Clan Cameron mourns death of its Chief

Clansman and the wider Lochaber community are mourning the death of Donald Cameron of Lochiel, CVO, DL, 27th Chief of the Clan Cameron, who died on Friday, October 20, at the age of 77. A meeting of old friends as the Princess Royal chatted with Donald Cameron of Lochiel at the Rural Education Trust earlier this year. Photograph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos. Born August 2, 1946, Donald Angus Cameron was the son of Sir Donald Hamish Cameron (1910-2004) and his wife Margaret Doris Gathorne-Hardy (1913-2006). He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (TA) in 1966, and was later a chartered accountant. He served as president of the Highland Society of London charity 1994-96 and in 1986, was appointed a Deputy lieutenant of Inverness-shire, and later served as the Lord Lieutenant of Inverness-shire from 2002 until 2021. In 2017, he was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. He and his wife, the Lady Cecil Nennella Therese Kerr, OBE, were great friends of the King and Queen, and His Majesty stood sponsor at the christening of Cameron's daughter, Catherine. Upon the death of his father on May 26, 2004, he assumed the chiefship of Clan Cameron, becoming the 27th Lochiel. They had four children, Catherine Mary, the Rt Hon Donald Cameron, MSP, who now succeeds as 28th Chief of the Clan, Lucy Margot Therese, a goddaughter of the Princess Royal, and Emily Frances (born January 18, 1986). Speaking about his father's passing this week, Scottish Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron said: “My whole family is devastated by the sudden death of my father last week. “He was the most courageous and loving of men, who adored his family, friends and the wider community in Lochaber. “As clan chief and Lord Lieutenant of Inverness, he was at the heart of life in the West Highlands and although he lived with MS for many years, he was always positive and uncomplaining. “We will miss him greatly but are comforted by the many messages of condolence we have received from people at home and abroad.”