Paule Genachte, Françoise Delannoy and Chantal Delannoy

by Jean Aime Roels

Brussels, the 11th of February 2012

Before the 29th of January we hardly could speak of a winter in Belgium.   But since that beautiful Sunday morning records of freezing temperatures have been broken: -15°C  and -20°C, unbelievable!   Now, 10 days later, it’s still freezing cold.

During this fifth Clan Hay New Years Lunch, we once more remembered all those who left us during last year.   Jean-Aimé Roels would like to thank you for your enthusiasm  in helping to gather the members to this lunch.  

The Personal Piper of the Lord High Constable of Scotland, Sir Merlin Hay, Chevalier Philippe Vervoort, backed by Raf Gaublomme, gave an extraordinary performance with their pipes.  

Toasting the Queen of Great Britain, the King of Belgium and the Chief of Clan Hay

The members remembered a family member who left us last year.

The five minutes of silence for meditation gave a divine feeling in the family church. 

In procession, following the Clan Hay Pipes we went to the Auberge Bretonne.

We were happy to receive following new members at the Lunch: Miss Françoise Delannoy,Miss Maria Virginia Teixeira Tavares, Mr. Anthony Genachte, Mr.Michel Sosnowski. 

During the lunch  Mss Solange Delannoy organized and promoted the tombola together with Mr Jean-Aimé Roels who encouraged all participants to buy some merchandising.

I insist that the European Branch of the Clan Hay is survives only on the entries of the tombola and drink benefits of the lunch and barbecue.

The pipes playing Amazing Grace

Your yearly subscription (12.00€) is entirely sent to the Clan Hay in Scotland. 

The tombola had increased as a result of more gifts from the members.  Many thanks for your help.

Mr Fernand Dacquin and Mr.Jean-Aimé Roels also organized a quiz about Scotland.  Unfortunately neither of the two  winners could attend the lunch to receive their price.

Result: a fantastic bottle of a 17 year old  Malt whisky has been offered to Mr Henri Lannoy. 

The Convener,surrounded by Mr.Fernand Dacquin, Keeper of the Quaich, and Mr. Louis Schrevens, presented the program of the Ceremony of Twin Castles from the 3rd to the 6th of August 2012 in Scotland with highlights in Duns and Delgatie Castles.  Read further details in the newsletters. 

The traditional toast to the Queen, to he King of Belgium and to our Chief is becoming very good. 

After the official part, the family Roels, Genachte and Delannoy were sitting together for the preparation of their family trip to Scotland guided by the expertise of Fernand Dacquin, Keeper of the Quaich, and Mr. Louis Schrevens.

The Clan Hay New Year Lunch 2013 will take place on 27th January 2013 in Jezus-Eik, Brussels at 11.30 am. 

RAPORT DU CLAN HAY LUNCH DE NOUVEL AN LE 29 JANVIER 2012 A BRUXELLES

The Genachte family

Avant le 29 janvier nous n’avions pas encore vraiment eu d’hiver en Belgique.    Mais depuis ce fameux dimanche matin du 29 janvier, les températures ont chutées et des records ont été battus.   Des -15°C -20°C, incroyable!   Aujourd’hui, 10 jours plus tard, il fait toujours aussi froid.

Pendant ce 5ième Lunch de Nouvel An du Clan Hay, nous avons commémoré tous ceux qui nous ont quittés l’année passée.

Jean-Aimé ROELS, nous voulons te remercier pour ton enthousiasme à rassembler les membres du Clan à ce Lunch.    

Le Piper personnel du Lord High Constable d’Ecosse, Sir Merlin Hay, le Chevalier Philippe Vervoort, aidé par Raf Gaublomme ont donné une performance extraordinaire avec leurs Pipes.

In procession from the church to the restaurant

Les membres ont commémorés un membre de leur famille qui est décédé l’année passée.    Les 5 minutes de silence de méditation ont donné une sensation divine dans la petite église familiales.

En cortège, nous avons suivis les Pipes du Clan Hay, et sommes allés à l’Auberge Bretonne.

Nous étions heureux d’accueillir des nouveaux membres: Miss Françoise Delannoy, Miss Maria Virginia Teixeira Tavares, Mr. Anthony Genachte, Mr.Michel Sosnowski.

Pendant le lunch Miss Solange Delannoy a organisé ensemble avec Jean-Aimé ROELS la tombola, merci Jean-Aimé d’avoir motivé tous les participants à acheter quelque chose.

Nous insistons sur le fait que la branche Européenne du Clan Hay n’a de ressources que par la tombola et les bénéfices sur la boisson pendant le lunch et le barbecue annuel.

