Clan MacLeod Society of Scotland

07/12/2025

We had our 133rd Annual General Meeting on Saturday at St Anne’s Church in Edinburgh. It was lovely to see clansfolk and catch up over lunch.

President Kevin Tolmie was ably assisted by at the meeting Treasurer/Membership Secretary Wilma Tolmie. A massive thanks to Noël Proven and other members for helping with setup and catering.

Stella Henderson was presented with a gift to begin to recognise her extraordinarily long service on the Society’s Council. She joined aged 17 as a junior member and has now served on Council for over 5 decades.

Former Council member Alan B MacLeod has just stepped down after 35 years. He was presented with a certificate and a bottle of whisky - at home due to being unable to attend the AGM in person.

24/08/2025

Earlier in the summer, clansfolk met at Loch Leven near Kinross for our annual picnic. Unfortunately the planned trip to the island and castle was cancelled due to the weather - don’t be fooled by the sunshine! It was an unseasonably windy day. The Tolmies and the Halford-Forbes/MacLeod families had a good social time and ate well.

Loch Leven Castle is known as the prison where Mary, Queen of Scots, was held by Scottish nobles in 1567-1568, leading to her forced abdication and eventual dramatic escape. She was imprisoned for almost a year, experiencing a miscarriage, and the humiliation of her son's ascension to the throne.

Suggestions on a venue for future picnics is always welcome 🧺 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

24/08/2025

If you were at the Glenurquhart Higland Games this weekend, perhaps you spotted clansperson Laura Anthony particpating in the first ever World Female Heavy Events Championship 💪 Laura hails from Oklahoma, USA and is a member of CMS USA.

Meet the athlete!

Hailing from a small town in rural Oklahoma, Laura Anthony first discovered Highland Games in 2021 thanks to a chance encounter her brother had with a local competition. With a background in basketball, softball, volleyball, and kickboxing, the strength and discipline of throwing events soon felt like home.

Now the reigning Women's Masters Australian Champion and a former world record holder in the sheaf toss (weighted burlap bag thrown with a pitchfork), she’s passionate about height events, especially caber for the challenge and power it demand. Her training is rooted in heavy lifting, technical drills, and long hours with her coach and throwing circle.

Her connection to Scotland runs deep. With ancestral roots tracing back to the Highlands, visiting in 2023 felt like returning home. Competing at the Braemar Gathering as one of the first women to throw there remains a career highlight - matched only by moments where young girls watching on the sidelines tell her they want to be strong like her.

She’s a proud advocate for women in strength sports, especially those who don’t fit the conventional mould. Her presence on the field is not just about competition - it’s about representation, encouragement, and showing what’s possible.

Catch her on the field on Games Day, bringing strength and skill every throw!