SEAFIELD ESTATES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23896, 25 August 1939, Page 7

SEAFIELD ESTATES

INFANT HEIR CEREMONY AT CULLEN HOUSE (From Oub Own Correspondent) LONDON, July 24. On July 22, Cullen House and grounds of the Royal Burgh of Cullen were gay with a display of bunting and other decorations when the infant heir to the Seafield estates. Viscount Reidhaven, was welcomed to his ancestral home. He was accompanied by his parents, the Countess of Seafield and Mr Derek Herbert StudleyHerbert, who had motored from Castle Grant, another of their Highland seats. State employees welcomed them with hearty cheers. As the party alighted they were headed by a piper to the front door, where stood the Lord-lieutenant of Banffshire, Mr James Archibald, to welcome them. There was a large number of the tenantry, town and county councillors, and other representatives of local authorities in the neighbourhood, The lord-lieutenant presented an inscribed address to the Countess and Mr Studley-Hcrbert, and extended to them a welcome to the ancestral seat of the family. The signatories, he said, wished to congratulate them on the birth of a son, and to give the infant heir a welcome which in his later years he might regard with interest through the preservation of the document. They recalled the ever-cordial associations that had linked the ancient house of Findlater and Seafield with the important and extensive interests represented throughout the estates, and they were happy to be assured that these would be continued in coming days to the general 'well-being of the entire community. To the infant they expressed good wishes for a happy, abundant, and useful life, reflecting honour on himself and on a family that had provided distinguished services to the State. The House of Seafield

Mr Studley-Herbert said Lady Seafield and he were extremely touched by the spontaneous welcome and good wishes-so kindly and thoughtfully offered on the arrival of their son for the first time at his ancestral home. He thanked them for the address which in coming years would be regarded by their son with deep interest as recording the warm welcome which they had extended. It would be their main ambition that he would maintain the high tradition of the House of Seafield, and their constant endeavour to preserve the cordial relationship which had for centuries linked their families with the great and important interest which the signatories represented. The assemblage entered Cullen House, where Sir George Abercromby, convenor of Banffshire, and the baby’s godfather, proposed a toast to the health of Viscount Reidhaven.