Have You Heard 106

This past while back, our thoughts have turned to those who did not carry the Armstrong name, yet whose lives became deeply interwoven with the family, and its story.

Over the January holidays, while revisiting historical records within Gilnockie Tower, familiar names and moments quietly resurfaced. Some were echoes of days lang syne; others were joyful memories of individuals whose dedication strengthened both the Armstrongs and the wider clan community.

The deeper I looked, the clearer the pattern became. Letters, research, diplomacy, and a spirit of unity all pointed toward one simple truth – remarkable people helped guide the Armstrong clan toward a stronger, more connected future.

The first names I share will be recognised by anyone fortunate enough to have met them. In later life, Frank Wherrett became a steadfast and devoted presence within Scotland’s clan world, and alongside his wife Winnie, left a lasting impression wherever they went.

Frank served as Company Secretary of the Clan Armstrong Trust, and much of this tribute draws from his obituary, first published in the Armstrong publication Have You Heard in November 2016.

It was during his early army years that Frank met the love of his life. Winnie began as a pen pal, soon becoming his wife and lifelong partner. They honeymooned in Jersey – a place that remained dear to them always. Their marriage lasted 52 years, and together they raised three children: Fiona, Iain, and Helen.

Family life carried them to postings across the world, including Libya, Germany, and Hong Kong. After 27 years of service with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), Frank retired and settled just outside Edinburgh. There he worked with a Scottish iron foundry before joining the Livingston Development Corporation, helping shape the growth of the new town, west of the capital.

Retirement brought new passions. Frank found joy in gardening, restoring model railways, and assembling one of only four complete UK collections of Nigel Gresley A4 locomotives – each name, number, and colour carefully preserved through meticulous restoration. He also collected walking sticks, famously storing them in a spent shell case at home.

Yet it was his work within the clan network that truly defined him. As a young man, his military career had taken him around the world; later, he became internationally known for another reason. From Sydney to Seattle, Dunkeld to Düsseldorf, Armstrongs corresponded with Frank because he stood at the very heart of the modern clan system.

As Secretary of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, he supported more than one hundred clan chiefs and their global societies with remarkable diligence. In his role as Vice President and Secretary of the Clan Armstrong Trust, he connected Armstrong descendants across continents.
Through his mother’s Walker lineage – a name once adopted by outlawed MacGregors – Frank also carried MacGregor heritage. He played a central role in the Clan Gregor Society, organising annual gatherings and offering year-round support to its members.

For more than a decade, Frank dedicated himself to strengthening the Scottish diaspora. His replies to emails were thoughtful and detailed. Visiting clansmen and women – particularly those travelling from overseas – found in him a trusted guide, helping them trace family castles and graves, navigate transport routes, and discover welcoming places to stay.

Among his most lasting contributions was his leadership in organising the 2016 Clan Armstrong Trust Gathering in Langholm and at Gilnockie Tower. True to form, Frank was often the first to arrive and the last to leave, guiding visitors along the Border Reiver Trail, and proudly sharing the Armstrong story with new friends.