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The Ellen Payne Odom Genealogy Library Family Tree
The Family Tree - October/November 2003
Clan Cunningham


Earl of Glencairn and Cunningham Chief Memorial Dedication Ceremony in Edinburgh 11/25/03
International Clan Cunningham Gathering at Balgonie Castle, Scotland 11/27/03

By Larry A. Augsbury, High Commissioner and Chairman of Clan Cunningham Society of America, Inc.

It has been a long journey from my discovery of John Cunningham, 15th Earl of Glencairn’s unmarked grave in the Parish Churchyard of St Cuthbert in Edinburgh on Friday, May 5, 2000, to the dedication ceremony, unveiling and blessing of his memorial tombstone taking place on Tuesday, November 25, 2003. The fate of his original marker remains an unsolved mystery. The dedication ceremony will begin at 10:30AM at St Cuthbert’s Parish Church below Edinburgh Castle, and the unveiling will follow at 11:30AM in St Cuthbert’s churchyard at the memorial. I have commissioned the certified image of the Glencairn Arms from the Lord Lyon King of Arms in Scotland to be carved in granite by memorial artist and stone sculptor Roger C. Seal of Colorado on John Cunningham’s headstone to hereafter and forever mark the resting place of the last Earl of Glencairn and Chief of Clan Cunningham. The Lord Lyon certified Strap-and-Buckle Cunningham Crest Badge is being etched by R. Adrian Dudley on a granite acknowledgement plaque with a list of clansmen donors to recognize those whose contributions helped make this memorial possible. All Cunninghams and loyal supporters are invited to attend this celebration and pay their respects to our last Chief. We hope to someday find our contemporary Chief and have him restored to his rightful place.

Clan Cunningham Society of America (CCSA) is grateful to Reverend T. C. Cuthell of St Cuthbert’s for providing the church in which the dedication ceremony will be held and for performing the blessing service. We are privileged to have the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Rt. Hon. Robin Orr Blair, LVO, WS in attendance as our honored guest. We are delighted that Chief George MacMillan, of Clan MacMillan and his wife Jane have accepted our invitation to attend. They are the owners and residents of Finlaystone, the former seat of Clan Cunningham spanning four centuries. Chief George MacMillan will address the attendees. Scottish musician Keith Johnston will perform the epic ballad of "Malcolm’s Run" written by CCSA member Alison Bucklin which recounts the origins of the motto and shake-fork charge of the Glencairn Arms. Other distinguished guests include the Convenor of Recreation for the City of Edinburgh, Councillor Ricky Henderson and Councillor Bill Cunningham of the Edinburgh City Council, Holyrood Ward, who has also been invited to address us at the dedication. Councillor Bill Cunningham has arranged for a Civic Reception following the dedication to be held at Usher Hall where the City Of Edinburgh will extend its hospitality to their Cunningham visitors with refreshments being provided. We are also considering having the Robert Burns poem, Lament for James, Earl of Glencairn, read by a Scot. James Cunningham was John’s elder brother and the previous Earl of Glencairn, the patron and benefactor of Robert Burns. Members François Redien and his wife Marie Thérèse of the Château de Cherveux in France (which Robert de Conyngham, Captain of the Scots Guard and the King’s Bodyguard for French Kings Charles VII and Louis XI, built around 1470) have expressed their plans to attend, as have Scots Jimmy and Julie Hutchison, also from Cherveux, France. Jimmy has been instrumental in helping with the French translation of the third edition of our Clan Cunningham, Origins, Heritage and Traditions book that will be presented to the Rediens at their French château on November 20, 2003. We also wish to invite the distinguished Scot, Sir Sean Connery to attend and address us. We continue our efforts to contact him.

We have also extended a special invitation to the members of the newly formed Society of the Earl of Glencairn of Cunningham based in London to join us at the dedication ceremony. Their leader Ben Cunningham has been very helpful with arrangements and generous with his time. Their organization is hosting the International Clan Cunningham Gathering two days later on the 27th of November at Balgonie Castle.

There are still a limited number of places available for the Gathering, about ten, so if you would like to join us in Fife Scotland for this four night and three day Gathering with a full day at historic Balgonie Castle for a tour, meeting and feast, please email me for further details at Lapa333@cs.com or write me at 4575 West 111th Avenue, Westminster, CO 80031. Donations for Chief John Cunningham, Earl of Glencairn’s memorial are being accepted at the above address or through Paypal on our web sites at www.clancunningham.us and www.geocities.com/clancunninghamusa/. Come join together with us in our Scottish homeland to share in these momentous Clan Cunningham occasions.


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