and the Piping Competition was transferred to the school hall and classrooms.

By early evening the rain had ceased and the Ceilidh with the Twisty Willow musicians was held in the Celtic Barn from 7.30pm. Around 100 guests were treated to well organised, calling of the dances, and a plentiful supper with haggis and Athol Brose for sustenance.

Despite the weather it was a great Highland Games for the start of 2018.

Auckland Pre-Christmas Lunch 2017

/in , /by

It was a warm but showery day on Sunday the 10th of December for the Clan Donald Auckland Pre-Christmas Lunch. And once again the luncheon was held in the Highlander Bar of the Northcote Tavern. This was the 5th year that the event was held in the Highlander Bar, which not only has a fantastic menu, including their famous Sunday Roast, but the atmosphere is very Scottish, with the tartan carpet, and on the walls, many clan shields with the various Coats-of-Arms.

There were around 30 Clan Donald members, who were entertained as they arrived, by John Hawthorn, with a selection of Scottish tunes on his piano accordion.

 


John Hawthorn playing a selection of Scottish tunes.

 

The Signals Pipe Band also arrived, after the Birkenhead Christmas Parade, to entertain the Clan Donald members and tavern guests.

 


Between showers the Signals Pipe Band entertained the guests.

  


Pipe Corporal Andrew Wilkie is also a Past President
of Clan Donald Auckland.

  

After such a fantastic lunch and entertainment, the members spent the rest of the afternoon chatting over a few drinks.

 


Clan Chaplain Diane Winder enjoyed the lunch. She has
not long returned from the USA.



Jim Donald, a long time member of Clan Donald Auckland.

 


Vice President Lynnette McDonald, with longtime Clan Donald member and friend Marlene Mathews.

Hororata Highland Games 2017

/in , /by

The 7th annual Hororata Highland Games were held on Saturday 11th November and attracted record crowd of well over 10,000 people plus 12 pipe bands, over 100 Highland dancers, 58 solo pipers and drummers and 20 heavy athlete competitors.

The weather was damp early on but right on queue at 11.00 am as the crowd stilled for the Armistice Day remembrance, the clouds cleared and the sun shone for the rest of the day.

Chieftan for the day, the Hon. Amy Adams has attended every Hororata Games since their inception. The Hororata Highland Games were established as the main fundraising focus of the Hororata Community Trust which was formed after the September 2010 earthquake to help rebuild and promote the wider Hororata community. Amy Adams commented on “how this amazing community pulled together and rebuilt after the life changing earthquakes and right from the start, the Games have been spectacular”

Tom McDonald and Lynnette McDonald from Auckland and John and Patricia McKechnie from Wellington, joined the Clan Donald Canterbury members attending the Clan Donald tent and assisted throughout the day. We had a steady stream of visitors and were successful in signing up 7 new members.

Clan Donald Canterbury member, Ian Bright, assisted by Adrienne Pamment, ran a very successful raffle to raise funds to help with the cost of running the Clan Donald Anzac Forum being held in Christchurch next March.


Taking part in the banner parade (left to right) Ann Smith (Scottish Heritage Council), Colin Cameron (Clan Cameron), Tom McDonald (Clan Donald), Ian and Julie Dickson (Clan Keith).

 


Pipe band judging watched by a large crowd in fine, warm conditions.

 


Ann Smith (Clan Donald Canterbury) ran the popular Have A Go At Piping sessions.

 


Adrienne Pamment and Ian Bright with their raffle stall.

 


Drawing the raffle prize. Grant Davidson, Chief of Clan Davidson, Adrienne Pamment and Ian Bright.

 


Liz Fifield, winner of the raffle.

 

Dedication of Memorial Tables for Clans who fought in The Battle of Prestonpans

/in , /by

The Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Trust have secured support for the creation of Memorial Tables to be placed and dedicated at Prestonpans on 15th September 2018.

The Battle of Prestonpans was the first significant conflict in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The Battle took place early morning on 21st September 1745. The Jacobite army led by Charles Edward Stuart achieved a stunning victory over the government army led by Sir John Cope. Cope’s aim was to defeat the Jacobite forces and nip the rebellion “in the bud”. The government force was between 2,200 to 2,800 strong while the Jacobite army numbered between 2000 and 2,500.

 

The inexperienced government troops were outflanked and broke in the face of a highland charge. The battle was over in less than 15 minutes. The victory was a huge morale boost for the Jacobites. Hundreds of government troops were killed or wounded and 1500 taken prisoner. Only 170 escaped. The Jacobite Army suffered fewer than 100 troops killed or wounded.

The MacDonald Clans played a major role in this battle, making up nearly half the Jacobite force. Reported numbers are;

Glengarry 400
Clanranald 200
Keppoch 250
Glencoe 100

The Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Trust was established in 2006 to ensure a much better presentation and opportunity for visitors to gain a comprehensive understanding of the battle.

The Trust has campaigned since 2006 for a proper memorial which lists the Clans and Regiments that were involved. They have received a grant to create two Memorial Tables, one for each side in the combat.

The Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Trust is now putting out the Call to all those Clans which fought with the Prince at Prestonpans and to the “Successor” Regiments of those engaged there in support of the government in 1745 serving the British Army today to share in the Dedication.

The Dedication will be held on 15th September 2018. There is an invitation for as many MacDonalds who are able to attend to share in the Dedication and remain for the Scottish Battlefields Trust’s re-enactment of the battle. The two Memorial Tables will be carried in procession on a gun carriage through Prestonpans to the scene of the 2018 re-enactments.

For more information visit the Trust’s very good website. http://www.battleofprestonpans1745.org/heritagetrust/

Alan MacDonald
High Commissioner for Clan Donald in New Zealand

 

Clan Donald Auckland Luncheon and “Stone of Destiny” Movie

/in , /by

On Saturday the 14th of October the Executive and 28 members of Clan Donald Auckland met at 11.30am at Ryders in Avondale, for a rustic style home cooked lunch with trumpet ice cream for dessert, followed by the movie the “Stone of Destiny”.

 


Executive Committee members Geoff Parry and Lynnette McDonald chatting with members before lunch.

 


Marni Macdonald and party enjoying drinks before lunch.

 


Jeanette McFarland, long time member of Clan Donald Auckland and friend.

 


Heather Lomas and friend enjoying a pre lunch drink.

 


Robert Findlay waits his turn at the servery.

 

The “Stone of Destiny” is a 2008 Scottish-Canadian adventure/comedy film written and directed by Charles Martin Smith and starring Charles Cox, Billy Boyd, Robert Carlyle, and Kate Mara. Based on real events, the film tells the story of the theft of the Stone of Scone on Christmas Day, 1950. The stone, supposedly the Stone of Jacob over which Scottish Kings were traditionally crowned at Scone in Perthshire, was stolen by King Edward I of England in 1296 and placed under the throne at Westminster Abbey in London. In 1950, a group of student Nationalists succeeded in removing it from Westminster Abbey and returning it to Scotland where it was placed symbolically at Arbroath Abbey, the site of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath and an important site in the Scottish nationalist cause.

Filming began in June 2007 in various locations throughout Scotland, Wales and England. The filmmakers were given rare access to shoot scenes inside Westminster Abbey. The film was premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland on 21 June 2008. The film closed the 33rd Annual Toronto International Film Festival on 13 September 2008, and was presented at The Hampton’s International Film Festival in the United States. The film was released in the United Kingdom on 10 October 2008 and in Canada on 20 February 2009.

 


The late High Commissioner Harold McIsaac on a replica of the Stone of Destiny at Scone Palace.