Votre cotisation démocratique de 12 euro va entièrement au Clan Hay en Ecosse. 

Merci à tous ceux qui ont offert des cadeaux pour la tombola!!

Clan Hay members in Jezus-Eik Church

Mr.Fernand Dacquin and Mr.Jean-Aimé Roels ont également organisé un quiz concernant l’Ecosse.   Malheureusement les deux gagnants n’ont pas pu être présents au lunch et nous avons donc offert la bouteille de whisky, de 17 ans … à Mr Henri Lannoy.

Le Convener, entouré de Mr.Fernand Dacquin, Keeper of the Quaich, et Mr. Louis Schrevens, ont présenté le programme de la cérémonie des châteaux jumelés du 3 au 6 août en Ecosse, avec des activités aux châteaux Duns et Delgatie.  Plus de détails suivront dans la news letter.

Le toast traditionnel en l’honneur de la reine du Royaume Uni, le roi de Belgique et de notre Chief devient vraiment bien.

Après la partie officielle, la famille Roels, Genachte, Delannoy se sont mis ensemble pour préparer leur voyage en Ecosse, guidé par Mr Fernand Dacquin, Keeper of the Quaich et Mr Louis Schrevens.

Le prochain Lunch de Nouvel An du Clan Hay aura lieu le 27 janvier 2013 à Jezus-Eik à 11.30.

Malcolm Hay of Seaton

Malcolm Hay of Seaton was a well known scholar who wrote extensively on Catholicism and Christian/Jewish relationships and who was closely associated with Israel and Zionism in the 1940s and ’50s.   On her death, his widow left a bequest to Aberdeen University to establish an annual lecture in his memory.  This year, the lecture will be given by Fra’ Matthew Festing, Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, on the subject, ‘Opportunities for Co-operation between Faiths in the Middle East.’

The lecture will take place at the King’s College Auditorium in the University of Aberdeen on Monday 16th April at 5.30 pm and repeated on Wednesday 18th April at the British Academy in London.  Refreshements will be provided and anyone wishing to reserve a seat should visit www.abdn.ac.uk/hayofseaton

A Clan Hay gathering in the USA

The Clan Hay Society, American Branch, has this month launched a new website on the domain www.clanhayusa.com  This initiative has come from American Branch president Rod Village and is run by webmaster Tim Hodge.

This informative site is now live and will provide Hays in the United States with everything they need to know about the Clan Hay Society’s activities there and of the regional network of Convenors who run the American branch.

The site includes a calendar of events that details all of the many Scottish festivals and Highland games across the United States, many of which see an annual Clan Hay presence where Hays can get together and enjoy hospitality and each other’s company.  The major forthcoming highlight is the Smokey Mountain Highland Games in Tennessee in May, where the Annual General Meeting of the Clan Hay Society, American Branch will take place.

There is an impressive picture gallery showing Clan Hay activity in the past, some stunning shots of castles relating to Clan Hay in Scotland, and TV footage of branch president Rod Village, shot at the international gathering held in the ‘Year of the Homecoming’  Scotland in 2009.  We are looking forward to the next ‘Homecoming’ in 2014, coinciding with the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, in 2014, when we hope to welcome many more American Hays to our shores.

Hays in the Clan Procession to the Aboyne Games

Centred as usual on the Aboyne Highland Games near Clan Hay’s Aberdeenshire heartland, our 2012 gathering offers a host of activities at different venues that will provide something for everyone.

Beginning at the Aboyne Highland Games on the morning of Saturday 4th August, the Hays will take their place among other Aberdeenshire clans in the Clan Village on the Games field from about 10.00 am.  Other clans taking part will include Frasers, Gordons, Farquharsons, Leasks, Forbeses, Irvines and Burnetts.  Hospitality will be dispensed at the Clan Hay tent throughout the day where we look forward to welcoming Hays from across the world as well as those from nearer home.  The Games include athletics, piping and Highland dancing competitions, shops and stalls, sideshows and fairground attractions and much more, and will continue until about 4.00 pm.

Later that evening, Clan Hay will host a ceilidh in the nearby Crathes village hall, where we will be joined by several of the other local clans including the Leasks and the Burnetts.  Beginning with a drinks reception at 7.00 pm (this will be a cash bar), dancing will start from 7.30 pm with old favourites such as the Dashing White Sergeant and the Reel of the 51st Division, dances associated with the Hays such as Neidpath Castle and a few demonstration dances.  There will be a break for supper around 9.30 pm and dancing will then continue until midnight.  The emphasis of this evening will be on relatively simple Scottish dances that anyone can enjoy and where no-one need feel intimidated about getting involved.

