Latest news with #ScottishHeritage
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Donald Trump's mother: From a Scottish island to New York's elite
Donald Trump is a US president with a uniquely strong connection to Scotland. His mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born and brought up on the Hebridean island of Lewis but emigrated to New York to live a very different life. Mary Anne was one of tens of thousands of Scots who travelled to the US and Canada in the early years of the last century looking to escape economic hardship at home. She first left Lewis for New York in 1930, at the age of 18, to seek work as a domestic servant. Six years later she was married to successful property developer Frederick Trump, the son of German migrants and one of the most eligible men in New York. The fourth of their five children, Donald John, as he is referred to on the islands, is now US president for the second time. His mother was born in 1912 in Tong, about three miles from Stornoway, the main town on the isle of Lewis. Genealogist Bill Lawson, who has traced the family tree of Mary Anne MacLeod back to the early 19th Century, says her father Malcolm ran a post office and small shop in his later years. Economically, the family would have been slightly better off than the average in the township, he says. However, life during and after World War One, in which 1,000 islanders died, was very hard and many young people were leaving the Western Isles. The Isle of Lewis had also suffered the Iolaire disaster in 1919 when 200 servicemen from the island had drowned at the mouth of Stornoway harbour, coming home for the first new year of peace. Mr Lawson says: "Mary Anne MacLeod was from a very large family, nine siblings, and the move at that time was away from the island. "The move by Viscount Leverhulme to revive the island had gone bust and there was not much prospect for young people. "What else could she do?" Mr Lawson adds: "Nowadays, you might think of going to the mainland but in those days most people went to Canada. It was far easier to make a life in America and many people had relatives there." The genealogist says President Trump's mother was slightly different in that her sister Catherine, one of eight members of the MacLeod family to have emigrated to America, had moved from Canada to New York. When Catherine returned to Lewis for a visit in 1930, her 18-year-old sister Mary Anne went with her to look for work. It appears that she found work as a nanny with a wealthy family in a big house in the suburbs of New York but lost the job as the US sank into depression after the Wall Street Crash. Mary Anne returned briefly to Scotland in 1934 but by then she had met Fred Trump and soon returned to New York for good. The couple lived in a wealthy area of Queens and Mary Anne was active with charity work. Donald Trump still has three cousins on Lewis, including two who live in the ancestral home, which has been rebuilt since Mary Anne MacLeod's time. All three cousins have consistently refused to speak to the media. Speaking to the BBC in 2017 after Donald Trump's first presidential victory, John A MacIver, a local councillor and friend of the cousins, said: "I know the family very well. "They are very nice, gentle people and I'm sure they don't want all the publicity that's around. "I quite understand that they don't want to talk about it." Mr MacIver said Mary Anne MacLeod was well-known and much respected in the community and used to attend the church on her visits home. President Trump's mother became a US citizen in 1942 and died in 2000, aged 88. But she returned to Lewis throughout her life and always spoke Gaelic, Mr MacIver says. According to genealogist Bill Lawson, surnames are a relatively recent phenomenon on the islands and official records only go back to the early decades of the 19th Century. His research took him back as far as John Roy MacLeod, which in Gaelic is Iain Ruaidh, named for a tendency to red hair. Mary Anne Trump's paternal MacLeods came from Vatisker, a few miles further north of Tong. Her great-grandfather Alexander Roy MacLeod and his son Malcolm were thought to have drowned together while fishing in the 1850s. On Mary Anne's mother's side, the Smiths were among the families cleared from South Lochs area of Lewis in 1826. The period of the Highland Clearances on the mainland had largely missed Lewis but after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 some of the better lands for sheep-grazing on the island were cleared of tenants. In most cases the displaced tenants were relocated elsewhere on Lewis rather than sent overseas. According to Mr Lawson, all four lines of Mary Anne MacLeod's maternal ancestry had been moved to Stornoway parish from elsewhere on the island as a result of the Clearances. His research also found another fishing tragedy when Donald Smith was drowned in October 1868 after his boat was upset in a squall off Vatisker Point. His widow was left with three children, of whom the youngest, Mary - Donald Trump's grandmother - was less than a year old. Mary succeeded her mother at 13 Tong, but it was the smallest of the crofts in Tong. After her marriage to Malcolm MacLeod, they were able to acquire the Smiths' original croft of 5 Tong and