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“The Clan Home Association hosted a Gathering over the past
weekend (August 16th/17th) which was
attended by Homes and Humes from all over the UK as well as from
overseas, with a strong contingent from the USA. The convenor
of the association, Dr Ian Maitland Hume, said that:
‘We were particularly fortunate to enjoy two days of dry
weather, which allowed those events out-of-doors to proceed as
planned. Our Annual General Meeting once again took place at
the Hirsel, presided over by our chief the Earl of Home. The
association took its present form following our last Gathering
there five years ago. Members enjoyed lunch and the
hospitality of the Earl and Countess of Home before proceeding
to Hume Castle. The main event of the afternoon was the
raising of the Home Banner on the castle’s new flagpole, so that
once again the Lion Rampant argent on a green field flew from
the battlements, possibly for the first time since Cromwell’s
Colonel Fenwick destroyed it in 1651. We were glad to welcome
Jim Hume, one of the MSP’s for the South of Scotland, to the
ceremony and the tea that followed within the castle walls.
45 members attended the formal dinner at Paxton House, which
took place in the elegant setting of the Picture Gallery and the
occasion was enhanced by nearly all present wearing the Home
tartan as some part of their dress. Sunday’s events included
an extensive coach tour of Berwickshire during which members
visited properties and places associated with name historically,
with a commentary given by the convenor. The site of Blacadder
House recalled the more violent days of Blacadder Castle and its
acquisition by the Homes of Wedderburn. The de la Bastie
monument at Broomhouse reminded us of the revenge sought by the
Homes for the execution of Lord Home in 1517, through the
killing of the imposed warden of the East March and the
well-known trials and tribulations which Sir Patrick Hume of
Polwarth endured whilst he hid in the crypt of Polwarth Kirk
were recalled as we visited the kirk which he substantially
restored once he had become the Earl of Marchmont.
The more peaceful times of the 18th century were
celebrated with a visit to Marchmont House, where we enjoyed a
picnic lunch, through the courtesy of the new proprietors. The
skies where wonderfully clear when we stopped at Scott’s View,
before making our way to Cowdenknowes to admire the very
attractive exterior, the principal part of which was built by
Sir James Home of Cowdenknowes in 1574, and from which line the
present earl descends. The afternoon ended with tea in the
Mellerstain House tea room, where the Earl of Haddington gave us
a much appreciated description of the part played by his
forebear, Lady Grizell Baillie – the daughter of Sir Patrick
Hume, in commissioning William Kent to design the first stage of
the building of Mellerstain House.
The Gathering ended with an informal supper at Wedderburn
Castle, which included members of the Home-Robertson family, the
proceedings being rounded off by a superb hour of music from
Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis, the duo now celebrated for
singing their version of Auld Lang Syne in the recent film hit
‘Sex and the City’; Mairi is currently also the Scots Singer of
the Year. The relaxed family atmosphere of the whole Gathering
weekend concluded with a rousing reel and a determination to
meet again soon.’
Clan Chief and Convenor
The Home Banner
Members at the Hirsel |