Delgatie Castle, the Clan Hay Centre

Meanwhile, at the other end of the country in Berwickshire, the Border Hays will be involved in a separate set of events based on the Berwickshire Show which is hosted by Alick and Aline Hay of Duns in the grounds of Duns Castle.  The Continental Europe branch of Clan Hay will be supporting this event as a celebration of the first year of the twinning of Duns Castle with Belgium’s Castle Ooidonk.

On Sunday 5th August, Clan Hay will gather at Delgatie Castle, Turriff, Aberdeenshire at 1.00 pm for our annual lunch at the Clan Hay Centre, when visitors will be able to explore the 16th century tower house and its extensive estate.  Later that afternoon, at 4.00 pm, Hays will gather at the Aberdeenshire village of Collieston for a guided tour of the two castles of Slains, between them the seat of the Hays of Erroll for the last 700 years.  We will also visit the Erroll Aisle in Slains churchyard, the only surviving part of the old parish church and the burial place of many Chiefs of Clan Hay.

All Hays are welcome to these events.  Contact Pam Rotheroe-Hay on treasurer@clanhay.org for full details of how to take part.

Clan Hay Europe's New Year lunch, complete with Scottish salmon

The December 2011 issue of our continental European branch is now available.  It features details of their many activities over the past year, including the Homage to a Hay event at the Menin Gate, the Scottish Days festival at Castle Ooidonk in Belgium and their more recent St Andrews Day celebrations.  Pictures and news are included of the historic appointment of Clan Hay piper Raf Gaublomme as official piper to the Belgian town of Beveren-Waas and of Clan Hay member Fernand Daquin’s induction as a Keeper of the Quaich, together with an interview with Clan Hay member Leona Hay. 

Anyone who would like to receive a copy of this e-newsletter, should please contact Tom Hye, Convenor of Clan Hay for continental Europe, on hyetom@skynet.be

Tom also draws our attention to the launch of a book by the C’est du Belge television channel, entitled L’annee C’est du Belge – le Best de 2011.  This quality souvenir volume features the documentary on Clan Hay screened by the channel and the special relationship between Clan Hay and Belgium’s Castle Ooidonk, including last year’s historic twinning of Castle Ooidonk with Clan Hay’s Duns Castle in Scotland.

Copies can be obtained via Amazon and other online retailers quoting the International Standard Book Number 5 414306 202412 20130, at a price of 6 Euros.

Recent years have brought many changes for Clan Hay in terms of the nature and scope of our activities, particularly as advances in technology have fundamentally affected the way we do business and what our members expect from us.  Consequently, there was much to discuss last month when the office bearers of Clan Hay headquarters met with me at the House of Lords to discuss how the society should respond to the 21^st century.

The Chief speaking in the House of Lords

The meeting included the secretary Melissa Cubitt, our treasurer Pam Rotheroe-Hay,  archivist Alan Hay, and commissioner Malcolm Hay of Seaton, who joined us by Skype from his home in Aberdeenshire.  Unfortunately Jonathan Sayers and membership secretary Margaret Spender were unable to be present, although they were with us in spirit.

We began with a discussion of our membership, which is in a healthy state despite these  recessionary times, and had a good brainstorming session about how to handle the issue that several international members only support their local branch rather than the Clan Hay Society itself. This becomes a challenge when such members hope to enjoy our hospitality and help when they visit Britain or draw upon other central services.  We greatly value those members who reside on countries abroad and are committed to working with them to provide the value they need to persuade them back into the fold. 

The cost of servicing members has risen inexorably with the passage of time and it is many years since the society last increased its annual subscription.  Accordingly, we reluctantly decided to increase the subscription from £7.50 sterling to £10.00 per annum with effect from January 1^st 2012 which, with careful management, will maintain the society on an even financial keel whilst keeping membership open to all Hays, whatever their circumstances.

We benefited some years ago from the generosity of the late Miss Edith Hay who left a useful sum to the society which has since been held on deposit.  With interest rates at their lowest in living memory, this legacy is not performing in the way it should, so we have appointed McInroy and Wood, an investment management firm based in East Lothian, to advise us on how to make the most of this important asset.  A finance committee has been appointed to take responsibility for our investments, consisting of the Chief, the Commissioner and the Treasurer.

