Livery coloured cockade on bonnet

[creagdhubh]

Well done, Nathan! I had thought about doing the same, but have never really gotten around to it. I suppose it doesn't matter all that much to me. My Chief, Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie, TD, always has the black Hanoverian cockade on his (navy) Balmoral, despite his, as well as our collective (Macpherson) ancestry as staunch Jacobites and supporters of the Young Pretender during the '45.

Cluny sat as a High Court Judge in England for many years and is also a staunch Monarchist, so needless to say, I don't think he has ever been too concerned about wearing a white cockade in his bonnet whilst wearing Highland Dress. There are indeed several Macpherson clansmen that I know who do wear a white cockade, or a cockade in Azure and Or, the livery colours of our Chief (see below).

John Charles Macpherson wearing a white cockade and Ruaridh Clark wearing a cockade in the livery colours of Macpherson of Cluny.

[Nathan]

Well done, Nathan! I had thought about doing the same, but have never really gotten around to it. I suppose it doesn't matter all that much to me. My Chief, Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie, TD, always has the black Hanoverian cockade on his (navy) Balmoral, despite his, as well as our collective (Macpherson) ancestry as staunch Jacobites and supporters of the Young Pretender during the '45.

Cluny sat as a High Court Judge in England for many years and is also a staunch Monarchist, so needless to say, I don't think he has ever been too concerned about wearing a white cockade in his bonnet whilst wearing Highland Dress. There are indeed several Macpherson clansmen that I know who do wear a white cockade, or a cockade in Azure and Or, the livery colours of our Chief.

Are those clansmen the hen's teeth Jock is referring to in Scotland or diaspora MacPhersons?

[creagdhubh]

Are those clansmen the hen's teeth Jock is referring to in Scotland or diaspora MacPhersons?

Both are indeed "diaspora Macphersons." John Charles resides in New York, and Ruaridh in Virginia.

[Jock Scot]

Are those clansmen the hen's teeth Jock is referring to in Scotland or diaspora MacPhersons?

I have been thinking about this and I have to say what Kyle sees is not what I see on a day to day basis. So I wonder if this is a diaspora thing on show at the Clan gathering?

Thank you Kyle.

[creagdhubh]

I have been thinking about this and I have to say what Kyle sees is not what I see on a day to day basis. So I wonder if this is a diaspora thing on show at the Clan gathering?

I think it is, Jock. At least from my own personal experience and perspective in regards to the Clan Macpherson. I have never seen a Macpherson from Scotland, let alone the Highlands (Newtonmore and Kingussie), wearing anthing but a black cockade, or the matching, self-coloured cockade that comes standard with the lighter coloured bonnets such as Lovat blue, Lovat green, fawn, etc. Now, I'm certainly not saying that a cockade in white (Jacobite), the livery colours of your Chief, or perhaps in your own if you are armigerous, is incorrect, not in the slightest! All I am simply saying is that I have only seen it done by fellow Macphersons that are from America and not Scotland.

[IrishSean]

Several of these fellows seem to be wearing the same pattern in their tweed jackets. Is that a clan pattern also and, excuse my ignorance, is that also traditional and common?

[Jock Scot]

Several of these fellows seem to be wearing the same pattern in their tweed jackets. Is that a clan pattern also and, excuse my ignorance, is that also traditional and common?

As far as I am aware the tweed is peculiar to Clan Macpherson. I think the story goes and I stand to be corrected, that a member of the Clan had some tweed woven for a jacket and many of the Clan liked it so much that they had a jacket made---by arrangement of course--- out of the tweed too. The only comparison that I can think of, is that members of the Royal family do, sometimes, wear Balmoral Estate tweed kilt jackets. Other estate tweeds could possibly be worn with the kilt by the respective estate owner and staff, but none come to mind at the moment.

[creagdhubh]

Several of these fellows seem to be wearing the same pattern in their tweed jackets. Is that a clan pattern also and, excuse my ignorance, is that also traditional and common?

It's Macpherson of Cluny's Tweed, originally designed and manufactured by Hugh Macpherson, of Hugh Macpherson, Ltd. (Highland Dress) in Haymarket, Edinburgh in the 1960s. Many members of the Clan Macpherson, to include Cluny, wear this tweed in the form of a kilt jacket and waistcoat. The tweed has similar bits of colour as the Hunting Macpherson tartan, by far THE most popular tartan amongst the clan, and was the original inspiration behind the tweed. The tweed isn't restricted to Macphersons only; however, I have never seen anyone BUT a Macpherson wearing it! The tweed can only be purchased at Hugh Macpherson's shop in Edinburgh, now owned and operated by Hugh's granddaughter.

A closer look at the tweed at my cousin's wedding in London.

[Sir Didymous]

I like the concept of wearing livery, but blue and yellow (in the case of the Clan Ferguson) is a combination that just looks off with my current kilt attire. I was considering a tie in navy with gold diagonal pinstripes. That could work alright I suppose. But the cockade on my bonnet is black and will probably remain so. Your handy work looks good though.

[Nathan]

There's a clearer look at Clanranald and his bonnet in this video.



There's also an armiger next to Clanranald holding his colours who has a livery coloured cockade and there's another photo of him here:



Any idea who this gent is and whether he's a native born Scot.

As a side note, it's really nice to hear the strathspey on the fiddles at the end of the video. Takes me home...