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Clan MacLennan are a multi-talented family, boasting impressive skills in a wide range of fields including sports, the military, and music. If you are lucky enough to be a MacLennan yourself, or have historical links to the clan, we hope you will be just as impressed by the achievements of your peers as we are!
Meet the Famous MacLennans
Ian Roy MacLennan
Clan MacLennan have long been admired for their bravery, valor, and military prowess, traits that are exemplified by Ian Roy MacLennan.
Born in 1916 in Saskatchewan, Canada, MacLennan enlisted in the Royal Canadian Airforce in October of 1940. He completed his training in June 1941, arriving in England that same summer. He embarked on a career as a sergeant pilot, flying Spitfires with the 401 RCAF squadron over France. However, in 1942 he damaged an aircraft in an accident, causing him to fall out of favour with his commanding officer. The irritated officer suggested that MacLennan volunteer to fight against the Axis forces during the Siege of Malta. So, on the 9th of July 1942, MacLennan and 31 other pilots set off towards Malta on the aircraft carrier, HMS Eagle.
MacLennan flew with the No. 1435 Squadron, where he impressed his superiors and was promptly promoted from flight sergeant to flight lieutenant. During his time in Malta, he shot down 7 enemy aircraft, becoming an Ace.
After the siege ended, MacLennan returned home to Canada to rest, before joining the 443 RCAF squadron as a flight commander. On the 7th of June 1944, while covering the D-Day landings, his Spitfire was hit, and he was forced to land on the beach behind enemy lines. He was captured and sent to Stalag Luft III.
In January 1945, as the end of the war loomed and the Soviet army approached, the Germans began evacuating prisoners, intending to send them to other camps to prevent them from being liberated. MacLennan was put on a southbound train with other Prisoners of War, but managed to make a daring escape near the Austrian border. He slowly made his way towards American lines, hiding out in farms until he found his way to safety.
After the war, he returned to Canada, where he attended the University of Toronto to study a degree in architecture. He was mentored by renowned architect, Eric Arthur, and focused primarily on producing affordable housing. In 1961, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, becoming one of the youngest members to ever be elected!
Rosannagh MacLennan
Rosannagh MacLennan, known as Rosie, is a celebrated Canadian trampolinist. Born in the township of King, Ontario, in 1988, she comes from an impressive line of athletes! Her grandfather, Lorne Aldon Patterson, qualified as a gymnast for the 1940 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, but did not end up competing as the games were cancelled with the outbreak of World War II. He passed on his love for sport to his grand daughter, giving her the following piece of inspirational advice:
‘The most important moments in your life are not just that final moment, but the cumulative moments leading up to it - on your way, do not forget to stop, enjoy and appreciate the journey.’
MacLennan seemed to take this advice on board, starting trampolining at the age of 7, taking part in her first international competition just 4 years later, and winning the Canadian title in 2005, at 16 years old.
In 2006, she paired with her training partner, Karen Cockburn, in synchronised trampoline. The duo went on to enjoy great success, winning 8 consecutive world cup events and the world title in Quebec in 2007.
MacLennan then earned a place on Canada’s team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she placed 3rd in the qualification round, but eventually placed 7th in the final.
MacLennan returned to the Olympic stage in 2012, winning gold, and making history as Canada’s first ever Olympic gold medal winner in trampolining. She remained at the top of her game in the years that followed, reaching the top of the world rankings in 2013, and winning the world title in Bulgaria.
In the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, MacLennan carried Canada’s flag in the opening ceremony, and retained her title, becoming the first trampolinist ever to win back to back Olympic gold medals.
MacLennan announced her retirement in December of 2022, having undeniably secured her place among the greatest gymnasts in history.
George Steward McLennan
Clan MacLennan have been renowned for their musical talent since the early 16th century, when they served as official town pipers in Inverness. George Steward McLennan followed in this hallowed tradition.
McLennan was born on the 9th of February 1883 in Edinburgh to a long line of prominent pipers. He began learning his craft at a very early age, starting to take piping lessons with his father at the age of 4, before going on to receive tuition from his uncle Pipe Major John Stewart. His talent quickly became apparent, and he won the Amateur National Championship at the age of 9, and was invited to play for Queen Victoria herself at Balmoral Castle!
His father enlisted him in the Gordon Highlanders in October of 1899, and he went on to become Pipe Major of the 1st Battalion in 1905, one of the youngest to ever serve in the British Army. He also entered several competitions, further honing his talents. He enjoyed a lot of success, winning the gold medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban in 1904, and at the Northern Meeting in Inverness in 1905.
By this point, McLennan was a revered name in the musical community and had formed close friendships with other respected musicians, enjoying a friendly rivalry with Willie Ross, and sharing prize money with William Lawrie.
McLennan married Nona Lucking on the 3rd of April 1912, and together the pair had 2 sons, George and John, who would both also go on to become pipers with the Gordon Highlanders!
McLennan was posted in Aberdeen until 1918, when he joined the war effort, going to the Western Front to succeed Pipe Major Tom Henderson. After the war ended, he returned to Aberdeen, using his expertise to begin a new career as a bagpipe maker.
He died on the 31st of May 1929, and 20,000 people lined the route of the funeral procession, showing how beloved and respected he was within the community.
That brings us to the end of this month’s Famous Faces blog, we hope you are feeling more informed about the impressive Clan MacLennan, and maybe even inspired yourself by their great achievements!
To learn more about the MacLennans, head over to our Clan MacLennan page, and don’t forget to keep an eye out for the rest of our Clan MacLennan content.
Image Sources:
Second World War variant of the squadron badge By SOLIDKREATE - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Rosannagh MacLennan at the Olympic Heroes Parade in Toronto (September 2012) by Madchester at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Willie Ross on the left, with G. S. McLennan in the middle and John Macdonald of Inverness on the right by Unknown author - http://pipetunes.ca/digging-deeper/the-old-players-on-78/ross-gs-macdonald900/, Public Domain
