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 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 and partnership farms, plus 2,000 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.

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.