NEWS

This is a new events and news page to keep our members and friends up to date with what is happening. It’s an edition to the monthly Eletters and the Newsletters we produce. To get in touch with members or find out more about the events, contact the Editor, G B Fraser.  
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FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS 71st REGIMENT of FOOT

A very remarkable story of research about our Fraser regiment in the American War of Independence has been evolving over the past few years, research has been going on in the South Carolina town of Cheraw to establish the details of those who died there. Records are very incomplete but the town has decided to set up memorials and markers to those brave Fraser regiment soldiers who died there over 230 years ago. Stephanie Briggs, who is the head of research, says "There will be a Remembrance Service together with the Dedication of a Headstone and an Interpretive Marker, The Service will be held at Old St David’s Church, Cheraw S.C. at 3 p.m. on Sunday 13th November 2011. The Service will honor the Scottish soldiers who died in the Summer of 1780 during the American War of Independence and rest in the churchyard of Old St David’s Church.
Though it has not been possible to honor them by name, we have been able to recognize them, with the Interpretive Marker telling something of their story. Today both the Americans and the British, jointly involved in Foreign Wars, make every effort to return those who died in the service of their country, to their native home. This we cannot do. but we hope you will join us in honoring these Highlanders laid to rest, far from their native Scotland.
The family of the Episcopal Church of S.C. particularly that of St David’s Church Cheraw, welcome you to this Service. We understand that this will be the first and perhaps the only Memorial to those of the 71st Fraser Highlanders, who died in America, during the War of Independence."

The service took placed, as planned and was a great success, an officer of the British Army was also sent, to lay one of the wreaths and represent country. We hope to have a full story in our next Newsletter.

BESSUIRE HIGHLAND GAMES

A message from Bressuire Highland Games in France, it's one of the best Highland Games in Europe and equal to many Scots Gatherings, we attended a few years back and its ambience in superb. Well worth a visit if you're in the area.

"Bonjour Chers amis, the 2012 Bressuire Highland Games will take place 9-10tn june 2012. A new and further attraction will be the Red Hot Chilli Pipers on stage. The Fraserburgh pipe band will again be in the field."

ANOTHER NEW FRASER BOOK

Published work with Clan connections does seem to be coming fast. One of our long standing members, Jenny Main, has just published her third book, this one is about the the coast near Elgin 'Moray Coast-Through Time - from Cullen to Culbin' is now in the shops & is also available direct from the publishers - www.amberley-books.com or www.amazon.co.uk. Lots of pictures - old beside new, along with some interesting history. All proceeds go to Elgin Museum, well worth a look.

NEW FRASER BOOK How the Scottish won the English Civil War
It follows the campaigns of the Scottish Army of the Covenant in the 17th Century, and in particular traces the exploits of Colonel Hugh Fraser’s regiment of dragoones throughout key actions in the conflict.  Fraser’s dragoones was the only dragoone regiment in Lord Leven’s Army. Written by Alisdair McRae DA, who is involved with the re-enactment regiment of Fraser’s Dragoones, the book is available on LuLu.com and Amazon.

LADY SALTOUN'S AIR

A new pipe tune "Lady Saltoun's Air" has been written by John Follin, a piper from Sweden and member of ours, in honour of Lady Saltoun. It's an excellent tune and a great honour to have a piper compose a new air and a number of versions of it can be heard at SoundClick If are in a band and would like to play it, John has the sheet music for pipes and for instruments.

We have gathered a list of known Fraser tunes, just the names and if you know more, let us know but we have dance steps instructions and a couple of pipe music sheets. These are at the end of this page and you're welcome to request them

NEW IN THE SHOP

We now have eco friendly shopping bags and woven badges available, made by Jayne Chapman. For more information and how to order, go to The Shop on this site or our extra one at The Shop

MORE GREAT NEWS

EXCELLENT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL

Saturday 15th October saw the Society Dinner at the Grange Country House Hotel in Oborne, Dorset, our secretary Michael Frasers home village. The Grange is a lovely hotel, in an unspoiled village near Sherborne, a sleepy but historic town. The hotel was excellent, with superb food and accommodation, then there was the highlight of the evening with Sir Robert Corbett, our after dinner speaker, telling us all about the Warrior Frasers. On the Sunday we attended a service, at the village Kirk, we all walked through rural Oborne in kilts, trews and tartan scarves, much to surprise of four girls on some Orienteering course, the appearance of brightly dressed Scots wasn't on their itinerary, it seems. An excellent weekend enjoyed by all.

ABOYNE 2011: Ken Fraser and his wife have ran the Fraser Tent at the Aboyne Games. The Games took place on the first Saturday in August, a great time was had by all and Lady Saltoun also visited. Ken looks forward to seeing you at the Games in 2012.

HOMECOMING 2009

Edinburgh, Aboyne and Beauly Gatherings:- We all now know how successful the whole event was, my pictures and those of other members are now on the net at Edinburgh, Aboyne and Beauly Gatherings

HOMECOMING 2014

It has now been announced that there will be another Homecong year in 2014, however, details are sparse and I'm sure there's going to be a fair bit of political infighting, so we'll let you know what's going on, as soon as someone decides.

LIST of FRASER MUSIC, DANCE & SONGS

Titles of Tunes with a Fraser Connection

Lord Saltoun – Reel for dance band.
Lady Saltoun’s Strathspey – Adapted for pipes by Don Chitts.
Lady Saltoun’s Air – for pipes. John Follin
Lord Lovat’s Lament – Piobreachd
Lord Lovat’s March – Often erroneously called Lord Lovat’s Lament.
Lord Lovat’s Strathspey – Based on the march, Morair Sim.
The Lovat Scouts – Written by Scott-Skinner when seeing them embarking for South Africa.
Morair Sim (Lord Simon) – Regimental march of the Lovat Scouts.
Fraser Patrick’s Favourite – Reel for dance band.
Frazer’s Day – Slow air for pipes.
Kathy Fraser’s Jig – Jig for dance band.
Wild Song of Freedom – Andy Stewart song to the tune of Lord Lovat’s March.
Legend of Scotland – Grant Fraser song to the tune of Lord Lovat’s March.
Back o’ Reires Hill – Andy Stewart song to the tune of The Lovat Scouts
The Gathering of Clan Fraser – Pipe march by Chris Stevens of New Zealand.
The Gathering of Clan Fraser Strathspey – Adapted by Don Chitts.
Granny Fraser's Flitting from Aboyne tae Aberdeen- Bothy Ballad Style
PIPE MUSIC SHEETS
Lady Saltoun’s Air-John Follin (also as a slow march)
Lady Saltoun’s Reel
Lady Saltoun’s Strathspey- adapted by Don Chitts
INSTRUCTIONS ON DANCE STEPS
1. A’MacShidh Og, short
2. Cairnbulg Castle
3. Drumelzier
4. Fraser McLuskey’s Strathspey
5. Fraser Medley
6. Fraser’s Favourite
7. Fraser’s Fiddle
8. Lady Saltoun
9. Lady Saltoun’s Reel
10. Lovat Scouts
11. McShimi’s Jig
12. Neidpath Castle
13. Simon the Lord Lovat