Notable events from the last 50 years.
1970:
Arrangements were made for the Clan's historic gathering place, Clach na Coileach (the Cockstane) in Glenshee, which was owned by a member of the Chief's family, to be made over to the Clan MacThomas Society in perpetuity.
Finegand attended the first of two major International Gatherings of the Clans. The first in Edinburgh in 1975, where his personal standard flew in Princess Street.
In 1977, to support the Clan Movement overseas, Finegand made his first overseas trip as Chief to the Washington/Virginian Games in the US, where he was the Honored Guest with one of the world's most famous women, the actress, Dame Elizabeth Taylor.
Finegand was present also at the International Gathering of the Clans took place in 1979 in Nova Scotia, Canada.
That same year, 1979, Finegand was a guest at the most prestigious of Scottish Games in the United States, Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina, which attracts some 30,000 Scottish Americans.
1980:
Finegand successfully lobbied Tayside Regional Council to have the new crossing over the river at the Spittal of Glenshee, named the MacThomas Bridge, after the Clan which had settled there many centuries earlier. The new Bridge was opened by the Chief in 1984.
Finegand was the Guest of Honour of the Scottish Australian Heritage Council in Sydney in 1983 attracting 11,000 Australian Scots to the Opera House on his last day.
The Chief visited the Republic of South Africa in 1986 to raise awareness of the Clan in that part of the world.
There are many Scottish Americans in Georgia, USA and Finegand was invited to be the Guest of Honor at the Stone Mountain Scottish Games in Atlanta in 1989.
1990:
At Finegand's instigation, debate began on how to radically improve the Clan Gathering. A few years later, the Gathering changed from an annual one day event attended by a few members to a four day Clan Gathering, incorporating several new initiatives, every three years. This has proved most successful attracting some 150 members, many from overseas, in recent years.
Forter Castle, burnt by marauding Campbells, in the 17th Century, was fully restored by its new owner.
Finegand took over Executive Editorship of an enlarged Clan Magazine, with the introduction of more coloured pages, which continues to be well received by Members to this day.
2000:
The Silver Jubilee of the Clan MacThomas Society took place in 2004, with record number of Members attending the special events over the weekend.
The two versions of MacThomas tartan were recorded in the National Tartan Register.
After taking an opportunity to purchase all the land around the Cockstane, the Clan Society decided to fell all the trees at Clach na Coilech as many were coming to the end of their natural life. Finegand oversaw the complete redesign of the site, which included planting a selection of new trees and shrubs, the creation of a new car park, moving the McComie Gate, the introduction of two new paths from the entrance to the Cockstane, and the installation of new signage about the site and the Clan. The whole process of successfully transforming the Clan area took place over several years.
The Chief started work on a major piece of work - a complete up to date contemporary "History of the Clan MacThomas", which he published privately some twenty months later.
The Clan MacThomas took part in the International Gathering of the Clans in Scottish capital in 2009, which culminated with Finegand leading Clan Members in the procession from Holyrood Palace up the "Royal Mile" to Edinburgh Castle to rows and rows of cheering crowds.
In 2010, Finegand was elected, by his peers, to the Executive Committee of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.
2010:
The Chief was invited to be the Honored Guest at three major Scottish Games in the United States:
Greenville, South Carolina (2013)
Stone Mountain, Altanta, Georgia (2016)
Grandfather Mountain , North Carolina (2018)
A MacThomas tent, promoting the Clan, was present on the games field on all occasions.
An annual Clan MacThomas Bursary was successfully established at Dundee University.
The 18th C. Latta Manuscripts, which formed the main evidence in the successful bid in 1967 to have Finegand's family officially re-recognised by the Lord Lyon as Chiefs of Clan MacThomas, were professionally restored and re-framed in 2016.
The Clan MacThomas was chosen to open the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo one evening in 2017. The Clan Pipers led Clans folk on to the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, where Finegand was one of two Chiefs to take the salute that night.
For the past 50 years, Finegand has chaired every Annual General Meeting of the Society, presided over every meeting of the Clan Council and, apart from one, attended every Clan Gathering in Scotland.
