McAndreis Clan News
News Update: 25th May 2010
Change Is Always Uphill For Some.
Not very long ago, I has a conversation with a gentleman I would like to call friend. This gentleman is outspoken and what I think to be a very honest fellow. He is of the old school of thought when it comes to clans and appears to have an extremely Hanoverian view of the Scots clan system and Scotland. His opinions are absolutely opposed to ours, he being English born, raised and educated with long Honourable military career. To me, he appears the epitome of a British gentleman, but a good man. I on the other hand am a Scot, nothing less.
I met him about 2 years ago, being introduced to him by my best friend. I was told a brief history of this gentleman's battle to see himself and his clan recognized with his becoming Chief. I was told a story of how he was once told that he was not a recognized and neither is his clan and did not belong in the event.
Now true to his style and form, he brought forth his clan at this event, and in good step he marched them across the field showing not only his group is a clan but on that day they happened to be the largest in attendance.
After a protracted battle he finally won his goal and they are now a clan in right and proving he had the same rights as anyone and everyone to be treated fairly.
Now you would think that this type of person would be prone to helping others in the same plight or being at least being sympathetic to their situation.
I find one part of the British mentality to be the most amazing contradiction. I will borrow the term used by another person I would call friend and for whom I have respect for. Its called 'the ladder mentality' and it basically means 'you fight for equal rights to be counted as an equal with all others while stating every one id equal while pointing your finger at the recipient. If lucky, you win the argument and you achieve your goal. Your next move is to pull up the ladder so those following behind, attempting to gain the same rights are shut out just as you once were with them. You know being in the new club will deny the same rights to others that you just fought for.
During this conversation, the gentleman speaking his mind managed to upset and insult and anger almost everyone including my wife, friends and clan members present. I must say some of his comments were, to say the least, less than friendly and most were very poorly informed. He had few facts and was acting and speaking on incorrect information.
But I digress so let me get back to the point. Change is uphill for some and for this man and those like him, I see it all being uphill.
The very idea that we are Clan McAndreis and not an Anderson, was to him, a divisive move within the Anderson Clan. The fact I am elected by you, the clan members, to be your Chief was unfathomable to him . Keeping in mind, he knew and and had heard, just as we had, the Lord Lyon David Sellar state at the convention in answer to David Waterton-Anderson's question, “Who picks the/a Clan Chief?” to which the Lyons response was, “The Clan does! It is not for the Lyon to do so!”
My friend had said it is wrong for us to re-establish our independent standing and that this would cause derision, upset and a rift within Anderson. He apparently did not notice the presence of Hope Vere Anderson who is the now elected chief of the Anderson Clan and of the Anderson Society in the USA, of which the McAndreis are not a part of. We do, however, support them as a mutual clan and fellow. It appears that regardless of what we achieve or how hard we work to assert our rights as free Scots and clansman, there are those of the elitist few whom are just not willing to change or accept change. They will spend their time ridiculing those not in their wee club or trying to get into it. Those few must come to understand we do not worry about their ridicule or those whose lives revolve around this petty practice. We care not about it. It seems to us they feel it better if the system dies with them rather than protect the common good of the Scots clan system and its future in the modern World.
We will achieve the changes we desire; change always comes and change always will. What never fails to amaze me is how hard we try in this Nation to be a Nation of equals and how badly we fail at it. The attitude of some of those, like my friend above, is all too common and is all to prevalent in our own society. Fear and insecurity seem to grip their very hearts. We do not wish to destroy the system but rather we wish to take and make a dying entity thrive once more.
New Clan Officers
As we all know only too well, many of the McAndreis are leaving Scotland, the the UK and the EU for better opportunities and lifestyles elsewhere in the World. It is all too clear that we are fast becoming a Worldwide clan since we are, in fact, a very close clan; proud of our heritage and traditions and we have determined to keep our way of life alive and vibrant.
In some cases, many of us have chosen to relocate in areas very close to each other. It was decided in our last elders conference to establish clan officers in these areas and begin the task of building the clan in our new homes, therefore we have selected clan commissioners for the areas where we are now beginning significant roots on a permanent basis – click here for details. Contact details for these commissioners will be listed on the appropriate page as soon as full details has been received from each Commissioner. In the meantime, please contact the clan secretary or the Chief with queries to be forwarded to the relevant officer.
