Lady
Margaret Cameron
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Colonel Sir Donald
Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron and Lady Margaret |
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Margaret Doris Gathorne-Hardy, better known to Scots worldwide as Lady Margaret Cameron, passed away March 12, 2006 at her home, Achnacarry Castle, near Fort William, Inverness-shire, Scotland. Born in 1913, she was the daughter of Colonel the Honorable Nigel and Doris Gathorne-Hardy. Her eldest son, Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel, XXVII Chief of Clan Cameron, shared his memories of Clan Cameron’s Lady Dowager: "She was such a sparky woman and the centre of the family. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and very supportive of my father throughout his life. The clan was very important in their lives and she travelled with him to New Zealand and America, and she loved it." Besides co-hosting numerous International Gatherings of Clan Cameron, over a 45 year period at Achnacarry, Margaret reciprocated by traveling with her husband to a myriad of Clan Cameron Association and Scottish events. In addition to those based in Scotland and England, these grand journeys included Tauranga, New Zealand in 1969; Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina in 1972; Los Angeles, California in 1975; Stone Mountain, Georgia in 1980; Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1983; New Zealand in 1986; and Orlando, Florida in 1992. During these visits, Lochiel and Lady Margaret were recognized as Honored Guests, and endeared men, women and children with their generosity, approachability and friendship. Lady Margaret was especially well received by the ladies of Clan Cameron. Special luncheons were thrown in her honor and life-long friendships were developed by those patient women whose lot in life was quite similar; they were all married to Cameron men. Clan Cameron Association North America’s Founding Commissioner, Dr. Harold Cameron, once wrote of Lady Margaret’s Grandfather Mountain visit in 1972: "Before going up to the Mountain, Lochiel and Lady Margaret stayed for a few days with the Hobbs’ in Shelby. I still remember Lady Margaret on the floor of their living room with Helen and the ladies, cutting out and sewing a Lochiel Banner for the parade." Past North American Commissioner and Lifetime Chieftain Donald J. Cameron and his wife Beverly shared the following tale: "Another pleasant experience was in our trip from Charlotte to Stone Mountain with Sir Donald and Lady Margaret. Lady Margaret and Beverly were in the back seat and after an hour or so conversation lapsed and after a comfortable silence she said to Beverly: ‘people don't have to talk all the time to be good friends...’ This is an instance that demonstrated how Sir Donald and Lady Margaret could be ‘just down home folks’ and how warm and friendly they really were. Now that they are gone, we will miss them very much." Such was the charm of Clan Cameron’s "First Lady," who was universally loved and inevitably described by clansfolk as "charming and genuine." Once again, in the words of her son Donald: "She was always very much up for the clan gatherings - it was a team effort." In her early years - before the outbreak of World War II - Margaret worked in Germany and was later employed by the security services in the UK at the beginning of the conflict. Over the years she was also closely involved with the community in Fort William and worked for charities including the MS Society in Lochaber and the Red Cross. Other duties, such as the 1960 commissioning of the "Loch Arkaig," a former inshore minesweeper converted for passenger, mail and excursion duties around Mallaig, were also joyfully performed by her over the years. Lady Margaret leaves two sons, Donald and Johnny, and two daughters, Anne and Caroline, in addition to 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her funeral will be held on Tuesday March 21st at St Andrew's Church, Fort William, at 2:30 pm. |
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