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The Douglas Diaries: Stories from around the world
Every month we choose a Scottish Clan to celebrate and throughout March we have discovered all sorts of intriguing tales and met some very interesting characters from Clan Douglas. We received some amazing stories over the course of the month from members of the clan all over the world. We are delighted to share our favourite tales with you and the rest of the clan today!
Brian J. Douglas
Brian J. Douglas got in touch from Madrid, Spain, and told us that he often gets some curious looks when wearing his kilt but that doesn't stop him wearing it with pride!
My great-grandfather was the last Scotland-born Douglas of our line, but we are all proud scots (supporting the national rugby team as well as loving to sport our kilts whenever possible). Being a part of such an important clan with, in some cases a dark, but always interesting past, is something one should celebrate and remember. The ancient colour tartan is a bit different to other tartans and more unusual, which one always gets asked about. Great to be able to put our surname on the map every so often!
Matthew Douglas
Matthew is the North Texas Regent of the Clan Douglas Society of North America (CDSNA) and told us about his proud family heritage, both in America and in Scotland. You can find out more about the Clan Douglas Society of North America and how to get involved here. Below, Matthew describes his experience of travelling to Scotland for the Douglas gathering in 2009, as well as all of the Douglas landmarks he managed to visit which might sound familiar after our month of Douglas celebrations!
The Gathering in 2009 was an amazing experience, and not like anything else I've ever attended, either before or since. We have Scottish Festivals here in the States, and some of them are quite large and elaborate, but none of them compare to that event. To be able to have a gathering of the clans in Edinburgh(which was the first time it'd been allowed to happen in a couple hundred years) was just a wonder to behold. You had Highland Games, pipe bands everywhere, and even Prince Charles came and spoke at the opening ceremony. Probably my favourite event of the Gathering though, was the Parade of the Clans up the Royal Mile from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle(I've attached a couple of pictures). I don't think the organizers were expecting that many people to march in the parade, or the turnout of people who lined the streets to watch. From some of the reports I read, there were around 8,000 members of all the various clans marching in the parade, and around 20,000 people lined the Royal mile to watch. We chanted 'A Douglas, A Douglas!' all the way up the mile. That is without a doubt my fondest memory of the Gathering.
We stayed a few days after the Gathering and hit some of the Douglas landmarks. We visited the Douglas Heritage Museum, along with St. Bride's Kirk and what's left of Douglas Castle in Douglas. Anyone who's a Douglas and going to Scotland owes it to themselves to make that part of their visit. Mr. Fleming that runs the museum is a wonderful man, and an absolute wealth of knowledge on Clan Douglas. We also visited Melrose Abbey, Stirling Castle, the Bannockburn Memorial and Lochleven Castle. All are places that have ties to Clan Douglas. There are many more, but it's hard to get them all in during a single trip. When I came in 2009, I was a single man coming with my father to learn about my family history. When I visit again, I'll be bringing my son to teach him about where we come from.
Douglas Howard
According to my grandfather I was to take my albeit distant association with the Clan Douglas seriously. This tattoo is on my left shoulder. Not too certain what else I could do in terms of following his directive. I've had it for over 20 years... it could perhaps do with a wee bit of sharpening by now I suppose. Regardless, those that don't know always ask... and those that do, don't.
People love to celebrate being part of a clan in different ways and we love Douglas' way of doing so. A clan tattoo is certainly the kind of dedication we love to see here at ScotlandShop!
Mario and Maria Simonsen
Mario and Maria Simonsen proudly represent Clan Douglas all the way from Brazil. They can be seen on the wonderful photo above showcasing their Douglas tartan and Maria told us that they can't wait to visit Scotland one day!
Victoria Louise Scholes
Douglas is a clan represented all around the world and Victoria proudly represents Belgium! Although born and bred in Newcastle upon Tyne, Victoria and her family have lived in Belguim for over 20 years.
My family on my mother's side descends from the Douglas clan. A coat of arms always hung in the hall way at home and our mother was very proud of it. When I was born, the name that my parents had already picked for me didn't fit, so James Douglas became Victoria Louise! My Dad gave up hoping for a son and became very happy and proud to have his three girls.
Luckily I have 2 boys now and the youngest bears the name Oscar Peter Douglas. I have always loved visiting Scotland and wear my tartan with pride. The Douglas wrap was sent to me on my 50th birthday from my dear sisters.
Harold Edington
One of the most interesting Clan Douglas stories we covered throughout the month, and one that is certainly up for debate, is whether the clan should have a Chief? Harold, who is Regional Assistant Vice President for the Clan Douglas Society of North America, shared his thoughts regarding the topic.
In my opinion, there may never again be a Chief of the House of Douglas. Any petition to the Lyon Court for recognition will be met with opposition by at least one of the other contenders. Any final resolution would require a prolonged and bank-breaking court battle and/or pronouncement of Parliament – much like in the Douglas Cause. I imagine the entire issue could be laid to rest, if the Crown were to invest one of the principal stakeholders with the title of “Duke of Douglas.” I have to believe that the House of Douglas will continue to endure… even without a Chief.
For me, the lack of a Chief is less problematic than the lack of leadership within the House of Douglas. Currently, there are a few Douglas societies all over the world but each one exists independently and without any real oversight. It would be wonderful if all of these were somehow united under a single banner, but without a Chief, that does not seem likely. For me, this is reminiscent of the 1995 movie Braveheart moment when Wallace is trying to convince Bruce to assume the role of leader and king.
The Council of Chieftains could decide on a Douglas clan crest – whether to use the “salamander in flames on a cap of maintenance” (more representative of the ‘Red’ Douglas branch), the “crowned, winged heart of Bruce” (more representative of the Drumlanrig/Queensberry branch), or some other different and new mutually agreed upon symbol. The Council could create a list of approved Sept and Allied Families names that all the Douglas societies would use.
I do not know if it would be possible for the nine gentlemen named earlier as modern contenders for the seat of Chief of the House of Douglas to sit as equals on a Council of Chieftains but I do believe that their doing so would be the best alternative for the Chief-less House of Douglas. If just two or three of them would accept the challenge to create a Council of Chieftains, perhaps the Lord Lyon could offer some form of official recognition to the Council. Yes … this is a radical suggestion and a major “What if…” but it could also be THE solution for a Scottish House that has been Chief-less for nearly 250 years (and not for lack of a candidate). With the creation of a Council of Chieftains, one other major potential consequence of choosing a chief could be avoided: no family organization currently with one of these gentlemen as their chief would be disenfranchised through the loss of their chief.
Whether you agree or disagree with Harold's thoughts, why not get involved with the debate and let us know your thoughts?
Even though our celebrations of Clan Douglas for our clan of the month are coming to an end, our love for this powerful clan will never end. We always love to hear customer clan stories, so if you have any Douglas tales that you want to share with us, please get in touch!
