CLAN COMMANDER NEWS
Temporary notice:
A Clan MacGillivray Family Convention was held on the 15th of April at 4pm at the Culloden Battlefield near Inverness, Scotland. The purpose of this convention was to nominate a Clan Commander.
The results of the voting was to elect Iain MacGillivray, son of Duncan and Jane Marie MacGillivray as Clan Commander. His appointment is yet to be confirmed by the Lord Lyon.
Poll now closed.
Thank you to all our members who participated.
Congratulations to Iain MacGillivray who won our poll.
The Role of a Clan Commander
There is no “job description” for a Clan Commander. Traditionally, a hereditary Chief would appoint a Commander to lead the Clan in times of war where the Chief was unable to do so because of health, age etc. Nowadays, a Clan Commander is someone who provides leadership for a Clan where there is not a hereditary Chief.
The procedure for appointing a Commander to a Clan is for a Petition to be submitted to the Lord Lyon King of Arms requesting that he authorise the convening of a Family Convention at which will be considered the nominees for the position. In authorising that, he will appoint a Reporting Officer to oversee the process and to report formally to the Lord Lyon on the person who the Convention consider should take up the position.
It is preferable that someone seeking nomination as a Commander should live fairly locally to the Clan lands so that he or she can be on hand if there are members of the Clan visiting the area and need information, guidance etc on what is of interest locally regarding that Clan. The Commander should be well versed in the history of the Clan, knowledgeable of the places and buildings associated with it and have the time, energy, knowledge and enthusiasm to attend Highland Games etc to promote the Clan at these and other public events, to be an ambassador for the Clan, to help secure its future.
A Commander would be expected to work closely with the Clan Associations wherever they be based, to be closely involved in the organisation of Clan Gatherings and generally to do whatever is in the interests of the Clan in leading it, in guiding it and in raising its profile in a positive way. A Commander should be articulate, amiable, amicable, approachable but also capable of providing strong leadership and guidance to the Clan members as and when required.
IAIN MacGILLIVRAY
Summary
Iain was born into a well-known MacGillivray family and is the son of Duncan and Jane Marie MacGillivray, Duncan being the Clan Piper. He lives and works on the family farm north of Inverness, Scotland.
His interest in the Clan dates back to his earliest days and he is steeped in it. Like the rest of the family he is a keen and talented musician, playing the bagpipes, fiddle, whistle and bodhran as well as the spoons and the snare drum for pipe bands.
He is Gaelic speaking and has benefitted from an extensive education not only in Scotland but also in the United States of America. He is widely travelled and always takes the opportunity to meet up with MacGillivrays and Scots wherever he is.
He is well experienced in media matters having undergone a two years training course and produced the video shown at the 2015 Gathering of the Clan in Inverness thoroughly enjoyed he had put together as well as the music he and others provided on several occasions. It was an opportunity for him to display his knowledge of the Clan and the various local sites associated with it.
Iain is very proud of his Clan MacGillivray roots and keen to be in the honourable position of Clan Commander of the MacGillivrays and to do the Clan proud. He acknowledges he still have much to learn but has boundless enthusiasm and motivation with a strong and deep passion for his clan roots.
He has a very optimistic vision of preserving and strengthening MacGillivray ties in Scotland as well as around the rest of the world with a vision to spark a growth of interest to encourage more people with MacGillivray blood to actively participate in their traditions and to be truly proud of their Clan; to connect with more MacGillivrays and to emphasize and expand the unique and festive spirit of a Clan Gathering.
Read more in the document below.