CHRONICLES CLANRANALD CHRONICLES

AUTUMN 2011

Welcome to the first edition of the clan newsletter this will be sent out to all
clan members on a quarterly basis to keep you up to date with whats happening in the Trust and at Duncarron. Its recently been highlighted that communication across the Clan has been lacking, with perhaps too much reliance on Facebook so this newsletter is the first of many improvements. Some other things we are looking at is to introduce specific points of contact for all areas eg. Who to speak to for Fort queries/weapons queries/clan history queries etc this will ensure that if you have a question on something, you know exactly who to speak to to get a reply. If anyone has any suggestions for things that they would like to see in the newsletter or wants to submit something on a regular basis, please let us know.

message A message from Charlie...

Thank you to Sam and everyone who helped create this newsletter. As you know I have been working in Germany, Italy and America with Saor Patrol this summer and am currently in Pinewood with our Combat Crew working on Snow White & The Huntsman. We started Saor Patrol 11 years ago as an addition to the activities of the trust something extra to help raise funds. When I see something that is good and is fun and it is connected to what we are within the clan, I try to make it work and so far we as a Clan have never failed at anything we have started as a result, Saor Patrol is very successful! The guidance of the clan is to help others progress and be confident in who they are and what they do in life. Its about sharing our knowledge and getting into the hearts and minds of the children, adults and groups alike, so that they understand their roots and promote their culture. Something important in any culture. It makes me very proud to be a part of the Clanranald Trust and Saor Patrol. The work that the band does is to make people aware that our music is there for more than entertainment but to tell people about our culture and roots and to celebrate it. Saor Patrols mission is bigger and more important than the individuals within it.

Charlie

Public Speaking opportunities

Interested in improving your public speaking skills? Do you have good historical knowledge either general or for specific periods? The Trust regularly receives queries from a number of different types of groups to provide speakers for historical talks. Currently only Charlie does these, but if it is something you are interested in getting involved with, please let the Office know.

Duncarron...
For those of you who have recently joined the Clan or started training, you may not have had the opportunity to visit Duncarron yet or know much about it other than it is the Trusts flagship project to build a full scale medieval fortified village. Each quarter the newsletter will bring you up to date information on the progress at the fort. For those who are not aware of how the project was conceived, below is a brief timeline of the evolution of the Duncarron project. Circa 1995 Charlie has the idea to create the fort. An idea that started life as a drawing scribbled on a napkin. A fully interactive exhibit to teach about Scotlands past. Consultation carried out with Archaeologists, Historians and Architects as to the feasibility and historical accuracy of building a 11th century village. Fund raising starts in earnest via filmwork and commercial gigs. Filmwork includes gladiator in 2000 and King Arthur in 2004 The long term lease for the land in the Carron Valley was obtained from the forestry commission Earthworks start to build up the fort foundations Toilet block built First logs of the palisade were raised. Initially made from pine and later (Sept/Oct 2011) felled and replaced with larch. Logcabin office/welfare facility is built The main palisade planking is completed . The wells are dug. The workshop and longhouse builds are underway

1995-1997 1997 -2004 2000 2001 2007 March 2008 2009 2011

Over the summer months, the duncarron crew have been busy and working hard. The palisade planking (flat planks holding the individual palisade logs together) has been completed and work is currently progressing on the workshop, the longhouse foundations and the wells. The workshop is an organic build (ie. There are no formal plans for this as it is to be used as a storage and workshop area and the materials to be used will be decided on at the time). Eight 4m logs have been used to create the perimeter of the building in a circle/octagon shape and log lintels will be added to this before the reciprocal roof is created. The reciprocal roof will be a self-supporting, round structure composed of interlocking log beams that equally bear the weight of one another. a reciprocal roof can incorporate practically any number of beams (though we will be using 20 six metre logs) and span great distances while still maintaining its integrity. Best suited to round structures, this style of frame is incredibly strong, and twists upon itself rather than spreading apart when pressure is applied from above. This twisting nature also provides a 1m(approx) round hole/rooflight in the middle. Reciprocal frames have been used since the 12th century in Chinese and Japanese architecture though there are no surviving structures to show this. In medieval Europe, Villard De Honnecourt(a 13th century architect/artist from northern france) produced sketches showing similar designs and reciprocal type structures were used in the chapter house of Lincoln cathedral. The workshop will have a green roof (sometimes also known as a sod roof). A traditional sod roof as would have been used in the Viking and middle ages would have had a covering of birch bark over the reciprocal log beams (to provide a waterproof layer) before being covered in turf and wildflowers. A green roof such as this will absorb rainwater, provide insulation and create a habitat for wildlife

