​A message from Anne McDonald of the Captain Barclay Allardice Society:
I am sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings but my fellow Trustees and I have just made the sad decision to postpone our Annual Lunch to 2022 due to the current Scottish Government rules with regard to this awful pandemic. The infection rate is increasing again over many parts of Scotland. The Government rules mean that we are currently restricted with regard to how many people can meet for any reason at an indoor venue.
The guest speaker who was due to deliver a talk on the Street Names of Stonehaven in 2020, and then again this year, has very kindly agreed to be patient with us and he will deliver his long awaited talk at our 2022 Lunch which is scheduled to be held on the first Sunday in September at a yet to be decided upon venue in the Aberdeen area.
I hope that you and all your family are keeping safe and well in these difficult times and that we may be able to meet in 2022.

​We are sad to report that Marc Ellington, owner of Towie Barclay Castle, passed away on 17 February 2021. Marc was an award-winning master of restoration of historic buildings, bringing the dilapidated Towie Barclay Castle back to life after 200 years of neglect, and sharing his expertise with other builders and craftsmen through his Scottish Traditional Skills Training Centre. On a personal note, Marc was a gracious host and a talented storyteller. There is a cliché that comes to mind: “If these walls could talk, the stories they would tell.”  Upon visiting Towie Barclay Castle, history radiated from its walls and Marc told the stories. He made sure those walls could talk. Marc had a unique gift for making new acquaintances feel like old friends, and he will be missed by the countless people who counted him as a friend, whether they knew him for minutes or years.

NOTE: Chief Peter sends his support for our Barclay Derbhfine 2021. Please find more information below.

​Of the numerous pre-sixteenth century Barclay lineages, including Kilbirnie-Ladyland, Kippo, Perceton, Collairnie, Touch, Gartly, Mathers and Towie, as well as their cadets, only the houses of Ury and Towie have recognized chiefs. This then begs the question - where are the missing Barclay chiefs? By rights, each house should have their own chief and from this body should a Clan Chief be selected. Clan members have expressed the desire to restore the Barclay family to our rightful place within the Scottish family network and those of us who want to see this goal achieved have initiated the process necessary to accomplish it. In support of this effort, a survey has been developed for all those of the Barclay name or who have hereditary connections to the Barclay family. This survey is to understand the depth of support, within the world-wide network of Barclays, for accomplishing said goal. It will help demonstrate, we believe, there is a world-wide desire to restore the Barclay family to its rightful place within the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. 

​The path that we are recommending is to hold a Barclay Family Convention (or Derbhfine) on-line during 2021. The family convention would have the intent of selecting proposed chiefs of each house and to select a Clan Commander to lead the clan as searches continue to identify and select a candidate Clan Barclay Chief. The Commander will be selected to serve a term of at least two years which can be extended if necessary. The purpose behind the appointment of a Commander is for that person to provide a focus to take the family forward and to encourage any potential chiefs to gather the evidence needed to take their case before the Lord Lyon. A Commander acts as head of the family and would need to be prepared to be more than a figure head. He or she would be expected, in this position, to attend gatherings of the wider family and to represent the name at events. 

Please complete the survey below by 15 February 2021. If you are interested in attending the Derbhfine and/or being considered for a house chief or the Clan Barclay Commander position, please indicate this on the form. Candidates will be contacted with all pertinent data, updates, requirements, etc. If you know of other Barclay family members or relations, please forward this link to them and encourage their participation.