Clan MacThomas

The new Clan MacThomas Website was launched two years ago this week. In those early days there was only a limited number of pages and photographs, but over the months since its launch it has grown supported by valuable contributions from the membership.

The main change to the site during the second year has been the addition of a comprehensive Genealogy section.  

Many thanks to everyone for their contributions and supportive comments.

Happy Birthday Website!!

Webmaster.

Added 09/07/2011

Strathardle Highland Gathering

Kirkmichael, Saturday 27th August 2011

The Society will as usual sponsor the Highland Dancing at the 130th Strathardle Highland Gathering in Kirkmichael near our homelands in Scotland. This gathering was first held in 1871 and, in addition to the dancing, featured Piping, Heavyweight Events, and Home Industries and Agricultual Shows. The Chief's former Personal Piper, Dr Nigel Malcolm-Smith, will be amongst the judges. The MacThomas Cup, in memory of James Thomson, will be awarded.

< < Click on image for

further details and

maps.

Updated for 2011

09/07/2011

Twitter                                                                                                 !! New !!

Did you know that Clan MacThomas has its own twitter account -@clanmacthomas?  Why not become a follower and use Twitter to communicate with your fellow Clan and Society members?

The Society is keen to find someone to manage and promote this account - your webmaster considers himself too old (and busy) for this particular job! 

Added 02/04/2011

Glenshee Tourist Association                                                   

Council is pleased to announce that the Society will become a member of the Glenshee Tourist Association with effect from 1st April 2011.

The Association established the Visitors Centre at the Glenshee Pottery which opened in 2010 and also operates the "Glen of the Fairies" website which many of you will have visited.

The Society will be able to display its literature in the Visitors Centre and also have a presence on the website. It is hoped that this will highlight our presence in the Glen and also help to recruit new members.

Glen of the Fairies

Visitors Centre

Added 23/03/2011 

MacThomas in the Scottish Press                                                   

In advance of our Gathering in Glenshee at the end of May, an article about Clan MacThomas appeared in the 15th March 2011 edition of the Perthshire Advertiser newspaper.  

The article summarised the history of the Clan and included information about the formation of the Society.

Please click here to read the full article on the Perthshire Advertiser website.

We understand that there will be more information about Clan MacThomas and our Gathering in a future edition of the newspaper.

Added 16/03/2011

Corrected 23/03/2011 

Earthquake in Japan                                                                        

The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan must have been a terrible shock to all of us coming, as it did, so soon after the similar event in New Zealand. Our thoughts must be with all those who have suffered in both countries.

A number of Clan MacThomas Society members from Scotland and Australia were in Japan at the time of the disaster. We are now pleased to be able to report that they were fortunately away from the worst affected area and are safe.

Added 12/03/2011

Updated 16/03/2011       

Society Council Member for Glenshee, Ian B. Thomson, recently became a Father for the forth time.

His new son, Oliver John Thomson, was born at the Ninewells Hospital in Dundee on 28th January 2011 and weighed in at nine pounds, six ounces - that is 4.3 kgs for those members who prefer metric.

It is reported that mother and baby are doing well.

The question is whether Oliver will become our new youngest Society member!

Please use this link to send congratulatory messages to Ian.

Added 10/03/2011

Society Receives Grant                                                             

We are pleased to report that the Clan MacThomas Society has received a grant from the Treasurer's employer, Panasonic, to support some of our administration costs. This will fund the purchase of a printer and consumables and will allow us to do some of our printing in house.

We qualified for this grant because Panasonic is keen to support employees and pensioners who make a contribution to society by volunteering and because our activities at the Cockstane are seen as being "eco" or environmentally friendly.

Added 09/03/2011

Updated 10/03/2011    

Last year the Society published for consultation a proposal for providing members with a personal physical link with the Clan's ancestral lands in Glenshee. Council sought the opinions of members  on the suggested policy.

The results of the consultation have now been compiled and can be viewed in the Memorial Policy section of the Members Secure area of this website. The text of a motion on this topic to be put to the Society AGM in May 2011 can also be found there.

If you do not already have access to the Members Secure Area please click here and complete the application form. 