With investment income at an all time low and mindful of looking after our members’ interests by keeping the subscription affordable for all, there was some discussion of how to develop other sources of income for the Clan Hay Society.  One way to achieve this is to offer more merchandise relating to Clan Hay via our website (www.clanhay.org).  We will continue to stock the Hay and Hunting Hay tartans in reproduction colours, material which is available only from the Clan Hay Society and which members may purchase at cost price.  Furthermore, we will shortly be able to offer a much wider range of goods via the website and at the Clan Hay tent at Aboyne, and we should be able to include glassware and Clan Hay branded whisky.

Isabelle and I very much enjoyed entertaining Clan Hay at our home in July and it has been agreed that this will become an annual fixture.  Feedback from other successful events indicates that these are popular with members, so we will be arranging a much wider programme of events in the months and years to come, both to provide funds for the society and to add value to our members’ subscriptions.  In particular, a more extensive itinerary will be available around Clan Hay’s annual gathering at the Aboyne Games in Aberdeenshire next year and in celebration of the 500^th anniversary of the Battle of Flodden in 2013.  Keep an eye on this website for full details as they become available.

The annual Clan Hay Journal continues to be our most important vehicle for communicating with Hays across the world and it now has a new Editor in Pam Rotheroe-Hay, who takes over from the next edition which will appear in March 2012.  I take this opportunity to pay tribute to Jonathan Sayers who brought much to the role and who is appointed to the new position of Overseas Editor, in which capacity he will be the main link between Clan Hay in Scotland and her diaspora abroad.  Additionally, we shortly hope to follow the lead of our cousins in the United States and continental Europe by launching an e-newsletter as a more regular and accessible vehicle for Hays to communicate with each other.

This was a constructive meeting which went on far longer than any of us intended.  However, I firmly believe it has set the scene for a new and dynamic phase in the Clan Hay Society’s life and I, for one, feel that we may advance with confidence towards a bright future.

Pipe Major Philippe Vervoort, mayor Marc Van de Vijver and Raf Gaublomme

Some days ago the town of Beveren–Waas appointed one of their residents, Mr.Raf Gaublomme, President of the Clan Hay Pipe Band as Honorary Piper of the town of Beveren–Waas.

During a reception in Castle Cortewalle the mayor, Mr. Marc Van de Vijver,  gave to Raf , surrounded by all the Pipers, drummers of the Clan Hay Pipe Band, the certificate and banner of the town Beveren.

Raf will get a big job to preceed the Mayor at great official occasions.

Raf is now the first Honorary Piper of a town on this planet.

Congratulations Raf.

I hope the example will be followed by hundreds of towns and communities.

This can only bring the friendship of Pipers and Clans more close.

DES NOUVELLES DU CLAN HAY PIPE BAND

PRESIDENT RAF GAUBLOMME A ETE NOMME CORNE MUSE HONORAIRE DE LA VILLE DE BEVEREN – WAAS

The Clan Hay Pipe Band with the mayor, Marc Van de Vijver at Castle Cortewalle

La semaine passée la ville de Beveren–Waas a nommé son habitant, Mr. Raf Gaublomme, Président du Clan Hay Pipe Band comme Corne Muse Honoraire de la ville de Beveren-Waas.

Pendant une reception dans Château Cortewalle le maire, Mr. Marc Van de Vijver, a remis à Raf, entouré par tous les collègues corne-muses du Clan Hay Pipe Band, le certificate et Bannière de la ville de Beveren–Waas.

Raf aura un grand travail à précéder le Maire de la ville aux grandes occasions officielles.

Raf est le premier Corne-Muse honoraire d’une ville sur cette planète.

Félicitations Raf.

J’espère que cet exemple  sera suivi par des centaines de villes et communes à  travers le monde.

Ceci ne peut qu’augmenter l’ amitié des corne muse et des Clans.

A youthful Ronnie Hay in the uniform of the Royal Marines

On 12th November the Daily Mail, an English tabloid newspaper, published a double page spread feature on Commander Ronald Hay, a noted Scottish hero of World War Two.

Ronnie Hay was born in Perth in 1916, the son of Captain Cuthbert Hay and the nephew of Major Malcolm Hay of Seaton.  He joined the Royal Marines in the 1930s and went on to make the unusual transition to the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy.  He first saw action during the German invasion of Norway.  He went on to serve in many of the iconic theatres of the Second World War: he provided air cover as a fighter pilot during the Dunkirk evacuations, was involved in the Battle of Britain and was serving with the Ark Royal when she hunted the German pocket battleship Bismarck.  In fact, he narrowly escaped going down with the famous aircraft carrier when she was sunk by a u-boat in 1941.  A true boys’ own hero, he was awarded the DSO and the DSC for a uniquely distinguished war record.

