As the daylight hours shorten and the estate has its first covering of snow of the winter, our thoughts turn to the milder summer months and the many visits to Castle Forbes that we had from members of the Clan Forbes Society and others. . . some of whom, I hope, have now also joined the Society.
One major achievement on the estate this year has been the restoration work that has been undertaken at the Old Keig Kirkyard in the park at Castle Forbes thanks to the very generous contributions from members of the Society.
This was the site of the village’s original Church of Scotland kirk where several of my ancestors are buried and remembered and where we uncovered some tombstones marking the graves of parishioners dating back to the early part of the 18th century. We very much hope that a notice marking the Society’s involvement in the project will be unveiled by your President during next summer’s official tour.
As you know, the tour includes a visit to the Lonach Gathering in Strathdon on the fourth Saturday in August. This year marked the 200th anniversary of the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society, and the games were honoured by a visit from HM The King who told me later how much he had enjoyed it despite the rather indifferent weather. He was asked to start one of the races and was amused that the starting pistol he had been given inadvertently “mis-fired”!
Lady Forbes joins me in sending our best wishes to all members of the Society for a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Forbes
Castle Forbes
December 2023
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