TheThe LeodLeod VoiceVoice Clan MacLeod Societies Canada National Council Newsletter # 52 Spring, 2010 Spring, 2010 Page 1 President’s Report The Gaelic Choir from Seattle with Penny MacLeod Degraff re- ceived a standing ovation when they performed at our house in Merritt for 75 guests. We had a great time discussing stories and talking bagpipes. There were lots of pictures taken of the Highland cows with various Scottish person- alities in the foreground. It is excit- ing to keep up our contacts with the by Dr. Donald McLeod Northwest USA MacLeods. e are preparing for an inter- Chris and I, with our daughter, esting summer of activities Skye, will be traveling to Montreal again.W We seem to be putting on to board a cruise ship that will stop our kilts regularly now. Every at all the important MacLeod stops week there is some reason to don Charlottetown, Sydney on Cape the tartan. The Victoria Highland Breton, Halifax and Boston. We Games are over and Karen and are arranging meetings along the Malcolm and Judy Tipple did the way and can’t wait to see the Clan usual wonderful job of manning the everywhere. We hear that some MacLeod tent. There were many Cape Breton MacLeods will also MacLeods visiting this year and it be on the boat? This will be the was a great time. My brother, Bruce highlight of the early summer for and Penny McLeod were there to us. I look forward to the excitement take advantage of the whisky tast- as the ship pulls into Sydney har- ing events. Most of us tried to avoid bour. If I take my bagpipes I may the meat pies only because there be able to drift back to the time as were signs everywhere advertis- my great great great…grandparents ing “heavy events”. The MacLeod arrived there in the 1800s. It may banner was always in front of the be a magical time for many of us parade and ceremonies thanks to assuming the rain and storms don’t Malcolm’s efforts. interfere with our heritage trip. A barbecue date has been set We are planning to attend some for Victoria (1700 Teakwood) Highland Games in Ontario as we on August 22, Sunday at 12:00 drive through Toronto and London noon. All the Vancouver Island when I attend a Diabetes weekend MacLeods will be there. there. My son, Magnus, is doing CMSC Newsletter # 52, Page 2 MacLeod’s Everywhere How do we corral them into the fold? by Ken MacLeod a neurology rotation there and we (CMSC VP Pacific like to do courses together. The Clan Parliament is shaping up to be a superb event. I am so looking forward to the trip to As- synt and Ardvreck Castle. I buried some treasure there when I was 16 years old and will try to find it under a large rock that I was able to roll when I was 16. I probably should be doing more farm work to prepare my muscles for the task. John D.K. is standing for presi- dent of ACMS and I have agreed to stand for vice-president for the next term. The excitement of Clan activities seems always to build. Region) I certainly encourage anyone that hey’re all over the place: wants to come to Dunvegan for the MacLeods, McLeods…. last 2 weeks of July 2010 to call us EverywhereT I go, especially when and we will help with information my wife and I show up in the about accommodation etc. Chief Courtenay Legion in our kilts, Hugh will be presiding for the MacLeods come out of the wood- first time and will mark the begin- work. “Is that the MacLeod tartan ning of a new era of MacLeodery. that you’re wearing?” “My mother We are looking forward to seeing was a MacLeod.” “MacLeod was everyone again as this is our four my maiden name.” year cycle with the Parliament be- However, despite the number of ing the crescendo of events and we “Proud MacLeods” out there, our hope everyone is younger than the clan organization, like many other last time we saw them and in good organizations in the community health. Hold Fast and hope to see that are made up primarily of the you soon. ∆ elderly, face extinction unless they Spring, 2010 Page 3 attract some younger members. So The Vancouver Society held how do we do it: Facebook, Twitter, a Spring Tea on April 16 which e-mail, word-of-mouth, programs was attended by the late Neil to attract the young? MacLeod’s widow Florence, son Ian C. MacLeod, past presi- Malcolm and his wife Karen from dent of Clan Macleod Societies of Duncan on Vancouver Island. Dr Canada has one idea, re-forming Don McLeod, our National Presi- the Internet Society entitling mem- dent along with CMS BC Interior bers to receive