Loch Ness gathering sees Richard McBain officially installed as Chief of the Clan MacBean
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WITH bagpipes, heraldry and a war cries among the heather, the new Chief of the Clan MacBean was inaugurated on a hillside overlooking Loch Ness.
Richard McBain of McBain, the 23rd hereditary chief of the Clan MacBean, flew from the USA to his clan’s historic heartland in and around Inverness to be “crowned” in the presence of the Lord Lyon of Scotland, Dr Joseph J. Morrow who presides over the Lyon Court which is responsible for the establishment of the rights to coats-of-arms and pedigree and is the Queen's representative in Scotland.
The ceremony was held in McBain Memorial Park, formed by the Chief’s grandfather near Dores.
Several clan chiefs and officers attended along with Leader of the City of Inverness and Area, Clr Ian Brown, standing in for Provost Glynis Sinclair, who was unwell.
Proceedings opened with a tricky procession on the steep ground, that included banner and flag bearers, the Chief’s sword-bearers (Paul MacDonald and Mike Smith) and Philip Beddows the Chief’s Seanachaidh, Gaelic for historian or storyteller.
Chaplain for the day was Allan Maclean of Dochgarroch, one of the Chiefs of the clans of Clan Chattan, accompanied by John Mackintosh of Mackintosh, and Iain MacGillivray Commander of Clan MacGillivray.
The Lord Lyon opened the proceedings and explained what Clan MacBean and Clan Chattan were there to witness and see fulfilled.
Lord Lyon invited the Seanachaidh forward to confirm: "We the Clan MacBean, in the company of our kinsmen of Clan Chattan and other guests have gathered here to proclaim our new Chief, Richard McBain of McBain, whose inheritance is indisputed."
The Lord Lyon then asked Mr McBain a series of questions, about being willing to take up the responsibility and duties of Chief of the Clan MacBean.
After replies in the affirmative, Stewart McBain, played The Badge o’ McBain which was written for the new Chief’s grandfather Hughston McBain of McBain, by the Piper of the Clan McBain Pipe Band of Calgary, Alberta.
The Seanachaidh then presented the Chief with his symbol of office – a specially commissioned cromach or shepherd's crook.
The Chief was told: "The cromach has your battle cry ‘Kinchyle!’ enscribed on it, and at its tip is a carving of a pine cone, a reminder of the name of Kinchyle, ‘Cinn Choill’ ‘Top of the Wood’ or ‘Wood End’."
The ceremony closed with the Seanachaidh toasting his Chief with a dram of Tomatin whisky and shouting "Kinchyle!" - a war cry heartily echoed by the surrounding clansmen.
Earlier a memorial was dedicated to Captain Alan Bean, pilot of NASA’s Apollo 12 module on the second moon landing in 1969.
Capt Bean, the fourth person to walk on the moon, was proud of his Scottish roots, and was the first to take a piece of tartan to the moon and back.
The new Chief’s partner Lisa McFarlane, a planetary scientist, was among the speakers.
