FOR the second time in eight days, aristocrats and crofters mourned
together in a Highland church for a member of one of the country's most
famous families.
Many of the hundreds who packed St Mary's Roman Catholic Church at
Eskadale, Inverness-shire, last week to pay tribute to Lord Lovat's
youngest son, Andrew, returned to pay their final respects to his eldest
son, Simon.
Simon, 54, the Master of Lovat, died of a heart attack as he took part
in a drag hunt in the grounds of the family seat, Beaufort Castle, on
Saturday.
The 82-year-old Lord Lovat, housebound and in failing health, was
unable to attend the service and is said to be fighting to come to terms
with the double tragedy.
A distraught Lady Lovat, also in her 80s, was supported outside the
church by her daughters, Fiona, and Tessa Keswick, and son Hugh.
Simon's death came four days after Andrew, 42 -- who was killed by a
buffalo on safari in Africa -- was buried.
Simon's coffin was carried to the graveside by six members of the
Fraser clan, including his kilted elder son, Simon, 17, the new Master
of Lovat.
The mourners, who came from around the world, represented the local
community, business, politics, and landed gentry.
They included Simon's daughters Violet, 22, a student in Boston, and
Honor, 21, a fashion model, and son Jack, nine, who goes to school in
London.
Bishop Mario Conti of Aberdeen conducted the requiem mass assisted by
Beauly priest Father Desmond McGinty, Abbot Mark Dilworth of Fort
Augustus Abbey, Canon Duncan Stone of St Mary's, Inverness, and Father
Austin Gaskell, Marydale, Cannich.
Bishop Conti told the mourners that the Master of Lovat was a clear
leader of men, like his father, and added: ''The whole community is
united in sorrow at his untimely passing. We particularly remember Lord
and Lady Lovat who, in the course of a few days, have lost their
youngest and eldest sons in tragic circumstances. We all share their
grief at this sad time.''
The Master of Lovat, who ran the 100,000 acre estate in the Highlands,
also had an involvement in Lovat Water, a #3m mineral bottling plant. He
recently lodged plans for a multi-million pound clan heritage centre at
Beaufort Castle, where the Lovats have lived since the thirteenth
century.
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