Cuairt-litir

At the AGM on 12 November our President of five years, Iain MacLeod, stood down. Tribute was paid to the tremendously hard and innovative work done by Iain over that period and to his achievements in bringing the concerns of Gaelic supporters in London and the South to the attention of policymakers and Gaelic bodies in Scotland. Our Chief thanked Iain on behalf of the Society and wished him well with whatever he turns his undoubted talents to in future.

Council member and former Hon Secretary Nina Stewart also stood down this year. Nina has worked very hard during her time on the Council and our sincere thanks and good wishes are due to her.

Chrissie MacLeod Webb, formerly Vice-President, was elected President, with Norman MacKenzie as Vice-President. Other offices remain unchanged. We welcomed new Council members Christina MacDonald, Christina Aston and Alan Lane.

At the cèilidh following the AGM the wonderful voice of Seumas Campbell of Skye delighted his listeners and showed no evidence of an afternoon spent as tutor to a Gaelic song class which received a most enthusiastic response from students who attended. Songs from Kathy Kennedy, Anna MacRae and Euan Pinkerton completed a very enjoyable evening.

Burns Supper

The next date for your diaries is the Burns Supper on 28 January at Pont Street. This is always a popular event. Among our guests will be the highly successful Còisir Lunnainn, singing Burns and Gaelic. Please complete and return the enclosed form to our Hon Treasurer by 21 January. Download booking request (in pdf form)

Schools Competition

Ninety-eight pupils took part this year. The standard was high and the enthusiasm of both teachers and pupils very evident. Many thanks to everyone who worked so hard, including the adjudicators.

Award winners were:

Paible School, North Uist: Cuach Chomataidh Craolaidh Gàidhlig
Barvas School, Lewis: The Scottish Knights Templar Medallion
Back School, Lewis: Cuach NicFhionghuinn
Charleston Academy, Inverness: The Hugh Seymour-Chalk Trophy

An account of our chief's visit to several schools, a full list of prizewinners and photographs will appear in the next newsletter.

Còisir Lunnainn

Congratulations to the Choir on their continuing success at the National Mod, both in music and Gaelic. Excellent performances resulted in a number of awards and high placings. The choir is moving steadily up the rankings in the Lovat and Tullibardine competition and it now holds more than twice the required percentage of Gaelic cards.

News of Alan Munro winning the Silver Pendant delighted London's Gaelic community. He and Sandy Jones also won the Oran Ur competition for new compositions.

Meallaibh ur naidheachd uile! Gu ma math a theid leibh 'sa bhliadhna tha tighinn.

Donald Smith Memorial Award

The Competition for the Donald Smith Award was held in March 2005 at the Scottish Piping Society of London Annual Competitions, held in the London Scottish Regiment Headquarters, Westminster. The winner was Alan Gibbs, aged 16 years, from Cliftonville, Kent, with Dumfries connections. As a result, Alan was able to attend the College of Piping in Glasgow for a week at their Summer School for young pipers in July, where he received intensive tuition in practice and theory, which he relates was of great benefit to him. Our thanks to the Highlands and Islands Society of London Committee for their generous donation of £100 towards the Award Fund.

Society Library

Three new publications added recently are A Highlander by Election by Brian J MacDougall Duxbury; Là a' Dèanamh Sgèil Do Là; by Angus Peter Campbell; and The Wallace Memorial Stone by Norman MacLeod. This last booklet is a timely, concise and very interesting account of the people who had the idea for such a memorial and those who helped bring it to fruition. Written by Norman MacLeod, a Life Member and both a former Council member and auditor of the Society, it highlights the connection between the Society and the Stone and the distinguished members of the Society who were active participants at many of the anniversary services.

Obituaries

Dr Brian J MacDougall Duxbury

We were saddened to hear of the death, in September, of Dr Duxbury at the age of 87.

Brian was an enthusiastic Life Member of the Society, serving for many years on the Council. He also recorded our London Mods and was involved in taping material to be sent to the Eventide Homes in Scotland. A keen photographer, he showed wonderful films of his travels at some of our cèilidhs.

Brian studied medicine at University College London. In the army during the war he tended the wounded on the Normandy beaches and later served in India. A distinguished haematologist, he led the team that discovered the use of Warfarin as an anti-coagulant and published papers on the subject until shortly before his death. His love of Scotland and Gaelic was clear. His long association with An Comunn Gàidhealach was celebrated in a booklet, A Highlander by Election. He lived long enough to be present when it was published in Stornoway.

The funeral was attended by our Chief, Joyce Seymour-Chalk, who was also there as a personal friend. Unfortunately, many of those who would have attended were sadly - and ironically - at the National Mod.

Our sincere condolences go to Elizabeth who was his devoted wife.

Flora Craighead

We have sad news also of the passing of Mrs Flora Craighead, another of our Life Members over many years. Flora was formerly a member of the London Gaelic Choir of which she was also Past President.

Up until shortly before her death, at over 90 years of age and in frail health, Flora still attended services at Crown Court Church and was a member of the Gaelic Services Committee. She was pre-deceased by some years by her husband, Alasdair. We extend our sincere sympathy to her family.

Members' News

Those who know Anne Speedy will be sorry to hear that she is in very poor health and is now resident in a nursing home. We send her our warmest good wishes.

Congratulations to Sandra (nee Thompson) and Ivan Leigh on becoming grandparents. Their first grandchild, Heather, was born in April and is a great joy. There was also a family wedding - daughter Catherine to Kraig, who is Welsh. Dawn and Alastair are due to marry in August 2006. Best wishes to all.

Finally, thank you for your support. We look forward to welcoming you to events in 2006.

Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ur dhuibh uile!

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This page last updated 18/12/06