move there. Donald Trump's mother Mary Anne was the youngest of their 10 children. Her businessman son Donald visited the house in which his mother grew up in 2008. On that trip, he said he had been to Lewis once before as "a three or four-year-old" but could remember little about it. It is estimated he spent 97 seconds in the ancestral home during his whistle-stop tour. At the time, he said: "I have been very busy - I am building jobs all over the world - and it's very, very tough to find the time to come back. "But this just seemed an appropriate time, because I have the plane... I'm very glad I did, and I will be back again." He was accompanied by his eldest sister Maryanne Trump Barry, a US federal judge, who regularly visited her cousins on Lewis before her death in 2023. Mr Lawson says: "If you want to celebrate anyone, you should perhaps celebrate Maryanne, who has done a lot of work for the island. "Donald arrived off a plane and then disappeared again. One photoshoot, that was it. "I can't say he left much of an impression behind him." Donald Trump and the Scots: A not-so special relationship A quick guide to Donald Trump Police Federation seeks legal advice ahead of Trump visit
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Russell Crowe turns heads with dapper accessory as he attends Wimbledon with fiancée Brittany Theriot
Russell Crowe cut quite the dapper figure this week when he attended the Wimbledon tennis championships in London with fiancée Brittany Theriot. The Gladiator star, 61, was all class in a dark blue suit paired with designer sunglasses and a multicoloured tartan tie. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday, Russell gave fans an insight into the meaning behind his tartan accessory. Sharing an image of him and Brittany watching the action courtside, next to a close-up of his tie, Russell revealed it was a quiet nod to his Scottish heritage. 'The tie? Fraser of Lovat. In honour of all the Lord's Lovat,' he wrote. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Russell was referring to Fraser of Lovat – a Highland Scottish clan that has been associated with the area surrounding Inverness since the 13th century. The actor's nod to his Scottish forebears elicited a raft of responses from fans, with the likes of: 'Russell, you rock that tie. I like it.' Another summed up the sentiment of many with: 'Nice tie! Colours fit you well. You look younger.' Others, however, were quick to point out that the tartan displayed on Russell's tie might not be from Clan Fraser of Lovat. 'Actually it's Fraser Hunting Ancient, not Fraser of Lovat, but it's all made-up stuff so don't worry,' one fan commented. Another added: 'He's wearing the Hunting Ancient tartan, Lovat has deeper colours.' The actor revealed on X, in January last year, after digging into his family tree, that he was related to Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat, on his father's side. Fraser has the notorious honour of being the last man to be beheaded in Britain, when he was executed on Tower Hill in 1747. Sharing an image of he and Brittany watching the action courtside, next to a close-up of his tie, Russell revealed it was a quiet nod to his Scottish heritage. 'The tie? Fraser of Lovat. In honour of all the Lord's Lovat,' he wrote His killing led to the phrase 'laughing your head off' when, moments before he was put to death, a scaffold holding spectators collapsed, prompting the rebel to break out in fits of the giggles. 'Also something else that has recently come to light on my father's mother's side, via John ( Jock ) Fraser (arrived in NZ in 1841) we directly connect back to Simon Fraser. 11th Lord Lovat. Look him up,' Russell wrote at the time. 'He's quite the character. The Old Fox they used to call him. 'Seems his Machiavellian ways caught up to him at the age of 80, & he has a claim to infamy as the last man to have the head chopped off his living body in the Tower of London. His death even coined a phrase.' It comes after Russell and Brittany added fuel to the engagement fire when the actor's ladylove, 33, lifted her hand to flash a diamond ring while watching the tennis. The Art Deco-style sparkler sat in what appeared to be a platinum band and boasted several carats. Russell was clearly having a ball with his love, the two laughing and chatting together throughout the match. Brittany was glowing in a pink floral gown in pastel tones, featuring a pussy bow with a polka dot pattern. She added some mixed metal accessories, including a chunky gold watch and a silver knot bracelet. It comes after Russell ignited rumours he is set to tie the knot with Brittany in Rome. The pair had earlier sparked speculation they are engaged when Brittany was seen sporting a diamond ring. Claims are circulating that they are eyeing up an Italian wedding after reportedly visiting a church during their latest visit to the city. The couple, who started dating in 2020, visited Rome last year when Russell performed with his band The Gentlemen Barbers at the Forum Theatre. They were spotted sightseeing during their lavish getaway and reportedly visited a church in the city. 'Italy was always going to be their wedding destination. Every time they go there, they come back more in love,' an insider told Woman's Day.
