Where and when?

[William Douglas]

Stirling Council and partners are building an exciting programme of events as 2014 – the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn and Scotland’s second Year of Homecoming - approaches.

This special year will also see nearby Glasgow host the Commonwealth Games, and the world’s best golfers gather at Gleneagles for the Ryder Cup, just 30 minutes away.

Stirling, at the very heart of Scotland, is home to the historic Bannockburn battlefield, the National Wallace Monument, and one of the country’s greatest castles. It’s also a contemporary city offering great leisure and shopping, surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery Scotland has to offer. The ideal base for a Year of Homecoming adventure.

Two major events are planned:

• A packed week of activities around Bannockburn 700 ( 23 – 29 June), featuring re-enactments and the official opening of the National Trust for Scotland’s new Visitor Centre. 

• Plans for Clans 2014, an international gathering of the clans (11 – 13 July 2014) are taking shape, to include a Clans Village, a cavalcade procession between the Village and Stirling Castle, and entertainment on the spectacular Castle Esplanade. There would also be a programme of musical and other cultural events in venues across the city. Clans 2014 will run alongside the Sekonda Stirling Highland Games. There will be a link-up with the Bannockburn Battlefield site to give visitors another opportunity to commemorate the special 700th anniversary.

Could Stirling or Bannockburn be a venue - either June or July?  Or are the Douglas links not strong enough?

See also: http://www.stirling2014.co.uk

[Beryl Turner]

Are there venues nearby with specific Douglas significance? I don't know the geography at all. The Logical date seems to be early July.

[Douglas Heritage Museum]

 I suppose I am kinda lucky living in Scotland and in the village of Douglas. May I extend a welcome to all to visit our local museum (Douglas Heritage) where you will be warmly welcomed and given a tour of Old St Brides, the ancestral church of the Douglas family.

 

 regards

billy

[Mark Thaddeus Douglas]

If attending,  July dates beat out June dates for me.

[William Douglas]

Beryl,

The Stirling links are that The Good Sir James, and presumably other Douglases, fought alongside Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn in 1314, and, in 1452, William, 8^th Earl of Douglas, was invited under the protection of the king to Stirling Castle. The intention was to persuade William to break some alliances felt to be against the royal interest. When he refused James could not contain his anger, the king drew his dagger and stabbed William twenty nine times before throwing his body from the window. This is traditionally said to have taken place in the King's Old Building but this had not yet been built. It may have been in an earlier building on the same site.

I am also looking at the possibility of holding the event in the village of Douglas, where there is a Douglas heritage museum, St Bride's Church, the monument to the Earl of Angus and the remains of Douglas Castle. Their Gala week is in the 2nd half of July, which might be a tie in.

Other options include Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfriesshire, and Dalmahoy, near Edinburgh.

[Tammie Arundell Foster]

Hi William, as i will be in Scotland in June 2014 for the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.. I will only be in Gods county for a few weeks, June would suit me more that July....Would be nice to attended this event

[William Douglas]

Tammie,  Although nothing is fixed, July is looking more likely.  But maybe we should arrange a Bannockburn get together for Douglases anyway.

[Tammie Arundell Foster]

I will be back in Australia by July :(  so i will not be attending the gathering. But will see you all at Bannockburn in June 2014......Clan Douglas Australia

[William Douglas]

Map of Douglas Historical Sites

I have started work (one of several ongoing projects) on a map showing sites in Scotland, and elsewhere, connected with the Douglases.

This very much work in progress, so do not expect too much...

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=203912042207921082858.0004ae76...

[Kim Douglas-Reid]

Hi William, 

Well done on the organising of this event.  I'm okay for the Bannockburn dates in June and  I will be staying for a few weeks as my husband is from Dundee and his family is still there. The village sounds good and the re-enactment too.  I am looking forward to it..

[Kim Douglas-Reid]

Hi  Is there any further development for the dates of the clan gathering in 2014. 

[William Douglas]

No decision yet.

I am waiting to discover more about the 'Clan Day' at the Bannockburn event, and the last I heard was that there were to be only 30 clan tents, with no indication to whom they were to be allocated. Also there are concerns that if this event is taken over by nationalist/independence fervour, then those living in England will feel unwelcome.

There is also the possibility of a clan event at Glamis Castle, which has Douglas connections, but there are as yet no details.

so, we are still on hold.

What do you thing we should do?

William