Council of Scottish Clans & Associations

Clan MacLaren Society has announced the passing of its chief, Donald MacLaren of MacLaren and Achleskine, chief of the Name and Arms of McLaren, on Saturday, July 22, 2023, after taking ill at the Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre Highland Games. The Society commented that “His passion, energy and commitment to the Clan MacLaren was unmatched, and he will be hugely missed.”

The MacLaren was born on August 22, 1954. He earned an M.A. in Classics and English Literature from Edinburgh University and a B.A. from Trinity College, Glenalmond. He joined the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1978 and served in Berlin, Moscow, and at FCO headquarters. He was deputy Head of Mission in Cuba in 1991 to 1994 and in Venezuela in 1997 to 2000, and Consul-General and deputy Head of Mission in Ukraine 2000 to 2004, and H.M. Ambassador to Tbilisi in 2004 to 2007.

in 2012, he offered a “Technology, Entertainment, and Design” (TED) talk on  “The Long View: Scotland’s Future” and in 2018  he wrote the article "Brexit will put an end to the Delors phase in European history." At the time of his death, MacLaren was a Partner in the partnership of Perfect Pitch that advised on the skills of persuasion and Convener of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.

The MacLaren leaves behind his wife Maida; five children Donald Og, Iona, Florian, Louis and Marina; and two grandchildren. The family is planning a funeral in the middle of August at Balquhidder and a memorial service in Edinburgh in the autumn. The Clan MacLaren Society notes that “following Donald’s wishes his son Florian will be our next chief and we wish him well with the leadership of our clan.”