The Armstrong Clan Society
Dedicated to the Armstrongs, Crosiers, Fairbairns, Grosiers, Nixons and those interested in these surnames
The Armstrong Clan Society offers you One Hundred Thousand Welcomes!
The Armstrong Clan Society has been organized to:
1) Seek friendship and unity among Armstrongs and associated families.
2) Provide for the preservation of Armstrong artifacts unique to the family and to maintain a library.
3) Serve as a genealogical and historical recorder of the membership,
4) Provide quarterly news, Armstrong history and genealogy via The Armstrong Chronicles,
5) Establish geographic membership representation.
Membership
All Armstrongs, Croziers, Fairbairns, Groziers and Nixons, regardless of spelling, and their descendants, are eligible for full membership in The Society. All others interested in furthering the goals of The Society may become associate members. In the United States and Canada, dues are $25 per year, including two adults and all minor children. In all other countries dues are $35 per year, payable in US funds.
You can click here to download a membership application. Any questions? Email Peter Armstrong at parmstrong2@sc.rr.com Summerville, SC 29485
Braemar (Scotland) Gathering
By Bill Armstrong, Past President and Webmaster
My wife, Janet, and I were blessed with the opportunity to attend the Braemar Gathering on our recent trip to the Scottish Borders and Highlands. This was our first trip to the "old sod" together. Both of us having visited in a "past life" (with former spouses). The weather was cool and a bit overcast, but quite pleasant. The Braemar Gathering is the only gathering sponsored by HRH The Queen (See small photos below). The Braemar site is close to Balmoral Castle in the midlands of Scotland.
As you can see by the pictures below, the "gatherings" in Scotland are quite different than the "games" in North America. The North American games are focused on Clans, Pipe Bands, Dancing, and "Scottish" athletics. The Scottish Gatherings are more focused on general athletics with clans playing a relatively minor role. There were very few "clan tents" at Braemar. There were a large number of "track and field" events open to all those who register. Sack races, 100, 220, 440 yard 1/2 mile, and one and two mile races, long jump, hop skip and jump, etc. in both Open and Handicap events. Cash prizes, up to several hundred pounds, were awarded to winners of certain track and field events. The most surprising, and impressive, event was the hill (mountain) run which went from the field to the top of the mountain (shown in the sack race picture below) and back to the field starting line. The vertical rise was stated to be about 2,000 ft by the locals sitting next to us.
The better seating was the reserved seats in both covered and uncovered areas. Lucky for us there was only an occasional light drizzle for our games. Other seating was "open" in bleacher seats on the right in the picture below. If you are plan to attend, plan early and purchase admission and seating as soon as they go on sale on the internet or by phone.. The Gathering takes place on a Saturday near the end of August each year.
New Aug 18, 2008