Marc Ellington facts for kids

Marc Floyd Ellington (born December 16, 1945 – died February 17, 2021) was a talented musician and important conservationist. He was born in America but became a British citizen. Marc was known for his folk and folk-rock music. He played the guitar and even the bagpipes! Later in life, he worked hard to protect old buildings and nature in Scotland. He famously restored his home, Towie Barclay Castle, in Aberdeenshire.

Early Life and First Band

Marc Ellington was born in Stoneham, Massachusetts, USA, on December 16, 1945. His father worked as a radio broadcaster. In the early 1960s, Marc played in a folk music group. The group was called the Highwaymen. They performed in Eugene, Oregon.

Moving to Britain and Music Career

Marc moved to Britain in the 1960s. He wanted to avoid being called to serve in the Vietnam War. In 1967, he got married in London. He was one of the first Americans to publicly refuse to join the army while in Britain.

Marc was a singer-songwriter and guitarist. He started recording music in London in 1968. His first recordings included songs by famous artists like Bob Dylan. His first album, Marc Ellington, came out in 1969. It featured songs by Dylan, Tim Hardin, and John Martyn.

He also sang backing vocals for the band Fairport Convention. This was on their album Unhalfbricking in 1969. He also worked with Ian Matthews on his first solo album.

Marc's second album, Rains/Reins of Changes, was released in 1971. This album mostly featured his own songs. Many members of Fairport Convention played on this album too. He released two more albums, A Question of Roads (1972) and Restoration (1974). His last solo album, Marc Time, came out in 1975. Marc Time was also the name of a TV show. Marc presented this folk music series on Grampian Television in the 1970s.

In 1979, Marc became a British citizen. He continued to perform music. He often worked with musicians Richard and Linda Thompson. He sometimes performed at Fairport Convention's Cropredy Festival. In his later years, he played in local Scottish clubs. He also helped promote tourism in Scotland.

Protecting Scotland's Heritage

Marc Ellington loved Scotland very much. He played the bagpipes on some of his recordings. He even dedicated a song to the National Trust for Scotland. In the late 1960s, he and his wife Karen bought Towie Barclay Castle. This old castle near Turriff in Aberdeenshire was in very bad condition.

The restoration of the castle took several years. Marc used money from his music career to pay for it. The project won an award in 1973. Marc, Karen, and their family continued to live in the castle. In 2017, he shared his feelings about the castle:

• "When Karen and I decided to restore Towie Barclay, it hadn’t been lived in for 200 years."
• "It was nothing but a ruin when we started work in 1969."
• "We had a vision and we’ve stayed true to it."
• "The restoration process took us four years."
• "I am passionate about the history and heritage of Scotland."
• "We tried to save and fix the original parts of the building."
• "We made some changes for modern living, but kept them to a minimum."
• "When I first saw Towie Barclay, I saw what it could be – a ruin that needed to be restored."

Later, Marc and Karen Ellington became the Lairds of two villages. These were Gardenstown and Crovie. They also became guardians of the Tomnaverie stone circle. This is an ancient stone circle found in Northeast Scotland.

Marc Ellington received an honorary degree from the University of Aberdeen in 2015. This was for his important conservation work. He was also appointed the Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire in 1984. He was a member of the Heritage Lottery Fund Committee for Scotland. He also served on many other important boards. These included Historic Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland. He also helped set up the Scottish Traditional Skills Training Centre.

In 2015, Marc led a project to build a cairn. This was a monument to people from the Cabrach area. They had lost their lives during the First World War. The Prince of Wales officially opened the monument. Marc was also a keen sailor. He often gave commentary at the annual Portsoy Small Boats Festival.

Awards and Honours

• 26 October 1984 – Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire
• 1988 – Serving Brother of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
• 2004 – Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
• 2014 – Honorary Fellowship, Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
• 2015 – Honorary Doctorate Honoris Causa, University of Aberdeen

Death

Marc Ellington developed a serious heart condition. He passed away on February 17, 2021.

Discography

Albums

• Marc Ellington (Philips, 1969)
• Rains/Reins of Changes (B&C, 1971)
• A Question of Roads (Philips, 1972)
• Restoration (Philips, 1973)
• Marc Time (Transatlantic, 1975)