Surname McAndreis
Many of you have decided to take up the use of our Ancestral name "McAndreis". Many of you who are leaving are changing your names before exiting the UK or just after arriving at your new homes. At last years AGM, the topic of name was discussed and it was decided for each to make up their own mind. Considering all of you agreed that we are Clan McAndreis and not Anderson, it seems right we be known as who we are, not just by clan name but also by our personal names as well. Many of you had asked what I would do in this matter as you all know the difficulty of task it took me to resolve and correct many personal matters regarding my family. My answer is simple. I too will shortly follow suit and make the change to the surname "McAndreis"
Balgonie Castle Project: Updated 25/05/10
Dear McAndreis;
This is moving along. Over the past few weeks we have been working steadily to make the lives of the Balgonies much more comfortable. We have been working steadily building a set of steps in the corner of the courtyard to make it easier to reach the room above the main gate and thereby making it easier for Raymond or Stuart of Balgonie to go up and change the flags. I have included some pictures of the steps at the 50% completion state and the 85% completion state. Some pictures of the courtyard taken from the new steps. Soon it will be time to move the last of the stones. You can see the pictures by clicking here.
Clan Emmigration
Dear McAndreis:
It appears since our last meeting much has changed. We are faced like everyone else in the UK with very difficult economic challenges. Our economy is going to take years to recover and at the end of the recovery none of us know who or what business wull survive. As it stands over half of the businesses operated by clan members have been forced to close. With more to follow, many of you have chosen to leave the UK for better opportunities in other countries. Those that have left we pray you are successful in finding a better life. Those of you now preparing to leave, we wish you the best of luck and we offer what assistance you may need.
We will keep you informed of events and matters reguarding all aspects and developements the ongoing changes within the clan.
Ever yours in service,
Calum
Moving On 2010
There is little need any longer to list the clan members leaving. We all know who is going where, we all find it is difficult when family moves on. We will update any important happenings should there be a need or a request to do so. For now it will suffice to say many of us are embarking on new adventures, let us all hope that they are all good and happy endeavours, with little or no strife and hardship.
Updates on these happenings will still be posted as requested.
New Members.
Robert Amyot de Villeneuve-Lincourt, his spouse Lady Chrystel, their daughters Louise and Evangeline: Please welcome them into the McAndreis
Culloden, Drumossie Moor, The Midnight Commemoration Service
Last night's midnight service was grand and a moving event. The turnout was great. I did say a prayer on behalf of those of you who asked. It was a wonderful and heartfelt service. You would have been proud tae be apart of it. All those that attended were pure Scots Patriots. The Service was lead by Crann Tara's inspired leader Mr James Singer, a dedicated Scot and Patriot. There was many a jacobite present, all those who attended are today's patriots. We laid flowers to our fallen Heros, read letters and history of what our patriots died for, we remembered who they were and what they left for us. We spoke from our hearts. Some of us prayed for them and thanked them once more as we do each year, lest we never forget.
We had a rememberance for our dearly departed friend, a patriot and a Scot, David R Ross. He will be missed, he is missed. His passing is a great loss to each of us and a great loss tae Scotland.
The Service: It was a windy, very windy night, cold, very cold and uncomfortable. A wee bit like the our fallen heros would have felt it that night. However, keep in mind, they were no well fed as we were, many dinnae have shoes or hose as we all did; they did no have a warm bed tae go to, no even a hot cup o' tea or coffee.
They braved the elements in terrible conditions starving and exhausted, all the while knowing this may be their last night on earth, yet they stayed and fought, even knowing that Commander O'Sullivan was an inept fool; they stayed tae fight for us and our land.
Yes, I prayed for them as you requested, I prayed for all the loyal patriots who gave up their lives in honourable battle, I prayed for my ancestors and the others who were butchered the next day as they lay helpless, I prayed for the innocents, the women and children raped and murdered by the English after honourable battle ended.
I thanked our heros for their sacrifice, for keeping the faith and for instilling in myself and the McAndreis and all of Scotland, a memory and a tradition, tae fight and never stop until we are free and the union is nae more.
I dinnae feel the cold. All I could think of was how proud and wonderful it was to stand where our kin folk braved far worse and died for my nation and its people.
We must nae ever forget the price we have paid and the price we have yet to pay. Not to forget those who took such a horrible toll on us, who tried in vain tae wipe out our culture, a failed genocide. We remain and we are going nae anywhere.
