Kirkmichael Church and Burial Ground, and The Kirkmichael Trust
This photo by Angus Chisholm (included here with his kind permission) gives a good view of the location on the Black Isle.
Angus writes:
“This carefully aligned photo shows:-
Foreground - Udale Bay RSPB Nature Reserve - you can see some of the many birds in Udale Bay foraging in the mudbanks
Lower Mid Section - Kirkmichael Church and burial ground - the church now belongs to the Kirkmichael Trust and they have done a tremendous job in restoring the building which now houses a very interesting exhibition - well worth a visit if you are in the area. My father grew up in Balblair and my grandparents are buried in the Church graveyard.
Upper mid section - Kirkton farm. Unusually for the Black Isle, this farm has a tall brick chimney for a steam-engine house. It dates back to the mid 19th century.
Far Distance - The snow covered hills behind Alness [i.e. Ben Wyvis or part of the same range]”
You can see a range of Angus’s excellent photos of the Highlands at www.anguschisholm.com
The Kirkmichael Trust has a dedicated team led by Jim Mackay (at the right of the group in the picture) and there are frequent posts describing the activities to log and restore items both here and elsewhere, on the Kirkmichael Trust Facebook Page.
Matheson graves and stories involving Mathesons feature in updates!
I have scanned the flyers which The Kirkmichael Trust produced last year, which give a good primer on the terms and methods used, and the story so far. These will be a sound base from which to enjoy the posts of the Kirkmichael Trust Facebook page.
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Coronation Duty
The Clan Chief, Sir Alexander Matheson of Matheson, was on duty welcoming guests at Westminster Abbey for the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, following his appointment as Extra Equerry by King Charles in March 2023
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The Annual National Trust for Scotland / 1745 Association Culloden Lecture
Held at the Culloden Visitor Centre on 14 April 2023
You can view the Culloden Lecture online at any time!!
Details received from Michael Nevin:
This year's NTS / 1745 Association Annual Culloden Lecture, delivered as part of the annual commemoration marking the 277th anniversary of the last battle fought on British soil, can now be seen on YouTube.
Following a short introduction by the 1745 Association's President, the Very Rev’d Dr Emsley Nimmo, and a tribute to the Association's previous Chairman, the eminent military historian Dr Christopher Duffy who passed away in November, the current Chair Michael Nevin applies Prospect Theory developed by Nobel Prize Winner Daniel Kahneman and his colleague Amos Tversky to assess seven strategic decisions that led to Culloden, as follows:
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July 1745: Confirmation Bias and the decision to instigate the Rising
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August 1745: Loss Aversion, the Sunk Cost fallacy and the decision to continue the Rising after the loss of the ‘Elisabeth’
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October 30th 1745: Decision Framing, the Allais Paradox and the decision to advance into England
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December 5th 1745: Ambiguity Aversion, the Ellsberg Paradox and the decision to retreat from Derby
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December 19th 1745: The Endowment Effect and the decision to leave a garrison in Carlisle
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February 1746: The Affect Heuristic and the decision to retreat into the Highlands
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April 15th and 16th 1746: Optimism Bias, the Night March on Nairn and the decision to stand at Culloden
Conclusion: Bonnie Prince Charlie Syndrome
The 33 minute presentation is now available on YouTube with sub-titles if required at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqc-IxbREkU
N.B.: the YouTube video is of the presentation only, not the subsequent discussion and Q&A, as under the 1745 Association’s conventions these are conducted under Chatham House rules.
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'Flowers Of The Forest'
In tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Played by Stuart Matheson Latto
The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee
'Dui Regnare' - Stuart Liddell's new tune for the Queen
Pipers around the British Commonwealth will be marking the Queen’s platinum jubilee by playing a tune composed for the occasion by Stuart Liddell of Inveraray, Scotland, ideally as the sun sets on June 2, 2022. The Queen ascended to the throne on June 2, 1953.
Luckily for those not close to a piper on or around that time, Clan Matheson UK & Europe Piper Stuart Matheson Latto has recorded this rendition of Dui Regnare - "Long to reign" - which we can enjoy, perhaps whilst raising a glass and wishing Her Majesty "Slàinte Mhath"!
Reminiscences of a Jacobite
An impression
The 2020 launch webinar which author Michael Nevin hosted was extremely stimulating, and I rapidly became aware that many participants were very knowledgeable about the Jacobite era and particularly the minutiae of Bonny Prince Charlie's movements and actions.