He remained in the navy after the war when he commanded a training squadron before retiring to run a successful boat charter business.  He died, aged 85, in 2001.

St Mary's Cathedral in Aberdeen stands on a site chosen by Bishop George Hay

On 15th October, a service was held at Blair’s College in Aberdeen to commemorate the bi-centenary of the death of Bishop George Hay, Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District from 1778 to 1805.  The service was presided over by the Most Rev Mario Conti, Archbishop of Glasgow, a native of Aberdeenshire and himself a former Bishop of Aberdeen.

George Hay was born in Edinburgh in 1729 and raised in the Scottish Episcopal church.  Early in life he entered Edinburgh University to study medicine and, as a 16 year old student, was called upon to tend the wounded after the Jacobite victory at the battle of Prestonpans in 1745.  Inspired by these stirring events, he joined the Jacobite forces and after their defeat at Culloden in 1746, Hay was imprisoned in London for a year.

During his time in London, he came under the influence of a Catholic literary agent who encouraged him in his theological studies.  On returning to Scotland, he placed himself under instruction to a Jesuit priest called Seaton and was received into the Catholic church in 1749.

Goerge Hay, Bishop of Aberdeen

The draconian sectarian law of the time meant that, as a Catholic, he was prevented from graduating from Edinburgh University, so he was forced to seek employment as ship’s surgeon on board a merchant vessel trading with the Mediterranean.  This experience broadened his outlook and it was during this time that he decided to enter the priesthood.  Jumping ship at Marseilles, he travelled across country to Rome where he entered the famous Scots College and was ordained priest by Cardinal Spinelli in 1758.

On his return to Scotland, he was appointed to the Catholic benifice of Enzie in Banffshire and, on his mentor Alexander Grant’s appointment as Vicar Apostolic in 1766, Hay was appointed his co-adjutor.  He succeeded Grant as bishop in 1778.

During his long episcopate, Hay was a powerful voice arguing for the repeal of the laws of the day which so restricted the lives of Catholics in the UK.  He showed his nationalist colours in his efforts to place the Scots College in Rome under the control of the church in Scotland.  In 1801, he chose the site for a new cathedral in Aberdeen dedicated to St Mary of the Assumption.  St Mary’s is one of three cathedrals in the city and is the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Aberdeen.  He was a noted theological scholar, producing the first Catholic bible in English to be printed in Scotland and is still remembered for his trilogy on Cathholic theology and faith, The Sincere Christian, The Devout Christian and The Pious Christian.  He founded the seminary at Auquhorthies near Inverurie, the predecessor of the world famous Blairs College which was the scene of his memorial service last month, and it was there that he died in 1811, six years after Alexander Cameron succeeded him as bishop.

Malcolm Hay with the Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire

Celebrations of the anniversary of the Battle of Harlaw during the previous week, not to mention a number of other significant celebrations during the summer, meant there was a smaller than average turnout at the annual Clan Hay Gathering at the Aboyne Highland Games in August, but it was nonetheless a happy and successful weekend as we welcomed Hays from Scotland and from across the world.

Members attended from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA and continental Europe for this annual fixture of the Clan Hay calendar, on this 30th anniversary of the first Hay tent on the field of this, one of the major highland games of the season.  As usual, the Hays took their place in the Clan village alongside the other principal families of north east Scotland, including the Gordons, Leasks, Frasers, Farquharsons, Irvines, Burnetts and Forbeses.

One of the lunch tables at Delgatie Castle

The following day, Sunday 7th August, the Clan Hay travelled from Aboyne on Royal Deeside up to Turriff to the Clan Hay Centre at historic Delgatie Castle, where we were as usual entertained to a magnificent lunch by the castle’s chatelaine, Joan Johnson.

The next main gathering of Clan Hay will take place over the weekend of 4th and 5th August 2012.  As has become customary, this will include our usual involvement in the Aboyne Games on the Saturday and at Delgatie Castle on the Sunday.  A ceilidh will be held, in co-operation with other local clans, at Crathes near Aboyne on the Saturday evening.  And in 2013, coinciding with the 500th aniversary of the Battle of Flodden, Pam Rotheroe-Hay is planning an extensive programme of activity during the week prior to the games, when Hays from across the globe will have the opportunity to join in a tour of many of the historic sites associated with Clan Hay right across Scotland.  Keep an eye on these news pages for regular updates, and please contact Pam on treasurer@clanhay.org for full details.