History of the Trust

The Trust was established by Lady MacRobert in memory of her three sons who were all killed as aviators, the eldest in a civil air accident in 1938 and the middle and youngest as officer pilots in the Royal Air Force on operational sorties in 1941. At the same time, among other things, Lady MacRobert donated £25,000 to the nation to purchase a Stirling bomber which she asked to be named “MacRobert’s Reply”.

The Trust Today

The Trust is run from the MacRobert family estate bequeathed to The Trust by Lady MacRobert. It consists of 5,000 arable acres divided into a number of let farms, plus 1,600 acres of commercial and amenity timber. The estate contributes to The Trust’s income, the major part of which is derived from a perpetual endowment fund managed by professional investment managers under the control of an Investment Committee of the Trustees. Surplus income is given in the form of donations to charitable causes throughout the UK, but with a bias towards Scotland.

At present there are 9 Trustees of whom four are nominated, one each by Seafarers UK (previously known as the King George’s Fund for Sailors), the Earl Haig Fund (Scotland), the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. An Administrator is responsible to the Trustees for the implementation of their policies, policy recommendations and for the co-ordination and control of their affairs and enterprises.

The former MacRobert family home, Douneside House, which lies at the heart of the estate, is run by The Trust as a fine country guest house for officers of the Armed Services at heavily discounted rates. It fulfils this role from Easter to mid-October. During the remainder of the year, Douneside House is open commercially as a conference centre. Details of the excellent facilities available are to be found at:
www.dounesidehouse.co.uk for guests and www.dounesideconference.co.uk for conferences.

Alastrean House, originally known as House of Cromar, was built at the turn of the century as the home of the Marquis of Aberdeen. Completed in 1905, the House and associated 9,000 acre estate was acquired by Sir Alexander MacRobert, owner of the nearby Douneside Estate, in 1918. The House passed to Lady MacRobert in 1934 when Lord Aberdeen died. Alastrean House became part of the operation of the Balhousie Care Group in March 2005, although the House is still owned by The MacRobert Trust.

Both Alastrean House and Douneside House also have memorial purposes in perpetuity and these are described in the Trust Deed. Douneside House is maintained as a memorial to the family of Sir Alexander MacRobert whilst Alastrean House is maintained as a memorial to the three MacRobert sons.

The Trust has a substantial archive of the MacRobert family papers and a few photographs. Access to the archive, for educational and research benefit only, can be sought through the Administrator. Please contact PA to the Administrator at the Estate Office, Cromar, Tarland, Aboyne (Tel: 013398 81444 or by e-mail: vicky@themacroberttrust.org.uk).

Access to the archive is not normally permitted for commercial purposes.