the international hosted Penny DeGraff and Oran Clan MacLeod Magazine and the nan Car from Seattle in an evening Canadian Leod Voice. In addition of Gaelic and English singing on Ian has provided some genealogical May 8. The event was held at Don and historical resources. To be- and Chris’ the Dunvegan-style come a member of the Internet home in Merritt. Society, send a cheque for $35 to: Highland Games are on the Ian MacLeod, 10920 Seamount radar. The big one, of course, is the Rd, Richmond, BC V7A 4P6. Ian BC Highland Games on Saturday, is working on a CMSC website June 26 at Percy Perry Stadium (www.clan-macleod.org) which (formerly Coquitlam Town Plaza) I’m sure will attract MacLeods. in Coquitlam. Who knows? A MacLeod website On the May long weekend that is easy to find on a “Google there are two events, the first on Search” might be the wave of the May 22 was the Comox Valley future to keep our organization Highland Games at Lewis Park, alive and thriving. Courtenay and the second on May Clan MacLeod recently lost 22-23 the Victoria Highland Games two legendary members: Nancy and World’s Heavy Events Com- MacLeod Nicol of Scotland and petition at Topaz Park. The Sons our own Neil MacLeod of Duncan, of Scotland Games are scheduled BC. Nicol was the corresponding for June 10 at Rotary Stadium, Ab- secretary for the ACMS for about botsford. Enjoy these great summer fifteen years and also organized Scottish activities. the Clan MacLeod Parliament at Slainte mhaith! ∆ Dunvegan Castle in 1998. Neil MacLeod was a much loved member who died on March 11, 2010 at age 95 after suffering a fall. Story-teller with a memory par excellence Neil, his stories and his melodian will be missed. CMSC Newsletter # 52, Page 4 Past President’s Notes by Ian C. MacLeod eod Voice Editor Judy contin- leadership positions in BC and even ues to ask for material from me, though I was a “mature” lawyer, I soL I continue with my ramblings was a wee bit intimidated by this on “things MacLeod” and “things woman who clearly knew every- Scotland”, even though I am get- one and who was obviously very ting further and further removed much in charge. But very quickly, from my role as National President that intimidation factor turned to (2004-2008) of the CMSC. respect and friendship. She will be sorely missed by Passing of Nancy MacLeod the Clan MacLeod family, espe- Nicol: In this issue, the most seri- cially by her sister, Noël Proven, ous item, by far, is to give some Noël’s daughter, Elizabeth Platfoot remembrance to the memory of and her long time friend, Rose our dear friend, Nancy MacLeod Fleming (also an ACMS Honorary Nicol. Nancy passed away on Sun- VP and Co-coordinator of Parlia- day, November 1 of pneumonia, ment 1998.) ∆ after a long struggle with myeloid leukemia. There was a good profile of Nancy in Issue #104 (April 2007) of the Clan MacLeod Magazine, and I expect that there will be much more in the current issue, so I won’t go into a lot of detail about her Clan MacLeod activities. Rather, I will give just a couple of personal comments. Nancy was a great friend of the Clan MacLeod, both in Scotland and around the world, all her life. I first recall meeting her at Parlia- ment 1998, where she was the Par- liament Co-coordinator (although I may also have met her briefly at the NAG 1992 in Vancouver). Even Ardis, Ian, Nancy and Rose during a though I had held some significant visit in Richmond, BC Spring, 2010 Page 5 THINGS SCOTLAND Somewhat oddly, each of the next three items deal, in some way, with land issues. 1. MacLeod finds Lewis Chessmen, the “5th most important treasure ever unearthed in Britain”: In 1831, Malcolm “Sprot” Ma- cleod, from nearby Pennydonald, discovered a collection of 93 chess pieces in a small stone kist (chest) in a sand bank at the head of the Bay of Uig on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. This is the oldest known chess set in the world. The ably a crofter (tenant farmer). It chess pieces were mostly carved seems that he didn’t much benefit from walrus ivory, but with a few financially from his find. He sold made from whale teeth. All the the collection for £30, but he and pieces are sculptures of human his family were evicted from Pen- figures, except the pawns. Today, nydonald several years later when eleven of the pieces are on display the area was cleared to make way in the Museum of Scotland and the for a farm – perhaps another victim other 82 in the British Museum.