Peter Pininski

At its annual lunch after the Culloden Memorial Service, the Clan Association had an inspiring speaker in Peter Pininski. Peter told of his meticulous research through the Ftrench and Polish archives to identify the fact that he was a direct descendant of Charles Edward Stuart's daughter Charlotte. Charlotte in a secret relationship with Ferdinand de Rohan who was an archbishop and a member of one of the greatest families in France gave birth to two daughters and a son. Only the middle child, Marie Victoire de Rohan had a child and he was Antime, Chevalier de Nikorowitz (1806-1852). He married the daughter of an Austrian army officer and his daughter married Count Leonard Pininski (1824-1886). Peter is a great-great grandson of Count Leonard. In the next blog I will summarise Peter's connection with the Camerons. The picture shows Peter addressing the Clan Association at the Cawdor Tavern on Saturday, 19th April 2008.

The Clan Cameron Flagstone

One of the features of the new visitor centre at Culloden Moor is the pathway to the front door from the carpark. The flagstones are from Caithness stone and each one has been bought and dedicated by someone who wants to remember or be remembered. The Clan Cameron Association Scotland bought a stone at the very outset of the process. This stone cost £150.00. Subsequently, the National Trust for Scotland advertised much bigger stones for clans. These cost £1500.00. I like to think that ours represents a discretion which reflects our clan. Otherwise you might say we were mean!! Any views?

Culloden 08

There was an interesting symmetry in the memorial service at Culloden, today - Saturday 19th April. The main speaker was the Broadcaster and scholar John Alex MacPherson who is a native of North Uist. However John Alex has spent much of his life in Canada and currently lives on Cape Breton Island. In his speech, John Alex referred to the parallel service taking place at Pictou in Nova Scotia. When Elizabeth and I were in Nova Scotia in July 2007 we visited the cairn which is modelled on the one at Culloden. It is a touching reflection that on both sides of the Atlantic, people of all clans and indeed no clans remember with respect and admiration those who fought and died in support of the Stuart claim to the throne of Britain.