by Philip Beddows
Seanachaidh to the Chief, and Clan Historian
Written for publication in the 2023 edition of ‘Touch Not’, the magazine of The Clan Chattan Association.
Richard McBain of McBain.
Over the weekend of 6/7th August 2022 the Clan MacBean held a historic, unique and memorable Gathering with our new chief Richard McBain of McBain, following on from enjoying the Clan Chattan AGM and Dinner at Lochardil House and a fun day at the Moy Country Fair.
On the Saturday we assembled at the McBain Memorial Park high above the village of Dores, overlooking Loch Ness – the clan’s gathering place created by Richard’s Grandfather Hughston McBain of McBain, near the chiefs’ old home at Kinchyle. As people arrived, Cindi McIntosh entertained us with her fine piping, which set the scene perfectly, before Stewart McBain – publicly appointed that day as the Chief’s Piper – led the Chief’s party down the hill and into the Park, playing ‘The MacBain March’ and bearing the Chief’s pipe banner. Allan MacBain and Mark Bean were the Chief’s banner bearers and Paul Macdonald and Mike Smith his swordbearers. After opening words of welcome from Richard, Cllr Ian Brown, Leader of Inverness & Area Council, gave a warm and generous welcome back ‘home’ to MacBeans from across the world.
Left to Right: Mike Smith, Allan MacBain, Mark F. Bean, Paul MacDonald.
We then dedicated the new Memorial to our famous clansman NASA Astronaut Captain Alan LaVern Bean, the fourth person to walk on the Moon and first to take tartan to its surface – MacBean tartan naturally, a piece from which will be exhibited at the V&A Dundee Museum this year. We were honoured to be addressed by Alan’s daughter Amy Bean in the US. Her clear voice, broadcast via speakers, movingly recounted Alan’s arrival on the Moon along with special insights into his life and character. Scott McElvain read an address from the President of Clan MacBean, ‘Pete’ McIllwain. Lisa McFarlane, the Chief’s Partner, spoke of her experiences working on the Cassini Spacecraft and Mars High Rise missions. Iain MacGillivray, Commander of Clan MacGillivray, played some rousing tunes – appropriately, the US National Anthem and the theme tune to the film ‘Top Gun’ – remembering Alan Bean had been a US Navy Aviator.
Alan LaVern Bean Memorial.
In between the ceremonies, Peter MacDonald spoke about the new MacBean Hunting Tartan that he had helped us design, and which Richard was wearing for his inauguration.
Next came the high point – the Ceremony of Inauguration of Richard McBain of McBain as 23rd Hereditary Chief of the Clan MacBean. We were deeply honoured to have The Rt Hon. the Lord Lyon King of Arms, Dr Joseph Morrow present to oversee this historic ceremony. As the first such ceremony in our recorded history, it was a particularly significant occasion. The Lord Lyon conducted it magnificently, and it was a privilege to do this with him in my traditional role as the Clan’s Seanachaidh. Richard’s genealogy was recounted in Gaelic and English, back to the clan’s founder and first chief Bean ‘Mor’ mac Maolmoire in the late 13th century, and some tales of his ancestors were told. A specially commissioned Cromach was presented to him, as a symbol of office as Chief, on which was carved his battle cry ‘Kinchyle’, and the Chief’s Piper played another of the clan’s marches – ‘The Badge o’ McBain’.
We were honoured to have John Mackintosh of Mackintosh, President of Clan Chattan with us, who gave an excellent address, welcoming Richard as the newest chief of the clans of Clan Chattan. Canon Allan Maclean of Dochgarroch gave a Blessing at the conclusion of the ceremony, after which everyone present toasted Richard and the hills rebounded with the shouts of his battle cry ‘Kinchyle!’. The Tomatin Distillery (on the old estate of the MacBeans of Tomatin) generously provided some of their finest whisky for us to drink the toast with, before we moved to the Dores Inn, where we were joined by a very strong wind, seemingly blowing all the way up from the direction of the southernmost reaches of the Loch around Lochaber – the clan’s ancient homeland.
Left to Right: Philip Beddows, Seanachaidh to Clan MacBean, John Mackintosh of Mackintosh, President of Clan Chattan, Richard McBain of McBain, Chief of Clan MacBean, The Rt Hon Dr Joseph Morrow CVO CBE KC DL FRSE, Lord Lyon King of Arms, and Iain McGillivray, Commander of Clan MacGillivray.
On Sunday we gathered to lay wreaths at the Culloden Memorial Cairn, erected in 1881 by Duncan Forbes of Culloden, a cousin of the MacBean and Shaw chiefs. We marched unbowed from the visitor centre to the Cairn, led by Iain MacGillivray and Stewart McBain playing stirring pipe tunes, stopping momentarily to pay our respects at the ‘Well of the Dead’, where a stone marks the spot Colonel Alexander MacGillivray of Dunmaglass (‘Alasdair Ruadh na féile’ – ‘Generous red-haired Alexander’), chief of his clan and commander of Lady Anne Mackintosh’s Regiment, had died. We were honoured and delighted to be joined and welcomed by Cllr Jackie Hendry Deputy Provost of Inverness. At the Cairn we remembered all those men of Clan Chattan who died at the battle including our noble chief Major Gillies ‘Mor’ MacBean, whose gallant death there was forever memorialised by the Gaelic elegy written soon after the battle and later translated and set to music. The epithet ‘Mor’ recollects his formidable height 6ft 4¼ and heroism. We also remembered the other fallen – from both sides. Richard and Iain spoke and laid wreaths in memory of Gillies ‘Mor’ and Alexander – the two cousins who died leading the regiment that fateful day. Afterwards, Iain’s father Duncan MacGillivray played the pibroch ‘The Gathering of Clan Chattan’, the notes echoing across the muir. Paul Macdonald and Mike Smith provided an exciting demonstration of sword fighting and exhibited weaponry from the period.
Richard and Lisa at Culloden.
We completed our weekend full of memories to last a lifetime and more. It was wonderful to have had so much support from other Clan Chattan kin, including David Mackintosh, John Mackintosh of Mackintosh with his family, Donald & Denise McIntosh, Craig McIntosh, John Mackfall, Allan & Anne Maclean of Dochgarroch, and Rex Davidson. Particular thanks to Allan MacBain and his wife Margaret, without whose hard work the gathering would not have happened – during the ceremonies Richard had confirmed Allan’s appointment as a Chieftain of the Clan to represent him in Scotland in his absence; and Allan’s brother John whose work with Antony Swan on the McBain Park and the memorial to Alan Bean is covered elsewhere in ‘Touch Not’. It was fantastic that so many MacBeans had travelled huge distances to be present, as far away as California, to share this wonderful experience with us on this side of the Atlantic, and we particularly appreciated the additional contributions of Larry and Susan Bane and their family. For those unable to be with us, all these events have been captured on videos which can be enjoyed via our new Clan MacBean YouTube Channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@clanmacbean-officialchanne9885/videos
Written for publication in the 2023 edition of ‘Touch Not’, the magazine of The Clan Chattan Association.
First published in Touch Not, the magazine of the Clan Chattan Association, 2023.