CTV News
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
World-renowned pipe band coming to Windsor to raise money for charity
The 78th Fraser Highlander Pipe Band will hit the stage this weekend at the Fogolar Furlan Club. The air will be filled with the sounds of Scotland on Saturday night and it's all for a good cause. The world-renowned 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band — former world champions — will take the stage Saturday at the Fogolar Furlan Club. Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band Source: The 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band/Facebook. The event promises an evening of live piping and drumming, celebrating Scottish heritage and musical excellence. The event will be hosted by a familiar face, former CTV anchor Jim Crichton. The doors open at 6 p.m., the show runs from 7p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online via Eventbrite for $27.96 or at the door for $30. Attendees are encouraged to bring canned goods or monetary donations to support local food banks, including the UHC Hub of Opportunities Windsor. June Muir is the CEO of the organization that provides supportive employment and career resources for area residents, in addition to offering daily food parcels for those in need in our community. Many are finding it difficult to afford groceries at the current inflationary prices. Last year, there were 234,000 visits to the Hub's Food Pantry for food assistance. The numbers are steadily growing, not just for those seeking employment, but also for those who are working, but finding it tough to put food on the table for themselves and their families. For Muir, this is an opportunity to enjoy homegrown Canadian talent and help neighbours, families, seniors, and youth in our city and surrounding areas. 'It's going to be so much fun,' said Muir. 'And to hear some of the music, the pipes that will be playing and then knowing that you're giving back to the community, bring those canned goods. It's $27 and change to come and cash at the door, $30. How can you miss out?'
Al Jazeera
04-06-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
‘The epitome of slow fashion': Tweed's youthful makeover in Scotland
'When you see tweed on the runway, you don't expect it to come from here,' joked 38-year-old former banker Alexander MacLeod as he set up his loom in a converted barn on the shores of a Scottish loch. MacLeod became a weaver two years ago, joining residents on the islands of Lewis and Harris, off Scotland's north-west coast, in helping to rejuvenate the tweed industry after a significant period of decline. 'It's a good thing to keep the tradition going.' Tweed is a symbol of Scottish heritage and has 'always been part of the culture' on the Outer Hebrides, added MacLeod, who hails from the island of Scalpay, which is connected to Harris by a bridge. It is now 'an attractive sector to be in', he said. He left the Hebrides for seven years to work in banking, but the pull of his roots proved too strong. During the day, MacLeod now works for a small local cosmetics company. In the evenings, he puts on a podcast and patiently begins to weave. Only the steady hum of his machine disturbs the calm of the old stone barn. Harris Tweed, traditionally made from 100 percent wool, is the only fabric protected by a 1993 Act of Parliament. It must be 'handwoven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure new wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides'. The weaver spoke of his 'satisfaction' once the tweed is finished. The tweed, once associated with the British aristocracy, goes to the spinning mill for a quality control check, where the slightest flaw is flagged up. Finally, it receives the precious 'Harris Tweed' stamp – a globe topped with a cross – certifying the fabric's provenance and authenticity, issued by the Harris Tweed Authority (HTA). The tweed then leaves the island for procurement by discerning companies abroad, including luxury brands such as Christian Dior, Chanel, and Gucci. Several trainer brands, such as Nike, New Balance, and Converse, have also used it for limited edition products. The traditional staples are jackets, caps, and bags, but the fabric can also be used for furniture. There are 140 weavers, according to the HTA, which launched a recruitment campaign in 2023 and offered workshops to learn the trade following a wave of retirements. This know-how, often passed down from generation to generation, is now being nurtured by a different profile of weaver. 'It's nice to see younger people coming in,' said Kelly MacDonald, director of operations at the HTA. 'When I joined the industry 22 years ago, there was a severe period of decline. I was wondering: 'Is there going to be an industry any more?'' But the industry is now enjoying a 'resurgence' and 'significant growth', with more than 580,000 metres of tweed produced in 2024. 'We are always looking at new markets,' she said, and tweed is now exported to South Korea, Japan, Germany, France and other countries. It is no longer dependent on the US market, as it once was, and should be largely shielded from the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Tweed has 'modernised', said Cameron MacArthur, who works at Carloway Mill, one of the three spinning mills in the west of the Isle of Lewis. He is only 29, but has already worked there for 12 years. The mill, with its large machines, looks as if it has not changed for decades. But MacArthur has seen it evolve to embrace a younger workforce and newer fabrics, meaning it is no longer just the ultra-classic Prince of Wales checks or dark colours that are on offer. 