The Largs Viking Festival has always held an important place in Clan Hunter’s calendar and we support its significance in our local culture. 

 

In 2015 and in 2018, I was profoundly honoured to be invited to open the Largs Viking Festival and in 2019, I was approached to become its next Parton replacing  Prof. Magnus Fladmark of Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen who had replaced the first Patron of the Largs Viking Festival, Magnus Magnusson KBE.

 

This is an honour that I am very proud to accept.

 

I became the 30th Clan Chief in 1994 on the death of my father Neil Hunter, the 29th Laird. At the time I was pursuing a career in healthcare. 

 

My work as Clan Chief has grown and I now devote all of my time to the Clan society. My task is to bring together Clan members and larger family groups to connect them with their national Clan Hunter branches around the world. At Hunterston, we are constantly being pressured by industrial development surrounding our original Clan lands at Hunterston Castle and my stewardship involves protecting this remaining important Hunter family heritage in Scotland.  

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The central focus of Clan Hunter is the preservation of Hunterston Castle to ensure it will always be available for all Hunters to visit as their spiritual home. We welcome visitors to the Castle which brings a special satisfaction to me in sharing our heritage with peoples from all around the globe. In 2000 I led the restoration of the front of the Castle to return it to its original state and this was funded with the loyal support of Clan Hunter members. 

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As a 21st century Clan we have an online presence and are active on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We have an online Tartan Gifts shop featuring our individual Hunter tartan. There is also a gift shop in Hunterston Castle where visitors may choose to own something unique to our Clan.

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I share in the promotion of Clan Hunter and give my support to our many volunteering members around the world hosting Clan tents at Scottish events in their own country. 

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There are many benefits to joining Clan Hunter. Clan Officers publish national newsletters to keep members in touch with events and International Gatherings. This is a wonderful occasion for sharing stories and making new friends. I love to learn about my extended family and their stories, and I hope others will do the same. This year sees the launch of the Clan Hunter Genealogy Project, a great resource for our members who want to learn more about their family history.

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Soon after I became Clan Chief, I created a special award to honour significant contributions by individual Clan members. This is called the Order of the Royal Huntsman. Names of recipients are recorded on a special board in the Clan meeting room at Hunterston Castle.

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Locally Clan Hunter has connected with events for many years by taking part in the Annual Largs Parade. It is my wish as Patron to promote the Largs Viking Festival to a worldwide audience through my attendance at events as Clan Chief of Clan Hunter to my many connections through our Clan and Scottish diaspora.

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Madame Pauline Hunter of Hunterston

30th Chief Clan Hunter and Largs Viking Festival Patron