As we do not have access to the volumes of birch bark required, we will be turning towards modern technology for the waterproof layer (using a modern breathable membrane), but the turf layer will be traditional. From the workshop there will be a number of pods built out from the main structure sides. As the workshop will be an octagon, this will allow the pods to be separate but part of the main structure and will also help provide additional strength to the Workshop walls. The Wells & Waterwheel Burn Two wells have been dug for the fort one on the chieftains level and one on the middle level. Water supplies were absolutely critical to medieval fort life, not just for everyday use but also as a scarce resource during sieges. Spring water was of course ideal but more usual was a dug well. Basically the well would have to be wide enough to accommodate the diggers as they tried to dig down to reach the water table. Work has also been carried out on the Waterwheel burn directing the flow to where the waterwheel will be located and constructing some basic walls around the burn and reservoir. Upcoming plans for Duncarron Winter is coming, but work at duncarron isnt slowing down just yet! 50 tonnes of larch has been recently delivered to allow work to complete on the palisade. We just have to strip the logs of bark first!!!! Massive logs will be delivered for the gatehouses (8M+) Longhouse 1 will be built When the snows come, work will still not slow down, it will just change course slightly. Amongst other things we will be looking to; start the willow work. 20 bolts of willow have been ordered to make 10 baskets and 10 hurdle fences. Long term we will also be looking to get our own willow copse up and running and make other items including coracles. Constructing furniture for the longhouses

Dates gigs Dates for your diary/ upcoming gigs

2012 Combat Masterclass 2 courses are planned for 2012, a beginner course in January and an advanced one in Feb. Specific dates will be communicated via the SFMMA Facebook group. Open weeks at Duncarron dates yet to be confirmed, but planning to open duncarron for a week in early summer and also at the end of the summer. Bruce Festival 25th & 26th August 2012

No date yet, but keep an eye out for the new series of Come Dine with Me as our very own Scott McMaster will be rustling up some culinary delights for the show.

Recent Gigs
September saw two gigs for the Northern crews. First was a big prestigious gig at Edinburgh Castle for 400 international guests. The castle was brought to life with Jacobite soldiers, David I, the Bruce and the Earl of Moray. Second was the Scotfest Festival in Alva, a family fun day celebrating Scottish based talents, cuisine and traditions. It was the first time that the Clan has been invited to this event and hopefully not the last. This was also Denise and Heather Peacocks first clan gig welcome on board guys...the first of many more! October saw us at Barwood scout camp, giving them a weapons and armour demo.

Congratulations...
To marcus & paula who celebrated their handfasting on 9th October 2011in Roslin Glen. Wishing you both much wealth, health and happiness xxx

Filming news
Filming of Snow white and the huntsman is underway for 40 combat international members. Filming started on the17th October and is due to carry on until at least 28th October at pinewood studios , though there is also the possibility that filming may carry on into November and December for some (combat and non combat). SW&TH also gives Combat International the opportunity to work with Steve Dent again renowned stunt man and stunt coordinator. Combat International have worked with Steve on several films, including King Arthur, Gladiator & Robin Hood Sw&tH is a twist on the well known fairy tale, where the huntsman who is ordered to take snow white into the woods to be killed ends up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the evil queen. Stars Kristen stewart(Twilight), chris Hemsworth (Thor), charlize theron, ian mcshane , nick frost, ray winstone and bob Hoskins.

Clan Socials
The Clan is getting bigger and better by the day and all of that is down to our Clansmen, Clanswomen and ClansKids. One downside of this is that not everyone in the clan has had the opportunity to meet everyone else. The multi-faceted nature of the Clan individuals being able to choose what they get involved in and to what degree they are involved (Fort, Filming, Gigs, Education, Admin, Training etc) - means that some people have missed out on meeting some pretty special people. So, So to resolve this we will be having a minimum of four Clan-wide social events per year. These will loosely be based on the seasons and the first will be held on Saturday 5th November bonfire night!! There is lots of old wood to be burnt up at Duncarron, so what better way to do it than in the company of other likeminded people. We might even have some fireworks as well...

remember Remember remember the fifth of November!!!

A suggestion has been made to pin notes on the guy for things we have been told we cannot do/things that cannot be done and for all of the bad karma that has been floating about recently lets burn that negativity!!!

More Info:
For those people not already on Facebook or Twitter there are a number of information streams. Facebook has 3 pages; The Clanranald Trust for Scotland main page for all things Trust related and accessible by clan members and supporters SFMMA training group membership by invitation only to Clan members (contact HQ for an invite) Duncarron Medieval Village - main page for all things Duncarron related and open to everyone Twitter has 4 pages; @duncarronfort @clanranaldtrust @combatinternational @saorpatrol