Chief John at Clan Dinner
Bill, of Chicago, President of CMS of USA, Anne, Chief John and Ruari, President of CMS of Scotland, at the dinner
Chief John MacLeod of MacLeod was guest of honour at the Society's Dinner at the Murrayfield Hotel, Edinburgh, on 19th February. There was a full house, with 50 diners, including Ian MacLeod, President of the CMS of Canada; Bill C. MacLeod, President of the CMS of USA; Albrecht Kurbjuhn, President of the CMS of Germany. Also present were Bill MacLeod, Texas, Business Manager for ACMS, and Sandy and Sarah MacLeod from Minnesota. And Leonard MacLeod, of France and South Africa.
It was a delight to welcome Ursel and Alexandra MacLeod Beins from Essen, in Germany, who were attending a Society dinner for the first time.
The largest group of MacLeods came from Washington, County Durham, to celebrate the 60th birthday of Bill McLeod. His wife Christine and six of the family were there, all decked out in tartan. Bill's birthday was on 27th January, which he celebrated in Skye, but this was a surprise addition to an extended celebration. Happy birthday was sung !
The President proposed a toast to Chief John who replied by saying how the death of Norman MacLeod of Suardal was on everyone's mind. Chief John said that he had planned a speech but had torn up his notes and had decided to say what he felt, the great affection that he had held for Norman MacLeod of Suardal, a devoted and faithful clansman.
The President said that Suardal would have hated to spoil a good party. At the North American Gathering in Guelph, in 2000, when Suardal was 80 years old, he and several clansfolk had been partying into the night and had to curtail their merry making when the hotel neighbours complained of the noise.
John Davidson Kelly spoke lovingly of his uncle, telling stories of his days in Skye and the strange procession which accompanied him on his swimming expeditions in Loch Dunvegan, at the Castle jetty. Suardal had an outstanding ability to make the person to whom he was speaking feel like the most important person in the world and above all he was a great story teller. Many of Suardal's stories are preserved on tape and CD. The company drank a Toast to Suardal.
Suardal always had a good rapport with the young and Emma, who had emailed her network of young MacLeods, received some heartfelt messages remembering Suardal. Emma recalled that at the last Parliament a bunch of high spirited young lads were always being noisy until Suardal appeared to tell stories and, miraculously, they were quiet.
In the summer a group of young MacLeods had worked at Suardal House rebuilding some of the stone dykes and installing a place where Suardal could shave outside. Derek, the Society's Honorary Violer, gave the world premier of a tune he had composed 'Suardal's Shaving Shelf' which he dedicated to Norman MacLeod of Suardal.
Norman MacLeod of Suardal 1920-2005