Iain MacNeacail of MacNeacail and Scorrybreac
19 June 1921 – 15 October 2003
It is with heavy heart we report the passing of our much loved Chief, Iain MacNeacail of MacNeacail and Scorrybreac on Thursday 16 October 2003, having suffered a severe stroke earlier in the week. He was 83 years of age. To his family Bobbie (Allan), John, Mac, Lisa (Dillon) and their families go our heartfelt sympathies at this sad time. We hope it will not be long before their heartache will be replaced by good memories of a very special man.
Our Chief, a quiet and distinguished man was always very giving of his time and efforts to our Clan throughout the world. In 1994 he said “I haven’t made a time and motion study, but I would estimate that ninety percent of my extensive correspondence and a good deal of my reading is connected with the Clan.
“Thinking back, I suppose I was about twelve when I was really made aware that my father was a Chief and that some day I would inherit his responsibilities. Although, he was not in a position to travel a great deal, he maintained a steady correspondence with clan members in Scotland, England, the USA, Canada and New Zealand and I was always encouraged to read the letters.”
The 21st Chief of our Clan, Scorrybreac inherited many personal treasures handed down from one generation to the next. “The oldest would be an ancient (c.14th century) single handed sword. Then, there is a delicate wine glass, and a lock of red/gold hair — the latter given, according to family tradition to the ladies of Scorrybreck House by the fugitive Prince Charles (a creditably circumstantial case can be made out for this secret visit that is not mentioned in any history of the Prince’s wanderings in the Hebrides). From the 19th century, we have brooches, dirks, sgian dubhs, a silver mounted hunting horn and a number of miniatures. Tragically, most of the old papers and letters would have been destroyed with Scorrybreck House [on Skye] in the early 1880s.”
Born in 1920, Scorrybreac was brought up on his father’s sheep and cattle property near Campbell Town, a small town some forty miles south of Launceston in northern Tasmania. Educated at Scotch College, Tasmania, from 1931 to 1938, he then joined the staff of a daily paper as a cadet reporter until early 1940 when he volunteered to transfer from the part time militia to the 28th Field Regiment, 9th Division Artillery, A.I.F. He remained with the regiment throughout the war and served in the Middle Eastern campaigns and later in the invasion of North Borneo.
After the war, he returned to the family property and in 1946 married his beloved Pamela. Pam was born in Launceston, Tasmania and educated at Fahan School, Hobart. She enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1941 and served as a radar operator at various Australian stations.
They commenced their farming life on a War Service Settler’s block in northern Tasmania but by 1955, his father’s failing health made it imperative that they should return to manage Scorrybreac, the family property of some 6,000 acres.
Following his father’s death in 1962, he purchased his brother’s interest in Scorrybreac and together with Pam their property continued to produce good quality wool. They also founded a Galloway cattle stud as a side interest.
“In 1967, we suffered an attack of ‘itchy feet’ and decided to widen our horizons (and particularly those of our children) by moving to an undeveloped property some twenty miles north west of Canberra, where our elder daughter Robin was already attending a university. We named this property ‘Kanangra’ and after having a residence built for ourselves and another for our employee, we set to work to establish pastures, to erect some miles of fencing, to bore for stock water, to bulldoze dams. Within a four-year period, we experi- enced two years of severe drought and a marked drop in wool and sheep prices.
“In 1973, we subdivided Kanangra into small farms and farmlets and moved into Canberra where I engaged myself in a type of freelance journalism, researching and writing the scripts for audio tape tours for the Capital, the National War Memorial, various tourist centres in New South Wales and Victoria and for most of Tasmania. At the same time, my wife busied herself with Lifeline and in the care of retarded children in a nearby institution.
“In 1975, seeking the sun, we moved north to a small ‘hobby’ farmlet in Queensland where we grew avocados and I continued with my travel journalism.
“Finally, in 1979, we made our last move when we retired to Ballina.”
Together with Pam, Scorrybreac was a member of Dune Care, an organisation dedicated to the preservation of the beach dunes. This entailed the removal of unwanted exotic plants and shrubs and the planting of a variety of suitable indigenous plants.
Whilst in Canberra Scorrybreac and Pam joined Amnesty International. When they moved north, Pam became much more active in that organisation. For a number of years she was a member of the Urgent Action section, constantly writing letters to many countries in an effort to gain the freedom of prisoners of conscience. Following her death, Scorrybreac took up his pen and continued her campaigns.
It was during this time they “found the time” to concentrate on the revival of our Clan. Under his care our Clan was being raised around the world and they began to travel extensively.