Added 28/02/2011 

New Zealand Earthquake 

The recent earthquake in New Zealand has been a shock to all of us. At this time our thoughts should go to all MacThomas clansmen who live in the Christchurch area. The majority of our Society Members in New Zealand live in the North Island. However we do have one member who lives about 50 miles south west of Christchurch. Let us just hope and pray that he is unharmed. If we hear any news we will update this news item.

Added 22/02/2011  

Moosh plays the Blues                                                                 

Many members will be aware that Clan MacThomas Australian Branch Secretary, Ken "Moosh" McColm plays the Saxophone in various bands.

Last year Ken played with the Blues Club band when they accompanied Australian blues legend Dutch Tilders. Please click here to view their performance of the tune "Going on a Journey" on U Tube.

Dutch Tilders is currently unwell and the picture of Ken on the right was taken at a recent benefit concert.

Ken has kindly agreed to perform for members at the forthcoming Clan Gathering in Glenshee - an event not to be missed.

Added 25/02/2011

New Year Newsletter                                                                  !! Updated !!

The 2011 New Year newsletter has been sent to all Society members worldwide. It contains a message from MacThomaidh Mor, final details of the 2011 Gathering in Glenshee including an events booking form, and the agenda for the 2011 Annual General Meeting which will take place over the Gathering weekend. For members who pay to the UK there is also a subscription reminder.

An electronic version of the this newsletter can now be dowloaded from Members Secure area of the website.     !! New !!

If you would like to receive future copies of newsletters by e-mail then please click here. Thank you.

Added 19/02/2011 

Australian Floods                        

Members will no doubt have seen or read the news of the dreadful floods that have occurred recently in the Queensland area of Australia. The Society's Australian Secretary has now been able to make contact with all our members who live in the effected area and is delighted to be able to report that they and their families are all safe and well.

Added 19/01/2011

A Silver St Andrew's Day

On St Andrew's Day 2010 (30th November) our Chief and Lady Finegand, Andrew and Anneke MacThomas, celebrate their Silver Wedding Anniversary. 

Congratulations from all Clan Society Members worldwide.

To commemorate this notable milestone we are publishing on the website the report on their wedding  which appeared in the 1986 edition of the Clach A Choilich. Please click here to read this.

Personal messages of congratulations can be sent

via the webmaster.

Added 30/11/2010 

The Society is pleased to announce that the 2010 edition of the Clach A'Choilich is complete and that copies have now been mailed from the UK to members worldwide.

For further information about the magazine or to view this years edition of "Clach Extra" please click here.

In the Extra section we are providing a link so that you can let the editors have your opinions on this year's magazine and also provide ideas for next year's edition 

Update 

The problems with the distribution of overseas copies of the Clach A' Choilich have now been resolved and all current members should now have received their copies. Will you please contact the webmaster if your copy has not yet arrived.

Added 18/09/2010

Updated 28/09/2010

Updated 03/10/2010

Updated 15/10/2010  

Memorials Policy                                                                         

The Society has published for consultation a proposal for providing members with a personal physical link with the Clan's ancestral lands in Glenshee. Council is keen to have the opinions of as many members as possible on the suggested policy.

The proposal will be circulated to all members in the Clach A' Choilich at the end of August. However members who have applied for access to the Members Secure Area of this website can view the proposal now by clicking here and respond using the form provided. 

If you would like to apply for access to the Members Secure Area please click here and complete the application form. 

Added 30/07/2010 

Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs

The Society is delighted to report that its President, Andrew MacThomas of Finegand, the 19th Chief of Clan MacThomas, was elected to the Executive Council of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs at its Annual General Meeting on 13th July 2010.

It is a great honour for our small Clan to have a its Chief on the council of this important organisation and recognises the work that Finegand has done over the years to promote Scottish Clans in general and Clan MacThomas in particular.

Congratulations Finegand!  

Please click here to find out more about the Standing Council. 

Added 15/07/2010

Clan Gathering 2011

It has already been announced that the 2011 Clan Gathering will be be based on the Dalmunzie Hotel in Glenshee over the weekend of the 27th to 30th of May. Will members who are planning to attend please use this Registration Form to inform the Society.

Please click here for further information about this important event.

Further photographs of the Dalmunzie Hotel, some taken this year, will be added to the website shortly. 

