Order of the Bog Myrtle, Contributing Editor, Scotland for The Journal, CCSNA Facebook Sr. Moderator, Clan Campbell Polymath
Duncan Beaton born in the village of Furnace on Lochfyneside, 8 miles from Inveraray, it was always going to a life be steeped in local history and traditions, but after education at Furnace Primary and Lochgilphead secondary schools I was off to Glasgow aged 16 for a career in engineering. It must have suited me, as I stayed with the one company for 49.6 years! But there was always Furnace to come back to, even after my parents died, as I was blessed with the friendship of the MacCallum family, who put me up as well as putting up with me. Now we have our own “weekend” cottage, back in Furnace (being retired the “weekend” sometimes last all week).
The connection with Eddie MacCallum’s family goes back too: when my granny left school in Furnace in 1898, she went to work at Auchindrain (now the farming museum, six miles from Inveraray) with my friend Eddie’s grandfather, also Eddie, for “a sovereign the half year, all found”.
As a child and surrounded by my mother’s elderly relatives, all I heard was “that’s your great granny’s cousin” and so on, quickly building up a ‘who’s who’ of relatives. When I took up research in earnest, I quickly got stuck in the 18th century. That’s when I thought investigating the Campbells might help me hook my family tree on to one of their well-documented family trees.
My mentor from 1978 until his death in 1993 was Mr Donald Mackechnie OBE, who got me involved with writing for the Clan Campbell Society journals in the early 1980s. Then, when I retired in 2014, I was contacted by the archivist of the Inveraray Castle Archives at Cherry Park and joined the happy band of volunteers. Although I have Campbell ancestors on both my father’s and mother’s sides, I still haven’t managed to hook on to a family tree of the Campbell gentry, but can connect with lots of local families: MacNicols, Macnabs, Mackellars, Munros, MacGilps, Macintyres, Bells and many more.
In 1998 Duncan Beaton received the President's "Meritorious Service Award" of the Clan Campbell Society (North America) that recognizes the member who has demonstrated not only years of dictated service to Clan Campbell and the Clan Campbell Society (North America) but also someone who exemplifies the spirit of Clan Campbell.
In 2013 Duncan Beaton received the Clansman of the Year award. This is the oldest award given by the Clan Campbell Society (North America). The Clansman of the Year award is universally acknowledged in the Scottish Community as the most prestigious award given by a Clan Society. The Clansman of the Year Award recognizes a Clan Campbell Society (North America) member who has gone "above and beyond" in the work they do to support our Society.
Duncan Beaton was honored at the Inaugural Investiture Ceremony of the Order of the Bog Myrtle for a Lifetime of Service to Clan Campbell, the Clan Campbell Society, and the Clan Campbell Education Foundation. The Ceremony was held on the evening of October 21, 2023 at the Annual General Meeting of the Clan Campbell Society (North America) in Peachtree Corners, GA, USA.