In 1987 part of our Clan ancestral land on Ben Chracaig, which was close to the home for nearly eight centuries of the MacNeacail Chiefs and their clansmen, was put on the open market. MacNicols and Nicolsons the world over formed Urras Clann MhicNeacail (The Clan MacNeacail Trust). It took a great effort worldwide but sufficient monies were raised and our Clan was able to purchase the 130 acres by Ben Chracaig, a most beautiful headland opposite Portree on the Isle of Skye ‘for preservation and public enjoyment’.
Following the purchase of Ben Chracaig it was decided to build a cairn on which all the names of the donors would be recorded. The cairn, was build by Murdo Nicolson from stones sent by Clan Associations all around the world. Scorrybreac at the dedication of the cairn in October 1989 said. “I regard this cairn as a memorial to my father; this because of a small stone incorporated into the face of the cairn — a stone my father (Norman Alexander Nicolson) picked up when visiting the ruins of old Scorrybreck House (in Skye) in 1917 while on furlough from the Western Front. He took it back to Australia and later had it set into the keystone of the main fireplace of our home in Tasmania. When we moved to New South Wales I took the stone with me and now 72 years later, and after a return trip of some 22,000 miles, it has been returned to Skye.” This grand edifice is a drawcard for the many visitors to Skye. Murdo also used his gifted hands to build a wishing well, another highlight on our land.
To help raise funds for the ongoing upkeep involved on Ben Chracaig, Scorrybreac donated a family heirloom, a Davidson Dirk as a prize in an international raffle. All our Clan members appreciated the donation but even more so members of Clan Davidson in Australia — appropriately a member of that clan won it!
The greatest highlight of 1988 was the recognition by the Lord Lyon of our Chief as the only Chief of our Highland Clan thus ending the challenge mounted by Lord Carnock some years earlier. It had been a long, drawn out battle that Iain MacNeacail of MacNeacail and Scorrybreac, his charming wife Pam and his family had had to endure. Whilst they must have drawn some comfort from the worldwide support extended to Scorrybreac, those of us who followed this case will know of the heartache and anxieties our Chief had to endure. It was, therefore, all the more rewarding for us to be able to cry “Hail to the Chief!”
In May 1992 there was a Dedication on the Isle of Skye to mark the birthplace of Christianity in Britain and the place of 28 Nicolson Chief’s burial sites known locally as St. Columba’s Isle. It had been restored under the care and direction of Dr. Alisdair Maclean. This dedication was attended by the Nicholson Pipe Band from America, a strong contingent of Clans folk from America and Canada, and indeed the world.
The same year the Scorrybreac Woodlands Planting Scheme for Ben Chracaig was undertaken and again the Clan members donated monies. Regrettably the weather on Skye is not as co-operative as our members and the reforestation of our land is an ongoing challenge.
Together Scorrybreac and Pam travelled extensively in eastern Australia and were Guests of Honour at Sydney Scottish Week on many occasions, and at the Bundanoon Highland Gathering in April 1995.
Much of their time was involved with the Clan, travelling on many overseas trips (despite Pam’s dislike of flying), often to Highland Gatherings, including four in the United States and one in Canada and a visit to New Zealand. They made seven trips to Skye for Clan Meetings and Ceilidhs, indeed at the time of her passing, Pam and Scorrybreac were anticipating their next trip to Skye. Sadly Scorrybreac’s beloved Pam passed away on Saturday, 3rd June, 1995. He sorely missed his soul mate, her delicious sense of humour, her keen sense of the ridiculous, which meant there had always been much laughter in their life together.
Following gentle persuasion from his family, in November 1995 Scorrybreac travelled to Skye, this time accompanied by his son John Nicolson Younger of Scorry- breac and daughter-in-law Jenni, and elder daughter Bobbi Allan. In many ways it was a bittersweet trip but it gave him the opportunity to introduce his family to many more clan officers and members from Scotland, USA, Canada, England and Germany. Needless to say, his family was entranced by Skye and greatly appreciated the hospitality accorded them everywhere. It was a charmed beginning to Scorrybreac’s solo life as Chief of our Clan.
Scorrybreac attended various events with the members of the Queensland Branch; the Australasian Clan Gathering in Canberra in October 1996 and a Clan Gathering in Perth, WA on 13th September, 1997.
Two weeks later he flew to Scotland. It was during this latter tour he met up with old friends; paid a visit to the Lyon Clerk at the Court of the Lord Lyon; and enjoyed lunch with David Sellar of the University of Edinburgh who had spent much time in researching and compiling the history of our clan in the West Highlands and Islands.
