Madam Arabella's Column
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The Official Publication of Kincaid Clan Association International Issue Number 85, March 2016 Madam Arabella ’ s C o l um n Fellow Kincaids, Kinsfolk, Friends, prayers beside his dwelling place of Woodhead”, and took him off prisoner to Kincaid, after wounding and After a long and extremely wet win- hurting him in several places!! ter we have arrived at February half- Also: The Kincaids had also a quarrel with the Stir- term – a wonderful opportunity for lings of Craigbarnet, and in a fight in Glasgow, in some family time together, to rest, and to regain a 1563, Malcolm Kincaid had his left arm cut off, and little strength in the middle of the cold spring term. afterwards was killed, having in the interim taken part The mornings are thankfully getting lighter and in the assault on John Lennox. snowdrops are appearing in swathes under the trees, Oh my goodness, I find myself wondering if poor bringing with them the assurance that spring is in- Malcolm died from an infection from having his left deed around the corner. arm cut off or if he was just unable to keep himself out I must begin with thanking you Bob for the abso- of fights! lutely magnificent job you have done with The De- On a lighter note, and since I last wrote in December fender over the last three years. It has blossomed about Angus playing the part of Abel Magwitch in under your creative direction into what we know Great Expectations, it has now been confirmed that the today as our Clan Publication. Every edition is play will run for a week in Edinburgh this summer something to look forward to, and is packed with which is exciting! To that end and in case it is of any interesting items. In short, it is a labour of love and interest to anyone travelling through Scotland this sum- we are all the richer for it. mer, it will run from 14-20th August in a theatre just off What an incredible leadership team we are fortu- the Royal Mile. I will be there with the family all week nate to have running our Clan Society, headed up so do let me know if you are coming! magnificently by President David and Barbara Kin- In the meantime, I hope 2016 is unfolding in good caid. We have so much to look forward to through- ways. May your families flourish and in the words of out 2016, with Clan Tents ready to welcome folk at the traditional Gaelic blessing: so many of the Highland Games hosted and run by our wonderful Commissioners. Then of course “May the road rise up to meet you. there is the Clan Gathering in Colorado in Septem- May the wind be always at your back. ber to look forward to, organised by James Brisbin May the sun shine warm upon your face; and Patrick Kincaid with Eva Knight and a fine The rains fall soft upon your fields team of helpers. And until we meet again, It was my Grandmother’s (Madam Heather’s) birthday on March 10th and of course I particularly May God hold you in the palm of his think of her at this time of year. She lived through hand” so many changes during her lifetime, her quiet un- assuming way of going about things, a stoical spirit Yours aye, and great sense of humour which still encourages Arabella. me today. She was also unofficial family historian; she wrote at length about so much of her life grow- ing up in Scotland and of various forebears from a time long gone. I have a special box I keep which is full of her writings, along with piles of old al- most transparent papers which have all sorts of bits and pieces of information recorded on them, which I love to dip into and learn something new every time. Just this evening as I have been looking through the box I found myself reading for the first Tidbit of Information time about …a feud in 1571 between the Lairds of Kincaid and Woodhead (Lennox), the families now A common Scottish Toast in Gaelic is: united by marriage. On 17 September the Kincaids Slainte mhath! (Pronounced “slanj’-uh-va” mean- attacked John Lennox, “he being solitar at his ing “Good health!” 1 This is an election year for as well as other members of The past year Clan Kincaid. We are seeking the Board who will be in at- has been a very volunteers within our member- tendance. Please get it on your successful one ship to fill the vacancies of Com- schedule as it will be a great for Clan Kincaid munications Director. Chief time. Association In- Commissioner a and Member- I also want to take this op- ternational. In 2015 Commis- ship Director. If you are interest- portunity to let the member- sioners sponsored many clan ed in serving Clan Kincaid in ship know that I will not be tents in both the USA and Cana- either of these capacities please running for reelection to this da, bringing Clan Kincaid to the contact either the Clan Secretary position. It has been great fun attention of other Scottish Clans or Communications Director. doing the Defender, but I am and the general public. Instructions for applying with now at the point in my life We had the honor of being fea- your Letter of Intent are printed that I want to have a schedule tured as Honored Clan at both in the December 2015 Defender. that allows me to do things the Livonia, Michigan, and Indi- We welcome your interest. without deadlines—something anapolis, Indiana, Highland We are looking forward to the I have not had for many a Games. Clan Kincaid was planned Clan Kincaid Gathering year. I hope that the Clan awarded Best Clan Tent at the to be held September 8 –11 in membership has enjoyed the Livonia Games. conjunction with the Long’s newsletter and that whoever I encourage all to attend Peak Scottish Irish Festival to be replaces me will have as much planned Highland Games events held at Estes Park, Colorado, and fun as I have. If you want a in your area, as posted in the De- once again meeting and visiting challenging but fun job volun- fender. It is a fine opportunity with our Clan Chief, Madam Ar- teer for this one. Lots of chal- to enjoy the Games events and abella Kincaid of Kincaid. Those lenges but great people set on share our pride of heritage, not of you who plan to attend the the Board who have been very only with Kincaids but other 2016 Gathering should make it a enjoyable to work with. A Scots clans as well. point to sign up for the Gala, special thanks to Madam Ara- In 2015 we were granted our which will honor our Clan Chief. bella - a great Chief. Federal 501(c)(3) designation, The Gala will provide an out- A note concerning the Sep- giving us our official nonprofit standing dinner as well as an op- tember 2016 Defender. Since organization status. portunity for all to enjoy the cel- we will be having a Clan Kin- During 2015 I joined the St. ebration with our fellow Kin- caid Gathering, I will not put Andrews Society of Detroit. caids. out the Defender in Septem- Having been established in 1849 Yours Aye, ber, instead, it will come out they are the oldest St. Andrews in October. This will allow me Society in the United States. In David to include the pictures the addition to sponsoring the Livo- comments from the great nia, MI Highland Games held in event. I plan on using the for- August, they give the proceeds mat I used previously when from the Games to charity each we had a Gathering in Scot- year. 2016 has the makings of land. another outstanding Clan Well, here it 2016 and Kincaid year. another year of adven- In Kinship, In the March edition of the De- ture for Clan Kincaid. fender, members will have the The Clan Gathering is Bob Kincaid opportunity to vote on proposed coming up in September and our If you desire a copy of the changes to our constitution. I Chief Madam Arabella will be in Clan Kincaid Membership List, feel that these changes are need- attendance. It will be a great op- please contact the President at ed, and I encourage you to vote portunity for members of the and return your ballot. Clan to meet her and her family [email protected] 2 3 Jones, and her five wonderful children. Madam Ara- bella is an executive member of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. Looking forward to the Gathering Clan Kincaid Gathering in September, she said “I am hugely looking forward September 8 – 11 to meeting so many Kincaids and Kinsfolk this Sep- Long’s Peak Scottish Irish Festival tember, as well as seeing many good friends again. I Estes Park, Colorado have always had a passion for family and family life Featuring an Official visit by our Clan Chief – both our extended family and the nuclear family. I Madam Arabella Kincaid of Kincaid believe that our Clan has as important a role to play as ever in the modern world." ------------------------------- Sincerely Patrick Kincaid Following 2016 Clan Kincaid Gathering notes were Clan Kincaid submitted by James Brisbin, a member of the Clan Gathering committee. Motto: “This I’ll Defend” ****************************************** Clan Kincaid Gathering – 2016 As you can well imagine, the Clan Kincaid Gather- Kincaids first emerged from the mists of Scottish ing – 2016 undertaking will incur a number of finan- history in the thirteenth century.