'Nowadays, we're allowed to make up our own colours … and we're just doing different things with it, modernising it, making it brighter,' he said, showing off rolls of turquoise blue and fuchsia pink. 'We're so busy … it never used to be like that,' he said, adding that he was 'proud' to be working with the local product. MacDonald said tweed was an antidote to environmentally unfriendly 'fast fashion'. 'How nice to own a product where you can actually look on a map to a tiny island and say, 'That's where my jacket was made.' That's so rare now, and I think people really engaged with that,' he said. 'Every stage of the production has to happen here, but from start to finish, it is a really long process. We are the epitome of slow fashion.'
The Guardian
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Making weaves: the resurgence in Harris tweed production
Alexander MacLeod, a Harris tweed weaver, outside an atelier at his home on the island of Scalpay in the Outer Hebrides Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images 'When you see tweed on the catwalks, you'd never think it came from here,' says MacLeod, 38, a former banker Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images A weaving loom with an under-weaving Harris tweed cloth. Traditionally made from 100% wool, Harris tweed is protected by a 1993 act of parliament. It must be 'handwoven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides' Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images MacLeod became a weaver two years ago, contributing, with other residents of the Isles of Lewis and Harris, to the rejuvenation of the tweed industry after a long period of decline. 'It's a good thing to keep the tradition going,' he says Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Weaving tools. Tweed is a symbol of Scottish heritage and has 'always been part of the culture' on the Outer Hebrides, says Macleod, who hails from Scalpay, which is connected to Harris by a bridge Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images It's now 'an attractive sector to be in', MacLeod says. He left the Hebrides for seven years to work in banking but the pull of his roots proved too strong. During the day, MacLeod works for a local cosmetics company. In the evenings, he puts on a podcast, usually about espionage, and patiently begins to weave. Only the steady hum of his machine disturbs the calm of the old stone barn Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images A member of staff at Carloway Mill processes and prepares wool for the weaving of Harris tweed. Carloway is one of three spinning mills in the west of the Isle of Lewis Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images The industry is enjoying a resurgence, with more than 580,000 metres of tweed produced in 2024 Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Luxury brands such as Christian Dior, Chanel and Gucci are among the buyers of Harris tweed, and shoe brands such as Nike, New Balance and Converse have used it for limited-edition products Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images A weaving loom in the Carloway Mill workshop Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Wool to be used in Harris tweed Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Spools of yarn at the mill Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Dyed wool sorted into colours Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Rolls of the final product Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Kelly MacDonald, the operations manager of the Harris Tweed Authority, behind a weaving loom at her office in Stornoway. 'It's nice to see younger people coming in,' she says. 'When I joined the industry 22 years ago, there was a severe period of decline. I was wondering: is there going to be an industry any more?' Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Minnie Hooper, a weaver, at the Harris Tweed Authority building in Stornoway. There are 140 weavers, according to the HTA, which launched a recruitment campaign in 2023 and offered workshops to learn the trade after a wave of retirements Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Minnie Hooper's weaving loom Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Cloth displayed at the Harris Tweed Isle of Harris shop in Tarbert Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Shaun Campbell moves rolls of Harris tweed in the Tarbert shop Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images The Harris tweed stamp, a globe topped with a cross, certifies the fabric's provenance and authenticity and is issued by the Harris Tweed Authority Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Harris tweed stoles for sale in Tarbert Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images Blackface sheep and lambs, whose wool is used in Harris tweed production, grazing on the Isle of Harris Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images
