Month: July 2023

Following the extreme sadness of the passing of Donald MacLaren, Chief of Clan MacLaren we are honored to announce the 26th Chief of Clan Labhran, Florian MacLaren of MacLaren who was invested on July 25, 2026. Florian is the son of our late Chief and is duly poised to take the reins.

Florian’s education began at Balquhidder Primary School where each day started with a short walk past the old kirk with brother Louis to study and play at the foot of Boar’s Rock. 

Then he went on to boarding school as his parents were posted abroad; he studied Classics at St Andrews University where he met his future wife Romilly before leaving to work and study trees at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.

Florian has worked in arboriculture ever since and currently runs a tree company in London. Romilly and Florian live in Buckinghamshire at the moment and have had three children together – Finnlay, William Wolf and Flora. Finn is buried next to his grandfather in Balquhidder.

Long live the Chief! Creag an Tuirc!

Clan MacLaren is most sad to announce the sudden and unexpected passing of our beloved Chief Donald MacLaren of MacLaren and Auchleskine on July 22, 2023. Donald was our Chief for 57 years, and at the time of his passing he was the Convener of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, as well as Chief of Clan MacLaren. He was a great man and gone far too soon. He epitomized our Clan motto “Ab Origine Fidus”, or Faithful from the Beginning. One last “Creag an Tuirc” Donald. May you rest in gentle peace.

The London Times carried a lovely obituary for Chief Donald. You can read that on the Clan MacLaren Society of North America website.