Our Clan was quickly moving forward and it was with pride all Clan MacNicol Members were told “The Chief of Clan MacNicol, Iain MacNeacail of MacNeacail and Scorrybreac, has announced that the Highland Clan MacNeacail Federation has been formed and that a Grant of ArmshasbeenmadetotheFederation,underLettersPatent dated 6 January 1997, by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.” It was a momentous occasion that gave him great pleasure.
He felt great pride on learning our Highland Clan MacNeacail Federation had been accepted as a “Founder” of the new Scottish Museum thanks to a most generous donation made to the Museum on behalf of our Clan Federation by Burke Nicholson of Balvenie and Harman Nicholson of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Scorrybreac and his son John Nicolson Younger of Scorrybreac, together with Burke and his wife Juliet attended the “Founders Weekend” which proved to be a very grand event, thoroughly enjoyed by all.
From Edinburgh he travelled ‘home again’ to Skye, to the warm hospitality of Jan and Effie Nicolson, meeting up with the many close friends, the extended family, which make up Clan MacNicol. Here too he again met up with his friend Dr. Alasdair Maclean the co-author of our much respected clan history book.
In 1998 there was another well deserved further recognition of the heraldic and Scorrybreac’s Chiefly status with the following announcement “We are very pleased to announce that by his warrant of 28 May 1998, the Lord Lyon King of Arms has approved a grant to Iain MacNeacail of MacNeacail and Scorrybreac of Supporters a Plant Badge and a Pinsel. He has also approved a Change of Motto.”
At the time the Chief’s old Standard, his chiefly Headquarters Flag, four yards in length, was modified to include the Plant Badge, a bramble in flower Proper (Proper means in natural colour), and our motto was changed from Generositate non Ferocitate to Meminisse sed Providere (Remember, but Look Ahead). Again the generosity of
Burke Nicholson of Balvenie came to the fore and our Clan was presented with the newly granted Pinsel, a four and one-half feet length and two feet high flag, which show the Chief’s Crest (a Hawk’s Head) and within a circlet his Motto and chiefly title, as well as his Plant Badge.
Sadly, Scorrybreac’s health began to fail and he was not well enough to continue his travels. It was both Scorrybreac’s and our Clan’s great fortune that John Nicolson Younger of Scorrybreac and his charming wife Jenni were willing to represent Scorrybreac on many occasions including the Clan MacNicol International Gatherings in Atlanta, USA; Melbourne, Australia; Skye, Scotland and California, USA.
Early 1999 Scorrybreac received his first copy of the Clan History Book “The Highland Clan of MacNeacail (MacNicol), a History of Nicolsons of Scorrybreac,” which had been financed and painstakingly edited by Harman Nicholson of Atlanta, USA. Much to the delight of Scorrybreac, Harman’s generosity resulted in the book being given to all members of the Clan throughout the world. All members shared in Scorrybreac’s pride of knowing we hold a well researched, documented history of our ancient Clan in our hands.
In 2000 Scorrybreac was pleased to learn of the formation of a committee in Scotland to oversee the more widespread implementation and involvement of the Clan in Scotland and the continued support for the upkeep of the Clan land at Ben Chracaig.
Time was taking its toll on our Chief, and much to his delight people turned the tide and began coming to him. He had always had many visitors, and they were always assured of a warm welcome and great hospitality. His pleasure in having even more visitors was evident. The Queenslanders in particular travelled down to Ballina for lunch for an early Christmas celebration in 2000. It was a delightful interlude, a chance for Scorrybreac to catch up on all the family news of each and everyone there.
2001 saw the establishment of the steering committee for Clan MacNicol Australia and representatives of all the branches in Australia travelled to Ballina for the inaugural meeting.
His body was letting him down, and at times he would be frustrated that his memory was not quite “up to scratch” on odd occasions, and his hearing made telephone conversation a little amusing at times. This said, usually his brain was in top gear, his keen interest in everything around him, in everyone emotionally near and dear to him — the people he loved and loved him span the world — was unabated.
We have not only lost a Chief we have lost a treasured friend, a linchpin that held together a widespread clan in warm kinship, caring and understanding.
The word gentleman is often casually used, but when- ever we think of Scorrybreac we are indeed thinking of a gentle man. That gentleness never failed him, his physical and moral strength has been evident in his service to his country and to the wider community within Australia and throughout the world; his mental and emotional strength is unquestioned as he negotiated the many trials and tribulations that accompanied the challenge to his position as our Chief; in victory he was gracious.
Above all he was a devoted family man, his love for and pride in his family was always evident. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfa- ther — he rejoiced in their successes felt for them in sorrows but most important of all he always, always listened to and loved them.
Contributed by Penny Nicoll, with thanks to Robin Mahon of the USA for the first-person texts recorded in her report published in 1994.