This photo shows Adrian and Madam Pauline at Hunterston. Adrian had received a wreath from The Muirhead Clan which was to be laid, on their behalf, at the Flodden Monument on Pipers Hill in September 2000.......

Adrian Hunter Gardner orh

I first met Adrian around 1998, at that time we were forming the new and present Clan Council.

My first impression of Adrian was “this man is an old Soldier” dressed in Cameronian tartan trews and wearing a certain time served “Tam O Shanter” my first impression was not unfounded.

He was at that time long retired from any kind of working life; `though he was still full of energy and a zest to get on in life. In a letter to Adrian 19/10/ 2000 inviting him to take the vacant office of treasurer, he very smartly stepped forward to accept. At this early stage, this was a seal on our friendship.

Sincere loyalty to his Chief and Clan mixed with a fine [soldiers] humour that was the mark of this man. He told me one day in his best clipped borderer’s accent, that as a young soldier, this Captain of Cameronians was for a time Special Forces. I asked “what did you specialise in Adrian”? With a chuckle in his voice he replied;
“Oh, things that went bang”!!

Madam Pauline in 2002 decided that Adrian should be received into the Order of The Royal Huntsman.
I could not agree more.
The problem was that Adrian was extremely ill and in Hospital and was not expected to live.
Mdm. Pauline in her office as “Praefectus Venator Regis” literally had an arrow made [the full yard] his name addressed on a brass plate and finely boxed. With all haste sent the arrow from her home in Wales to the hospital in Castle Douglas.

Well his arrow arrived in the nick of time. He was presented with it on Tuesday the 29th January 2002.
Just before I left him that day, he took my hand and said.”I’ll see you at Hunterston yet”.
Adrian fought his last battle on the Thursday and this time he lost - or maybe he won.

We were not yet finished with Adrian, Madam Pauline scattered his ashes around Hunterston Castle, and planted a tree in our garden of remembrance
A good man and friend that was Adrian

Robert orh sb