Alba Gu Brath
Calum, Chief
Clann Nan Gaidheal meets Crann Tara (Fiery Cross)
We are pleased to announce not only have we formed our own Scots Patriot group Clann Nan Gaidheal (Children of the Gael) and that we have, in a small way, made our first event on Drumossie Moor. We have the priviledge of meeting and knowing another most wonderful Scottish group Crann Tara (Fiery Cross). Crann Tara has wonderful way of preserving the history and heritage of Scotland and its people. They do this by teaching Scotland's young people in the schools about our way of life (who we are, where we come from and where we could go).
Crann Tara could actually call itself an international group now as it has also found the site of Lord George Murray's burial, and his grave stone in a graveyard in the land of the Dutch - Holland and better still Crann Tara has made provisions for Lord George Murray's grave stone restoration along with a commemoration ceremony in the Dutch town of Medemblik which I and my family intend to attend. This wull be a very great occasion, not only for us but all of Scotland.
Crann Tara attends and sponsors many events throughout the year, as we also do. At certain events the Clann Nan Gaidheal will invite other Scottish groups to attend as honoured guests. This looks tae be shaping itself into a rather busy and fruitful enterprise. Lets make it as successful as the Gentleman's Sword was. Updates and news will soon follow. Thank you to all of you who made this a success.
Hope Vere Anderson
Dear Friends;
At present there is NO-ONE that is the chief of the Andersons despite some recent claims. However there is now a real solution to this matter at hand. This past week I had a long and fruitful conversation with the Hope Vere Anderson, upon his return from the US Smokey Mountain Highland Games. Hope Vere Anderson has decided to move forward and complete this endeavor.
As most of you know about 20 years ago Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight recognised and appointed Hope Vere Anderson as Commander of Anderson. These facts themselves have not changed. Hope Vere Anderson has made it completely clear he wish's to see this endeavor through and completed. We will now be assisting Hope Vere in this matter. We will be helping to complete all aspects of this in order to see Anderson in its rightful place amongst the Clans of Scotland. In the past there were difficulties as there always are in these kinds of things; Hope now feels we are able to overcome the remaining resistance of difficulties which are left.
Hope has expressed his desire to see Anderson united into a cohesive and working clan. He has a large support base with a vast amount of friends, supporters and well wishers. We will assist him in his efforts to go forward and complete what is long overdue. Contrary to some opinions from within and without the system, Anderson is a clan. Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight thought it so, and so does every Anderson I have ever met save one or two individuals, Associations or groups. We will keep you informed of the progress with weekly or monthly updates.
The McAndreis Gathering: 2010
We are looking for entertainers for the gathering. The idea is to put on one entertainer per night (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). It will be good quality family entertainment.
It is our intention to ask Na Fir Dileas to come and put on demos and talks. We are also seeking poets and story tellers. We will have Scots historians and battlefield historians to give talks and answer questions. Performers and special guests accommodation and needs are provided compliments of the McAndreis.
We will have a dedicated food tent for all meals and snacks. A creche for your wee ones will be provided. Selling venues for both clan and local business will be provided for.
On Saturday and Sunday afternoon we will hold a ceilidh. Dancing will be to a live band.... Don't worry if you are out of practise as we will arrange for a caller to be present to walk you through the dances.
As the gathering is a closed event, attendance is by invitation only for non clan members. For those of you caravanning or intending to camp on the grounds, there will be 24 hour on-site security provided.
News on the B&B will follow on this page shortly
Dear Members and Guests,
Please read this and please discontinue emailing on this subject as there are just to many of you to respond to individually.
Many of you have been asking about the recent Homecoming Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh and the rumors about the Anderson Clan Chief being present. I can assure you the Anderson Chief was not present. Although I was not present at any of the reported incidents, it was reliably reported back to myself and others with an interest, that the chairman of the Anderson Association did claim to be the Anderson Clan Chief to several guest and visitors. If this was so, it was an incorrect claim to be made and he was in error.
Several presiding members of tents at the gathering were told by visitors and guests that they had just met the Anderson claiming to be the Chief of Anderson's. The reported response to this was. His claim is not entirely accurate.
At the convention, on Friday the 24th of July, it was Mr David Waterton-Anderson, Chairman of the Anderson Association, who asked the Honorable Lord Lyon "who chooses the chief of the clan?" The Lord Lyons response was, "The clan chooses its Chief. It must be the entire clan, not a group, not a society or association, but the entire clan must choose the/a chief."
As I was not present at any of the reported incidents I can only answer what was reliably reported to me.
It was also brought to our attention that the chairman of the Anderson Association approached the House of Gordon while at the Gathering 2009 and asked if he and the Anderson Association be allowed to join the Gordons. for further information on this please contact: Mrs Heike Williamson ha.williamson@btopenworld.com