Added 27/06/2010

The Cockstane (Clach na Coileach) 

The President and Webmaster were in Glenshee towards the end of May 2010 and were keen to see how the new planting in the area around the Cockstane had survived the terrible Scottish winter. Locals had advised that the snow in the area had been up to three feet deep. It was a pleasant surprise to discover how little damage there had been and how much new growth was evident. Please click here to view some new photograhs taken during the visits.  

Added 27/06/2010

40th Anniversary Dinner                                                      

Some thirty Clan members, families and friends gathered at Abden House, Edinburgh on 29th May 2010 for a Dinner to celebrate to 40th Anniversary of Andrew MacThomas of Finegand becoming the 19th Chief of the Clan MacThomas. A splendid five course dinner in wonderful surroundings was enjoyed by all those present. The Vice President spoke of the contribution that the Chief had made to the Clan and the Society over 40 years and Finegand responded.  Music was provided by one of the Clan's own pipers.

All fuller report on this event together with photographs will appear in due course. 

Added 30/05/2010 

Society AGM                                                                             

The Society's Annual General meeting was held at the Minto Hotel, Edinburgh on Saturday 29th May 2010. The meeting was chaired by the President and fifteen or so members attended. The European Secretary was elected to Council and the US and Canada Convenor was re-elected. The President thanked the Australian Secretary who has retired from the Council. There was some lively discussion on a number of the topics on the Agenda. The full minutes of the meeting will be published in the 2010 edition of the Society Magazine, Clach A' Choilich.

Added 29/05/2010

40th Anniversary

Tuesday 18th May 2010 is the 40th anniverary of Andrew MacThomas of Finegand becoming the Chief of Clan MacThomas and President of the Clan Society. Many messages of congratulation have been received from the Branches and individual members and these can be viewed by clicking here together with the Chief's response. 

Members of the Clan from the UK will gather in Edinburgh on 29th May to celebrate this significant milestone. Click here for full details of this event which is sadly now fully booked.  

Added 17/05/2010

Updated 18/05/2010

We are delighted to report that our Chief, Andrew MacThomas of Finegand, has today appointed Grahame Thom to the role of Clan Sennachie.

Many Clan members will already know Grahame who comes from Victoria in Australia and has been a member of the Clan Society for some 35 years. He is already the chairman of the Society Archives Committee and has contributed much of the information about genealogy on this website.

One of the key roles of the Sennachie is to advise members on matters relating to genealogy and to assist them in tracing their ancestors.  This position has been vacant since Roger Pye died in 2002.

This appointment, which has been made personally by the Chief, is particularly important at a time when interest in genealogy is growing.

Please click here to read Grahame's biography.   

Added 10/05/2010

Dates for your Diaries

The Society is pleased to announce the following dates

for events during 2010 and 2011.

2010

Saturday 29th May 2010   -  Chief's 40th Anniversary

                                                     Dinner in Edinburgh.

                                                -  please click here for details.

                                                -  Now Fully Booked.

Saturday 29th May 2010   -  2010 Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh.

                                                -  please click here for details and the Agenda. 

2011

Friday 27th May 2011 to    -  2011 Clan Gathering based around the Dalmunzie

Monday 30th May 2011         Castle Hotel in Glenshee, Scotland.

                                                -  please click here for more details and the expected

                                                    itinerary. 

Full details will also be published in the 2010 Society New Year Newsletter which is currently being mailed to all members.

**** Stop Press ****

New Year Newsletters to all members in UK, Continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have now been mailed from the UK.

Copies for members in the US and Canada have now been mailed from the US. 

If you would like to recieve an advance copy by e-mail please click here.

Added 30/12/2009

Updated 31/12/2009

Updated 08/01/2010 

Updated 25/04/2010

New Honorary Vice President

We are delighted that Rodney Thomas Mooney from the USA has accepted the President's invitation to become an Honorary Vice President of the Society with immediate affect. Rod has been a member of the US and Canada Branch for many years and is the editor of the Branch newsletter. Additionally Rod acts as the Clan Bard.

Please click here to read Rod's biography.

Added 15/11/2009

Amended 08/01/2010    

Interview with our Chief