The Lonach Highlanders are members of The Lonach Highland and Friendly Society, made up of men from the

Strathdon Strathdon (; Gaelic: ''Srath Dheathain'') is an area in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is situated in the strath of the River Don, 45 miles west of Aberdeen in the Highlands. The main village in the strath is also called Strathdon, although it was ...

area of Aberdeenshire in

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

. The society was formed in 1823. The principal aims of the Society are the preservation of Highland Dress and the Gaelic language; to support loyal, peaceable manly conduct and the promotion of social and benevolent feelings among the inhabitants of this district. However the Strathdon (and Aberdeenshire) dialect of Gaelic has become extinct since their formation so it is arguable how successful they have been in that aim. It was further agreed to open a fund for distressed members and their families. Unlike the

Atholl Highlanders The Atholl Highlanders is a Scottish ceremonial infantry regiment. They are the only remaining private army in Europe, and act as the personal bodyguard to the Duke of Atholl, chieftain of the Clan Murray, a family that has thrived in Perthshire ...

, the Lonach Highlanders have never been presented with

colours Color (American English) or colour (British English) is the visual perceptual property deriving from the spectrum of light interacting with the photoreceptor cells of the eyes. Color categories and physical specifications of color are associ ...

, and are not considered a military unit. However they do carry the society colour and two banners ensigned "LONACH". The Highlanders parade annually during the annual Lonach Highland Games and Gathering, held on the 4th Saturday of August, to officially open the games. At various points along the route from Bellabeg to Strathdon, the column stops for a " wee dram" (of Scotch whisky). This is led by the patron of the ''Lonach Highland and Friendly Society'', part of the Forbes clan. Most of the men in Lonach are Forbes, although there is a section for the Wallace and

Gordon Gordon may refer to: People * Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters * Gordon (surname), the surname * Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War * Clan Gordon, ...

clans as well, each with their own

tartan Tartan ( gd, breacan ) is a patterned cloth consisting of criss-crossed, horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Sc ...

. The current patron of the Lonach Highlanders is Sir James Forbes. The Lonach Highlanders are led by the Lonach

pipe Pipe(s), PIPE(S) or piping may refer to: Objects * Pipe (fluid conveyance), a hollow cylinder following certain dimension rules ** Piping, the use of pipes in industry * Smoking pipe ** Tobacco pipe * Half-pipe and quarter pipe, semi-circular ...

band at the Lonach Gathering every year, as well as other society occasions and visits abroad, such as in 1996 when they visited Hungary. On the 150th anniversary of Lonach a new colour and banners were presented at the Lonach Gathering. The following week the pipe band and highlanders marched over the hills to Braemar to present the new colours to Queen

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

at the Braemar Gathering. The Highlanders set up camp at

Braemar Castle Braemar Castle is situated near the village of Braemar in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is a possession of the chief of Clan Farquharson and is leased to a local charitable foundation. It is open to the public. History From the Late Middle Ages, ...

re-enacting an occasion that last happened during the reign of

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...

References

External links

*{{official website, http://www.lonach.org/ British ceremonial units Scottish ceremonial units Aberdeenshire